2000 TD5 Whine from front, viscous fan always turning and wobbly

Website search function not working today? Half an hour on Google has sort of helped but if I could check with the experts:

Just noticed a whine from the front of the engine last couple of days like the fan is on. Looking with the engine running and the fan is turning although not that fast. Noise does seem to be coming from that area. Taking the cover off – with the engine off - and the viscous fan does wobble 4 or 5°.

New water and PAS pumps in the last few months. Had noticed a couple of days ago that the heaters didn’t seem to be working very well on a trip when I would usually be quite toasty!

Question is: camping at the weekend, not a massive trip less than two hours there, less than two hours back. If it is the viscous fan bearing, can it wait till I get back?

My AA cover is up-to-date - this would be a garage job and they are very very good but consequently very busy and it’s too short a turnaround. Otherwise it’s hire a van! Thanks

Grab a decent used fan, 36mm fan spanner £12 from halfords and a good clout with a lump hammer will see it off.
Right hand thread on td5

Dibdab said:

Website search function not working today? Half an hour on Google has sort of helped but if I could check with the experts:

Just noticed a whine from the front of the engine last couple of days like the fan is on. Looking with the engine running and the fan is turning although not that fast. Noise does seem to be coming from that area. Taking the cover off – with the engine off - and the viscous fan does wobble 4 or 5°.

New water and PAS pumps in the last few months. Had noticed a couple of days ago that the heaters didn’t seem to be working very well on a trip when I would usually be quite toasty!

Question is: camping at the weekend, not a massive trip less than two hours there, less than two hours back. If it is the viscous fan bearing, can it wait till I get back?

My AA cover is up-to-date - this would be a garage job and they are very very good but consequently very busy and it’s too short a turnaround. Otherwise it’s hire a van! Thanks

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Why not take it off? If you are not towing or running flat out up the motorway should be no problem in this weather. I ran without mine for a while but put a bearmach one on in the summer when I didn't want to risk it, temperature stayed fine.
Running without it will also tell you if the fan is the source of the noise.
Take care if you find the fan is giving up the ghost if it lets go completely it can make a mess.
By the way they do turn all the time but you can hear a difference when it if engaged, lift your bonnet and start up the engine you can hear thefan roar when the engine first runs.

My fan fell off more than 6 years ago, never had one on since and its ran fine, temperature never reaches half way. I left it off because the blades got chewed up on the drive belt when it fell off at 30 mph.
Take yours off to see if thats the cause of your noise. You can always put it back on.

I have an electric fan and it never switches on even in this sizzler of a summer it never came on. Temperature stays stable at normal.

Oops…

It was a static Idler pulley..... seized on the dual carriageway actually on the way to the garage… Shredded the belt which in turn walloped one of the power steering pipes.

Absolute gent of an AA guy, sourced the parts locally, took me to buy them, then spent a good hour getting dirty changing the bits then making a temporary repair to the power steering pipe to get me on my way again.

Viscous fan is still a bit wobbly – but… Aren’t they all?