fan belt issues when crossing water obstacles

Post by **dank** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 12:01 pm

Other than having to get out of the car, loosen off the fan belt till it stops spinning the fan, jump in drive through, get out tighten it up again. Is there a way other than installing thermo fans to get around this?

Was up at toolangi not long ago and drove through a deep bog hole which ended up spraying dirty filthy mud all through the engine bay, and also possibly doing damage to the radiator is another issue.

Ive heard of fans actually torquing up against the water and ripping into the radiator...any real life experiences of this with zooks?

Post by **moose** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 12:05 pm

if the water is deep , recommend a blind on the front !!

I,ve done a water crossing in my zook , where the wipers went under water !!!

didnt have a blind , or take the belt off , NO damage !!!

easiest thing , is dont rev the carp out of it , if you think the fan is going to be hitting water/mud !!!!!

Post by **PJ.zook** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 4:48 pm

Thats pretty much the biggest reason i will be installing a thermo fan too, everytime i attempt a minor water crossing, the fan acted like a propellor and just caused the engine to die. That was back with my softtop, deep water doesnt exist these days.

Post by **nicbeer** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 7:22 pm

yep. i have fan marks in my radiator. damn things.

are the viscous fans anybetter

Nic

Post by **iamnat666** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 8:11 am

The only way around it is to fit an electric fan, a fixed fan takes nearly all of the engines power once it is fully underwater, not to mention throwing water over the electrics.

Post by **Gwagensteve** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 3:05 pm

....and you will almost be guaranteed to overheat. Thermo fans are fairly unreliable, draw heavy amperage, and never, ever flow as much air as the mechanical fan. they are excellent at idle and low revs but can't ver match the flow of a shrouded mechanical fan.

Don't hit the water too hard. As moose said, If you run a blind and make steady progress, you will be fine. Generally, if you are in deep enough water to have the fan spinning deep and fast enough to give you trouble you are probably stuck so let it go and take a strap.

the ideal set up would be a clutch fan from a mercedes or similar - these are engine driven but can be turned off with the same sort of clutch as used on an airconditioning pulley, but adapting one would be a killer.

PS alledgedly, 1.3 fans are much weaker than 1.0 fans

Steve.

Post by **christover1** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 12:11 pm

here is my solution.
cost $7 from kmart.
They are available in many sizes, but I stuck to small for getting in under engine bay (cheaper too

)
pump it up and squirt away.
I have also modded me fan cowling for easier removal, behind which most muck hides. A proper clean out of radiator can be done later, but this should get you over the overheating issues, christover

Post by **sierrajim** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 12:32 pm

I've got a thermo on my 1.0ltr. The vehicles previous owner did more booty fab type wor then even i do. There is a switch on the dash for on and off applications.

Just to make sure its not left off there's some masking tape across the cluster saying "turn thermo on"

Even at high revs it draws more power than the alternator produces, although its not on too often. So far i haven't had any overheating issues.

It gets turned off in mud/water, saying that i hate water crossings and don't like mud. Most often i'll do what i can to avoid them.

Post by **moose** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 1:09 pm

sierrajim wrote:I've got a thermo on my 1.0ltr. The vehicles previous owner did more booty fab type wor then even i do. There is a switch on the dash for on and off applications.

Just to make sure its not left off there's some masking tape across the cluster saying "turn thermo on"

Even at high revs it draws more power than the alternator produces, although its not on too often. So far i haven't had any overheating issues.

It gets turned off in mud/water, saying that i hate water crossings and don't like mud. Most often i'll do what i can to avoid them.

I had that big sticker as well !!!

dont like mud ??? get out of Vic then , biatch !!!

Post by **dank** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 7:30 pm

good work fellas,

Its an interesting one. i dont usually like deep gumbo mud and bog holes but i got a taste for it at Toolangi not long ago...

Christover another gold idea from you. Ã

Post by **christover1** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 7:53 pm

I have a mate who made up two sheets of metal, which slide in front and rear of radiator, when crossing muddy water etc.

Quick and simple.

christover

Post by **suzuki boy** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 7:55 pm

Im with christover with the weed sprayer!

Have had water/mud lapping on my windscreen and havnt had any troubles!

The motor is covered in mud but the weed sprayer can fix that! I will not let you see my motor at the moment!

Looks like one big piece of mud!

Post by **hyzook** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 8:11 pm

With the 1300 i did scrape a radiator but with the 1600 and a viscous fan I havn't had this problem and mine has been swimming plenty of times

Post by **j-top paj** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 9:17 pm

dont zooks have viscous fans anyway?

Post by **Santos** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 9:20 pm

Gwagensteve wrote:
the ideal set up would be a clutch fan from a mercedes or similar - these are engine driven but can be turned off with the same sort of clutch as used on an airconditioning pulley, but adapting one would be a killer.

.

What year/model merc?

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fan belt issues when crossing water obstacles

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