I have a strange jingle coming from the Excursion. It's loudest directly in front of the fan. So I figured out how to get the fan cowl high enough to see the fan and clutch. Everything seems fine, but when its running there is a small wobble. Doesn't seem too bad, but it is only idling. So, is it normal to have any wobble, or is my pump heading south? My fan wires are still in tact so its not too bad. Seems a little early at 81k but maybe that's normal.

 

That isn't normal there shouldn't be any wobble

 

Ditto above. Get it taken care of ASAP before it does collateral damage.

 

Ah, crap, not what I wanted to deal with in the winter. I can't work in the garage unless the back if the Ex is hanging out, so no heat for me. . Think a water pump can cause a jingle like a bell only at idle? So, just to be clear, there should be no wobble?

 

That's the key word. Wobble means out of balance which means it'll only get worse till it takes something else out with it.

 

It's not possible for the fan clutch to cause wobble is it? I can see the wobble throughout the fan and clutch, so I wouldn't think so. I'd just be kicking myself in the butt if it still had the slight wobble after I replace the pump. Now I'll have to figure out what pump to get...

 

Take care of this asap before you take out the front cover.

 

Will do, I'm ok for a week or two, but I'll get it done. There is at most 1/8" wobble, just enough to see. Otherwise it would have eaten the wire harness for lunch. Once I noticed the fan I looked at the clutch and I can see it moving very slightly. That said, I'm not going to push my luck.

If this is the cause of my jingling noise, it's been like this for about a year. If not, I'll have good access to the pulleys and idlers to find it.

 

1/8th wobble shure aint much Almost surprised you can even see yhat

I can see you install all new and Have an 1/8th play Still

How does it feel By Touch Tight or Lose

Any play Id replace

if tight leave it alone

 

One thing it could be is the fan blade hub coming apart. If this is what is going on you really need to deal with it NOW.
When they coma loose the fan will bounce around taking a lot of things with it. Right now it only sounds a little loose.
Park it in as far as you can and put a tarp up to keep the air from moving as much as you can. USe a heat lamp to
keep your tools warm. The warming of the tools will help a lot. I had an old 1988 Ranger break a fan from the hub
I got lucky that it did not go into the radiator and make a hole.

Take the tension off the belt and see how much wobble is in the water pump and fan. If the fan moves and
the pump shaft sems stable then you have a place to start looking.

This is a case of "Pay Me Now Or Pay Me Later" Later is always more $$.

Sean

 

We're heading to sub-zero highs so I don't think I'll look at it in the next few days. Bad things happen to plastic parts at those temps. I really like that heat lamp idea. I usually try to put the tools in front of the bullet heater, but they can get hot, LOL. Yesterday was over 30 and I it sure was nice to not have to mess with heat or gloves. To really get a good look at it I'll need to pull the whole shroud. I agree there isn't much movement, but it is probably starting to go. Unless something is up with the clutch. Either way I need to pull it apart to look.

 

I like Seans Idea to Take the belts Off and check Play Right at Clutch/water pump

 

The heat lamp idea came from a very old Popular Mechanics 1979 ish.
Anything to help keep the fingers warm. Also if your were to plug it in and
let it warm up it would not be so bad to take the tension off the belt and
see how much play there is.

Sean

 

Them old publications do still come in handy don't they LOL Until Hurricane Rita I had every one from 1965 now I got a big lump of mush, lost the roof off the storage building 2 weeks of rain before they let us back in to our house.

 

could very well be the shaft on the fan clutch. there will be a small amount of wobble when not moving.