After towing my jeep 4 hours round trip for an offroading day, I noticed a jingling/rattling noise from my grille area. It is less audible from above (hood open), to my surprise. I'm hoping someone can help identify it so I can fix it before it gets worse (and turns into a breakdown). Everything works fine still, including the fan kicking on while pulling a hill as expected.

The only related thing I can think of is that I changed my belt before this trip because the old one squealed when it accelerated the fan and when it held full speed (2000+rpm fan speed). The new gatorback belt did not squeal at all. Could I have hurt the tensioner by pulling the belt too hard to remove it? I used the method of pulling the belt up on the passenger side of the alternator to get it off, and to put the new one on.

I notice the belt tensioner moves a bit at probably 20-30 hz, kinda dancing around. I don't know if it did that before.

Thanks for any ideas you may have.

 

That sounds almost exactly like the same noise mine was making when I pinpointed it to a worn out fan clutch. You can verify this by grabbing one of the fan blades with your hand (with the engine shut off of course) and wiggling fore and aft to check for play. Mine was also intermittently setting a P0528 as well.

 

I'd pull off the belt and check every pulley for play and noise. As for the tensioner see if the bolt is coming loose. It could possibly be your fan clutch. Just because it's working doesn't mean it's good.

 

Mine is making that exact same noise. I do not know what is causing it for sure...replaced a few idlers that were a little less that perfect with no luck.

 

Sounds like the fan clutch, more specifically the wiring harness bearing has gone out.

Josh

 

I found it!
First, I tried the fan by spinning it by hand. It didn't have fore-aft play, and spun with light resistance, so that checked out. $260 saved... I hope.

I noticed there is a metal bracket where this wiring goes into the shroud. Then I turned the engine on and pushed on it with a decent amount of force with a piece of pvc pipe (didn't want to slip and put my fingers into the fan!). The noise stopped.

So, what is this bracket and how should I attack fixing it? Or is it one of those things that will be obvious once I pull the shroud?
edit: to answer my first question, I found that it is the fan clutch wiring. I still don't know how it mounts. Maybe I knocked it loose when I pulled that upper shroud/air deflector piece. I will look at it more tomorrow... It's bed time now.




This piece is jingling





The metal bracket that goes into the fan shroud.

 

That's what mine was.

 

that would be the clutch wiring harness I was talking about.

Have to replace the whole clutch unit or live with the noise until it implodes.

Josh

 

Mine started doing the exact same thing after I had studs put on. I did notice the same metal bracket, but when I press on it, the sound continues. I think in my case, it might actually be the fan clutch.....how hard is it to replace?

 

I would check the idler pulleys before replacing the fan. Replacing the fan isn't that hard. Hardest part is getting the fan loose from the pump. They can be stubborn.

 

When you are pushing on the harness,, it is taking the slack out of the bearing Josh was talking about. It's directly connected to the fan. My vote is fan clutch also.

 

I'm not sure it was taking out the slack, I was just trying to isolate the metal bracket from moving. Later today I'll try taking out the slack and see if that makes a difference.

 

That fan wiring harness dosent have any metal on it. Or are talking about the metal bracket holding the fuel line?

 

This is the piece here, I'm pretty sure it's metal?

 

Actually it's plastic. The part that IS metal is the end where it connects to the fan clutch. THAT, is where the play is, and hence the jingling sound you hear.