FYI for those people with overheating issues with their VX

[Skydoo]

If everything temperature related has been ruled out, it is time to check the circulating aspect of the system; pump is not as efficient as before, worn out belt or gear, internal blockage etc..

[VX KAT]

Wow, thanks for all that detail rocketman. Mechanic also suggested new OEM thermostat, so that goes in next week too.
JH..I don't have a scan gauge, so relying on dash gauge....it has crossed my mind the gauge could be malfunctioning. I recall someone mentioning that possibility in an older thread, think it was Mark (MSHardeman).

Since so many have recently had the fan clutch die, I decided to replace, even though it's lower on the possibility list.
I can't really hear the fan, and read two owners said they could really hear a difference after replaced.....and I liked the idea of getting the newer design. Figure it's likely better, not worse.

Mechanic will be checking for other possibilities as well next week.

Interesting to see all 4 out 5 of us on Top Of The World had the same problem, (anybody know if Jon had problems too?)
It wasn't THAT hot..maybe 92-93....but the trail sure was much rougher, and therefore, slower than 2 years ago.

[rowhard]

I too was having overheating issues, had been noticing prior to rad, water pump, timing belt change along with some other stuff. this that the temp gauge seemed high normal. Hooked up the scan gage after parts change sure enough, was as high as 218 under normal driving during the one week of hot weather here. Was dreading the thermostat change then read the tread about the fan clutch. More money, (150.00 new) but could be a easy fix. Sure enough, temps running no higher then 184 and normally in the 170's since change. So, moral of the story, do the check on your fan clutch to see if that might be the cause.

[VX KAT]

Got the new fan clutch, fan blade and thermostat installed.
Merlin advised a redesigned OEM fan clutch is the only one available now, and requires a new fan blade as well. New fan clutch is now $250 and blade $100... OUCH! Old fc was around $70 IIRC....

Interesting, new fan has 9 blades, old has 11. Blade shape and curve are also very different. I didn't measure either of them, but visually, it looks like there may be more surface space on the new blade, but not sure.

Like a few others said, I think I can hear more roar from the fan when the A/C is on, compared to before....but not a huge amount.

I thought for sure the new blade wouldn't fit in the old shroud, but it did, mechanic said it was tight. And Dub's tread plate cover could stay as well.
If this solves my O/H problems, I guess I'll never know if it was the new clutch or JUST the new blade....hmmmm

Let's hope the redesign means more air!

Going to make a Phoenix run in a few days when it's supposed to be 102. Going to try to really tax it on one steep section of I17 where the elevation rises about 2000 ft in about 2-3 miles, with full A/C going and see what happens. There's warning signs to turn off A/C, and big rigs and regular cars often overheat and are pulled off to the side.

I'm curious, anybody know why the blade arrangement on both have one space between blades that's larger than all the others?

[Scott Larson]

[QUOTE=VX KAT;265369]Got the new fan clutch, fan blade and thermostat installed.

I'm curious, anybody know why the blade arrangement on both have one space between blades that's larger than all the others?


I'm guessing it has something to do with accoustics, making it quieter...

[rocket man]

Hi VX Kat! I think it has something to do with damping the fan/propeller noise. Albeit, not that well

The new fan you put in looks very similar to the vertical stabilizer fan on the super, not so secret, Stealth Copter that crashed on the Bin Laden raid. Their fan blades were designed around super quiet operation.

Every VX owner seems to notice the fan noise, guess I got used to it. Now because of this thread I'm noticing it again

Good luck John,

BTW still holding off on that Davis Radiator... Im gonna do it but my Chinese cheapo seems to be better than the old cheapo I took off. Anyway bought a Samarai last week and thats using up a litttle of my time and money. Keep us posted and let us know if that new fan works!!

[Chopper]

That OEM radiator is a stock GM unit. Same item is in 6cyl GM trucks and I'd suspect, in a few cars too

[IndianaVX]

well, add me to the list. although i know kinda whats causing my overheating. Dubs favorite O ring under the intake, and thermostat while im in there. but while looking things over, i got to looking at my fan blade.....hmmm

sooo, here is my question. I will type slowly... In Kats picture above, of the origonal fan blade, would the side that is facing up be the side that is attached to the fan clutch, in other words, would that side be facing the engine? because thats the way mine is. the cups of the fan are facing the front, facing the radiator. with the rotation of the engine being what it is, the fan is slicing thru the air, instead of cupping and blowing the air.

its been like this for over a year, with absolutly no cooling issues, but, did i somehow put my fan on backwards?

[VX KAT]

well, add me to the list. although i know kinda whats causing my overheating. Dubs favorite O ring under the intake, and thermostat while im in there. but while looking things over, i got to looking at my fan blade.....hmmm

sooo, here is my question. I will type slowly... In Kats picture above, of the origonal fan blade, would the side that is facing up be the side that is attached to the fan clutch, in other words, would that side be facing the engine? because thats the way mine is. the cups of the fan are facing the front, facing the radiator. with the rotation of the engine being what it is, the fan is slicing thru the air, instead of cupping and blowing the air.

its been like this for over a year, with absolutly no cooling issues, but, did i somehow put my fan on backwards?

Dave-
I matched up the blade with my pic, the blades are cupped down, away from the camera. (Despite the blade at the 9 o'clock position appears to be cupped up, it's not).





I then matched it up to this pic from before I had my new radiator installed...It's definitely cupped toward the engine so theoretically, this is the factory position.
So if yours is now cupped toward the front, I believe it's backwards.





This is other side, cupped toward camera, which is facing the engine.

[eternal21]

Got the new fan clutch, fan blade and thermostat installed.
Merlin advised a redesigned OEM fan clutch is the only one available now, and requires a new fan blade as well. New fan clutch is now $250 and blade $100... OUCH! Old fc was around $70 IIRC....

If you order this part from Isuzuparts.com, you need to specify the part number. If you have the new fan clutch (part number 8-97349-761-0) DO NOT order online as they will send you the old fan (part number 8-97172-201-0, bottom picture above). When I had to call them after ordering online because they sent me the wrong fan, the guy I spoke to (Brian) said that the new fan doesn't even show as a part for the VehiCROSS. Just as an FYI, the redesigned fan part number is 8-97349-762-0, top picture above).

The old fan/new fan clutch are physically incompatible.

[Nikad92397]