Fan Issue after driving through high(ish) water

[swampdonky]

Hey, could really use some advice / help here on my 2020 Ranger 4x2.

We had some pretty rough flooding here recently, and I misjudged how deep the water was. I ended up driving through it for a bit, and the truck made it through just fine. The water never came into the cab or anything like that, I'm not sure if it even cleared 3/4 of my wheel. I had the dealer check over the truck and they said everything looks fine. I had them change the oil just as a precaution and they said no water was in the oil.

So here is my issue now though, and what I need to ask you about. When starting my truck before this, the fan would roar pretty loudly, and when I first start driving you could really hear the fan. It would quite down afterwards and be normal.

Now when I start the Truck, the fan does not do this. The fan does spin, just not the roar it used to do. I have not seen any overheating issues yet.

So, in short, do your Rangers make that fan roar at startup? Is there a purpose behind that, and will it hurt my truck to drive it without the fan running high speed at startup?

Also, I am guessing something is up with my fan clutch right? What tells the fan to spin up like that, is it electronically controlled to do that or is it a mechanical fan clutch? Please let me know what you guys think, the dealer said it was fine but I am sure my truck used to make the loud fan noise. Also, let me know if I am crazy for even worrying about this haha!

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[swampdonky]

my guess....a wet connector.
pop it off and blow it out, dry it out and try again.
worst case, PCM failure.

Can the connectors just get wet like that without ruining them?

 

[D Fresh]

Username checks out.

 

[Bludrok]

For future reference, it's a good idea to unplug your fan prior to driving through water.

 

[swampdonky]

Thanks, yeah it was flash flooding so not a choice, can you guys confirm though if your fans are still very loud when you first start the truck?

 

[RecoilOperated]

Thanks, yeah it was flash flooding so not a choice, can you guys confirm though if your fans are still very loud when you first start the truck?

Yes, when first pulling away after turning the truck on it sounds like it has the fan from a Detroit Diesel strapped to the front of it but only for maybe the first 25 feet and then it calms down.

 

[puckdodger]

Yes, when first pulling away after turning the truck on it sounds like it has the fan from a Detroit Diesel strapped to the front of it but only for maybe the first 25 feet and then it calms down.

Yep. Same here.

And really? Unplug the fan for driving in deep water? I never would thought of that...

 

[swampdonky]

Well i found a puddle of a pretty clear oily like substance beneath the fan clutch, im wondering if its shot. I also unplugged it and will let it sit overnight. I have to drive saturday for 1 hour each way, what would happen if this thing fails on me?

 

[Rp930]

Not sure if a fail safe is built in. Could overheat.

 

[Bludrok]

Not sure if a fail safe is built in. Could overheat.

Yes, overheating would be the concern, but at highway speeds your fan is not an issue. The fan comes into play at low speeds. If you've ever been rock crawling, you most certainly have heard the fans going full speed when crawling.

 

[BlackRanger01]

Never mind.. i need to read. Sorry. And yes my Ranger does this loud fan roar every morning start ups since day 1 I picked it up from dealership.

 

[Trigganometry]

If you do happen to get through this after it dries out use some silicon spray inside and outside of the connectors. That keeps corrosion from starting.

 

[Dahveed]

If the water was deep enough for the fan blades to run through it it might have smoked the clutch. The fan would have unlikely been able to keep up with the RPM on the water pump with the extra drag of the water. Which then overheated the clutch and probably blew whatever seals it has which is why you've got a oily substance coming from it. The viscous fluid inside is smoked and leaking out.

edit: Being that there is a fan speed sensor, I'm sure the PCM would have commanded the clutch to lock since the fan speed was low. Looks like a new fan clutch is about $460. Engine Cooling Fan Clutch | FordUS

 

[swampdonky]

If the water was deep enough for the fan blades to run through it it might have smoked the clutch. The fan would have unlikely been able to keep up with the RPM on the water pump with the extra drag of the water. Which then overheated the clutch and probably blew whatever seals it has which is why you've got a oily substance coming from it. The viscous fluid inside is smoked and leaking out.

edit: Being that there is a fan speed sensor, I'm sure the PCM would have commanded the clutch to lock since the fan speed was low. Looks like a new fan clutch is about $460. Engine Cooling Fan Clutch | FordUS

thanks everyone, im gonna call the dealer again tomorow and ask them to replace it, they seemed pretty dismissive of the problem but i know what the truck used to sound like. I really appreciate everyone getting back to me today, i will update this thread with what i find out just in case someone else has this issue.

 

[Motorpsychology]

Well i found a puddle of a pretty clear oily like substance beneath the fan clutch, im wondering if its shot. I also unplugged it and will let it sit overnight. I have to drive saturday for 1 hour each way, what would happen if this thing fails on me?

On a heavy diesel, the fan clutch is pneumatic, controlled by the PCM. If there is low/no air supply, the default is always engaged (fan always on). I would hope Ford engineered their fan clutch similarly. Keep moving, watch your temp gauge. Drying off the connectors will probably help, but it sounds to me like the fan clutch is shot.

edit: Maybe contact your insurance agent. You may be covered under the comprehensive.

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