Y62 cooling fan engaging

[Crapwelder]

Hi guys, I’m new to this so please bear with me.
We just finished a trip to tassie and back, donearound 4000 kms, it was awesome.
The V8 Datto is an awesome tug, smooth, comphy and power to burn.
The car is stock except a towpro elite and redarc dc charger fitted, Nissan towbar,sand grabber floor mats and ruffnuts seat covers.
On the trip home the fan continuously kicked in, the outside temp was 25-30 degrees, we sat on 100-110kms towing a jayco flamingo camper, let’s call it 2 ton.
The fan dragged all the way, I thought the cooling system on these should handle this no worries considering there made for the Middle East.
Has anyone had any of this type of problem
Cheers

[mudski]

Is it an actual problem though?


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[Crapwelder]

Hi Mudski, I’m thinking so, the trip down we’re the same conditions no fan, trip home fan dragging all the way, listening to the roaring of the fan from hobart to Bathurst isn’t much fun, it knocked the fuel and power around.
I don’t think it’s right to have it engaged even going down long hills, the cooling on one of these should hardly ever kick in.

[the evil twin]

There are a few owners starting to chat about fan clutch control issues on faceache...

Is your still doing the 'roar its guts out for a minute or so' on start up and then dropping out like normal?

[Crapwelder]

Hi The Evil Twin, it only does the fan roar on startup now and then, I drive it every day and it would be lucky to kick in on startup 5 times a week. 90 percent of the time startup is just a high idle for a few seconds then back to idle.

[the evil twin]

Hi The Evil Twin, it only does the fan roar on startup now and then, I drive it every day and it would be lucky to kick in on startup 5 times a week. 90 percent of the time startup is just a high idle for a few seconds then back to idle.

Hmmm... mine does its fan 'thing' every start from dead cold (which isn't all that cold in summer in Perth) :-)

I still can't break the habit of looking at the Tach 'cause it roars like the RPM is about 3,000 when it is at idle then the fan backs off and all is right with the world.

The faceachers who are having issues are saying erratic fan patterns on start is a symptom.
From what I read last night... maybe 50% are cured purely by a visit to Mr Nissans computer and the other 50% involve a fan coupling failure/replacement.
Most seem to be saying that they aren't having an ongoing issue IE the one visit fixes the problem.

Yours still under warranty?

[Crapwelder]

Yeah, it’s brand new has 6000kms on it, I might have to give Nissan a ring.
When we were on the way home it sounded like a horten fan on a kenworth, the only difference is they could turn theirs off.

[the evil twin]

Yeah, it’s brand new has 6000kms on it, I might have to give Nissan a ring.
When we were on the way home it sounded like a horten fan on a kenworth, the only difference is they could turn theirs off.

Hehehe... yeah, they certainly shift some air.

FWIW I use an ultra gauge to monitor coolant temp, oil temp and atf temp.
The engines on these suckers (like most very late model vehicles) warm up pretty bloody quick but when that fan kicks in the temps drop even quicker :-)

Keep us all in the loop about what Mr Nissan says... faceache sucks in trying to get legit detailed info.

[Crapwelder]

I’ve got to look into the gauges for it, my old BT50 had a scan gauge on it so I could check gearbox temp.
I’ll ring Nissan tomorrow to see what they say.

[Crapwelder]

Which ultra gauge are you running, I’ve just had a quick look, if I can find my old iphone I was thinking running the blue. I’ve noticed like the BT50 the speedos on these things are out by about 10%. I think it’s the way of slowing mainstream drivers down, the scangauge on the Mazda worked well for speed and auto temp.
It’s funny, the Engine was not running hot and the fan was kicking in, it was cool enough to not make a differance.
I rang mr Nissan, it’s booked in for next Friday to have a checkup.

[the evil twin]

You need the MX version if you want to use an Ultragauge if you want oil temp and atf temp.

http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/showthread.php?43460-Ultra-Gauge-MX/page2

[Crapwelder]

I just checked out your outer posts and yep looks the goods.
I’ll sort one after it’s checkup next week
Cheers for the info

[Crapwelder]

Hi guys, just a quick update on the cooling fan issue, took it to Orange Nissan for its check up, got a call after 2.5 hours to come get it. I was told there’s nothing wrong with it, the reason the fan was spinning was because it’s not a electric thermo fan, the fan on these is connected to the motor with a belt.... go figure.
This was from one of their tech guys.
After a few words and another round of explanation, I was told I would have to bring it back for more investigation.
So I’m now looking at taking it to another dealer. I need a tech guy who knows a bit more than how to explain to me that my car has a fan belt.

[the evil twin]

If the engine is spinning of course the fan was spinning!!!
F.F.S. what an absolute tool of a thing to say to a customer!!!

If you do go back tell them politely you aren't a moron.
If necessary tell them to get the Manuals out if they are too stupid to know what your getting at.
Insist you are all but convinced the Fan Coupling is faulty but as it is an electrically controlled, viscous coupled, mechanically driven Fan could they please check all of the system as "somethin' she is busted, mate".

FWIW here is the extract from the Nissan Learning Manual...

Electric / Viscous Cooling Fan
The engine driven Cooling Fan has a viscous coupling & which is electrically operated via a
signal from the ECM (via the IPDM E/R).
A Fan speed sensor which sends a signal direct to the ECM is incorporated into the hub as well.
The Fan is mounted on a pulley which is in turn driven by the auxiliary drive belt.
The Cooling Fan is driven separately to the Water Pump.

Cooling Fan Controller
The Cooling Fan Controller is integral with the Viscous Fan Hub assembly.
Following inputs such as A/C operation, A/C refrigerant pressure & engine temperature, the ECM will request the
IPDM E/R to operate the Cooling Fan Controller.
The IPDM E/R will send a command signal to the Fan Controller to provide the appropriate Cooling Fan speed.

I haven't attached the schematic of the ECM, Canbus, IPDM, Coupling circuit... lets make them read that bit at least :-)

[Crapwelder]

Hmm yeah, after his first few words, I knew I was wasting my day. I waited almost 2 weeks to have them look at it and they never even tried looking for the problems, but any way. You know when someone is talking to you and the only thing you are thinking is I wonder who ties their shoelaces because you know they don’t, that’s what I had.
After explaining again to him, when I mentioned a loud whirring noise like a kenworth, and mentioned Horton fan and electronic clutch loss of horsepower and fuel consumption, his look just glazed over and any intelligence that might have been there disappeared. If this was their man, I don’t really need him checking my tyre pressures or oil levels, he wouldn’t get a job in my workshop emptying our bins.
I’ll try another dealership, I might ask to see their tech first, that will decide if the car stays or I just drive off.

[the evil twin]

Yep... IMHO either the coupling has crapped out, maybe the speed sensor... or... the IPDM is commanding full noise 'cause it is being told to do so. If it is the latter then it can be heaps of things doing it, even what would seem like weird unrelated shit like low A/C refrigerant or dodgy A/C comp etc

[Crapwelder]

This is the problem with new cars, this electronic crap is not really my forte.
I’ll hopefully get it looked at next week, I’ll write down some notes maybe they can read...

[Hodge]

Gentlemen. I briefly read through this and recalled family friends having similar issues with their y62 last winter. His fan was going nuts at idle even with dead cold temps outside.

I messaged him to ask as they're currently in Tassie and he replied telling me the elec-magnetic clutch part of the hub was rooted and was sticking. Whole hub assembly was replaced and no issues since .
Fwiw.
He can provide a part picture and number after they return next month.

theirs is a 2015 y62.

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[the evil twin]

Hiya Hodge,

Yep... and he isn't the only fella by a long shot.
At least when they crap out the majority seem to crap out safe IE "always on" and not "never on"

[Crapwelder]

Hey guys, finally got time to get this problem sorted, took the car to Bathurst Nissan dealership last week, they had it for the day, found the fan electro clutch hub was fuc#ed (as was the consensus with you guys and others, and explained/discussed with them), they ordered the parts, Bathurst Nissan had the car today, fitted new clutch hub and done a computer reset, problem fixed. Took it for a big run this arvo no problems, works as it should, no Kenworth sounding fan in my bonnet.
A big thanks to the Bathurst automotive group for taking the time and care to find and sort the problem out.

[MudRunnerTD]

Hey guys, finally got time to get this problem sorted, took the car to Bathurst Nissan dealership last week, they had it for the day, found the fan electro clutch hub was fuc#ed (as was the consensus with you guys and others, and explained/discussed with them), they ordered the parts, Bathurst Nissan had the car today, fitted new clutch hub and done a computer reset, problem fixed. Took it for a big run this arvo no problems, works as it should, no Kenworth sounding fan in my bonnet.
A big thanks to the Bathurst automotive group for taking the time and care to find and sort the problem out.

Nice work, ensure you let the flogs at Orange Nissan know that someone bothered to actually look and that they have now Lost your Service work for the life of the car. Make sure their Dealer Principle gets that message.

[the evil twin]

Thanks for the feedback CW...

On a general note this whole saga yet again highlights that after a short period from release of any vehicle (indeed any manuf) a 'responsible' internet group, and this group kicks butt knows a bloody sight more about a car than ANY mech shop who is relying only on factory knowledge.

Thankfully, the relationship I have built up with my local Dealer mob over quite a few years means they always listen and will check what I request and not write me off as "some flogger of a cust, we have a poota and a dumber n dogshit apprentice checklist so what would he know"

[Crapwelder]

Hey, yep the muppets at Orange will be getting a nice little letter shortly pointing out how crap their service was, the guys at Bathurst were happy to have a look within 2 days, Orange took 2 weeks to look. Any way it’s good now, the Bathurst Nissan will being seeing it for servicing.
You would think a tech would have a look at a few forums if they were interested in their product, it’s usually the enthusiast who learns the ins and outs of a ducks guts, and these forums are full of them. learn, solve or have a go, lots of minds working together, smarter than a factory service letter.
keep up the good work..