Marxxpress

Hearing something after I start my 83 Rx and drive away in the cold. You only hear this noise when the car is in motion. It sounds like a whirlwind blowing erratically up and down (high and low pitch) The noise only lasts a few minutes and goes away. I do not know if it is relative to the engine temperature getting warmer. What is this? I used to have an 88 and heard the same thing.

cheapie

I bet it's the clutch fan. It will come at different than usual times when the weather gets cold.

Marxxpress

Will it hurt to leave it as is. Do you think it requires any attention or should I just put up with the goofy whirling sound for the short 2 or 3 minutes in the cold weather?

cheapie

I think I would make sure. take the fan off, and see if you still hear it. don't go too far, though, you definitely don't want it to overheat.

it's a 36mm nut with backward threads. I know this because my bicycle head nut wrench fits it.

Marxxpress

I am not familiar with where the clutch fan is or how to do this process. Is it hard/easy?

cheapie

it's easy. the clutch fan is the radiator fan. it has a temperature sensative clutch in the center that gives the fan full power when it gets hot. for some reason, it also does it when it's cold. it actually robs quite a bit of power, so most of us take it off and put on an electric fan. they're about 100 dollars.

To take it off, you find a way to hold the center metal part while you unscrew the nut, which is backward threaded. then, you take the screws out of the fan shroud (the plastic frame around the fan that is attached to the radiator), and take it off with the fan. You'll understand when you do it. you can't get the fan out without taking off the shroud with it. i'm rambling. it's getting late..

Marxxpress

Great! and if I take it off and the noise is no longer there I am to assume that the problem is located here. What do I do to fix it? I have been reading a little about an electric fan setup. You think it is a good upgrade?

cheapie

You can either put the fan back on or upgrade. I bet the fan is working okay. Upgrading to an electric fan gives you noticably more power. I got tired of the original fan because it kept coming on at the wrong time - whenever i wanted to go fast... and you might notice that it's really fun to go fast.

the pain in the butt part is getting the electric fan to come on automatically. i made a lot of mistakes there. i had a manual switch at first, which i kept forgetting to turn on and almost burned the car up. I got the 20-dollar heat sensative switch that made it more reliable, but it stayed on too long when the car was off and ran the battery down. i had it adjusted wrong. you cant put it on switched power either because it draws too much current, and it will burn up your starter switch.

I hope i am making sense. i need to get some sleep.

Marxxpress

This is all very helpful information. Thank you very much for replying. The noise on the fan wouldn't be an issue of lubrication would it? Would lubing/spraying/greasing any part of it do something for it? I think it is working fine, but if there is something small I can do to eliminate the noise, I would be that much happier. Where can I read information about an electric fan setup? Do you know of a good www site or brand? Feel free to get some sleep and get back with me later. Thanks again!

cheapie

You can't fix it. It either works or it doesn't. in fact, if it squeaks, you better get a new water pump.

There is a lot of good info on this forum about fans. Just do a search.

I just hope i am able to help out. i got a lot of good help on this forum when i was trying figure all of this out. This is my way of saying thanks. you will do the same.

Good tinkering.

Marxxpress

Just when I thought I had it......I understand it can not be fixed with a spray of WD, but what's with the water pump? How does that have anything to do with it??

cheapie

The fan is screwed onto the end of the water pump. its the same shaft. So if the fan squeaks, it isn't the fan, it's the water pump.

Marxxpress

I got it. I've been comparing pictures in a Haynes manual as you have been writing. I see what you are talking about. I think I've got it. I also think I have located where a minor oil leak is coming from. Have a leak in the vicinity of the oil cooler below the oil filter. Oil is on the left side (driver's side) of the engine. I believe after seeing this picture that it is coming from the oil line which extends from a banjo fitting bolt at the cooler to the front of the engine. Does this sound like a possibility or a place that is common to leaking?

cheapie

Oh man. That is a pretty common problem. I think everyting in that area on mine leaked if it could leak. Even this brass-colored sending thing screwed into the side of the engine under there leaked. You should do a search on that one. i can't remember everything you can check. I bet your OMD or whatever its called - the oil metering dealie on the other side leaks. mine still does. Do a search on that too.

I'm out. good luck.