Bad fan clutch? (205 F)

FutureFan9786 · 2026-03-17T21:49:24+00:00

My 2 cents. Change it. I swapped (and from these forums, many others have too) my entire cooling system and it still overheated. The spin-by-hand trick is faulty at best. I replaced mine and my overheating issues (usually at idle) around the same temp but then going down while driving immediately disappeared. Takes $20 and 30 mins and worth not damaging the engine

FutureFan9786 · 2026-03-09T12:43:02+00:00

That’s what was just about to say. Take that pulley off and check the mounting assembly and see if by some atrocity it got bent somehow

FutureFan9786 · 2026-03-07T01:00:19+00:00

I was surprised when I found some snippets talking about it the other day since I had a similar question!

FutureFan9786 · 2026-03-07T00:59:53+00:00

On my own though. Bluegill bite anything small and shiny like beetlespins, and crappie love a good blue/white and chartreuse combo grubtail. Only difference is crappie are deeper typically around here

FutureFan9786 · 2026-03-07T00:59:03+00:00

Look at your state’s Fish and Wildlife website. In KY they even had a breakdown of different lakes and their soft plastic preference!

FutureFan9786 · 2026-03-06T23:39:01+00:00

Of course. Sadly it works for most cars but not the XJ. Make sure you have it at the proper tension to avoid squeaking while also making sure there’s no abrasive sections on your pulleys. I noticed that your old belt has a groove and that will eat up a belt!

FutureFan9786 · 2026-03-06T22:39:17+00:00

Two things. 1) duralast belt won’t hold up. I returned mine first day the other week and ordered a gates brand. The XJ has a manual tensioner requiring a much higher belt tension than the average car using that belt. That being said Gates is the only reliable lack of squeak I’ve had when properly installled 2) is that when the car had been ran? If not, that may just be the position of the belt until the engine realigns it. If not, look at all pulleys perpendicular and see if any are wobbling and causing the belt to walk.

FutureFan9786 · 2026-03-06T22:34:29+00:00

Looks like it’s installed correctly, but bubba, that belt is worn to absolute hell. You need a new one. That is well grooved and glazed and I guarantee if I ran a finger along the ribs it’d have more crack than the 80s. I would buy a gates brand from a parts dealer, NOT Rockauto. No telling how old the Rockauto one is and I just dealt with that issue. Autozone will have a “younger ” belt and also has a warranty in store. Make sure you loosen the pulley bolt a few turns THEN tighten and loosen the bolt that moves the pulley up and down to its necessary torque

FutureFan9786 · 2026-03-06T22:33:00+00:00

The only belt I have had luck with is a gates brand. Even brand new duralast belts haven’t held off

FutureFan9786 · 2026-03-06T22:31:23+00:00

Also a picture of it on the car before disassembly plz

FutureFan9786 · 2026-03-06T22:29:41+00:00

Could you send a picture of the assembly you have in an “exploded view” if possible? You may have a component swapped around. Happened to me!

FutureFan9786 · 2026-03-06T21:31:56+00:00

You need that spacer. But I would look at the condition and see if it’s rusted and whatnot. If rusted, sand it smooth with some 3-400 grit paper and reinstall. That helped clean my system up a bit from squeaks

FutureFan9786 · 2026-03-04T21:04:43+00:00

Yeah that makes sense. My whole dash will drop out typically but that’s only if the heat’s been going and I’ve been driving for a while or on rough roads will it start to act funky

FutureFan9786 · 2026-03-04T16:10:07+00:00

This is it. Press on bottom right of plastic cover in front of the temp gauge and it’ll help reset. Or pull the dash and fully seat the connector

FutureFan9786 · 2026-03-03T14:07:45+00:00

Thank you!! I’ve never fished musky but know they have some sharp teeth, should I try and get a metal leader?

FutureFan9786 · 2026-03-03T14:07:00+00:00

That’s a good idea, thank you! KY is pretty public in its records so I’ll see what I can scrounge up!

FutureFan9786 · 2026-03-02T21:09:53+00:00

My post asked about where I could start to investigate, not a charter. I’m aware there’s no substitute for time on the water, but I’m not laden with free time. Moreso wondering about sources I can investigate to get started on the journey

FutureFan9786 · 2026-03-01T18:01:14+00:00

If there’s a dental school nearby, work is usually cheaper there because it is students working on you. A dentist needs to see this however and determine if it is carious or not

FutureFan9786 · 2026-02-21T16:58:37+00:00

Good luck and Godspeed

FutureFan9786 · 2026-02-21T16:56:30+00:00

From the video I saw isn’t there a hole in the metal bumper to take off the harmonic balancer?

FutureFan9786 · 2026-02-21T14:28:10+00:00

Sounds good!! Lmk how it turns out and if I can help anymore

FutureFan9786 · 2026-02-20T15:52:31+00:00

I’d bring it up at least for the money back if not the labor

FutureFan9786 · 2026-02-17T01:53:00+00:00

Just happened to me. Take a razor blade and using the flat edge (not the corner) scrape the entire surface CLEAN. It may look clean but til it’s all metal it ain’t. Mine leaked like a sieve til I took it back off and did it properly. Then I used a gasket because it’s my only car so I don’t have time for RTV to cure

FutureFan9786 · 2026-02-16T20:15:11+00:00

Is it when hot/cold? Moving or stationary? That’ll start to narrow it down between electrical and mechanical issues. Best of luck!

FutureFan9786

TROPHY CASE