Re: broken fan blade - check the engine mounts

[BHIGGINS2@domain.elided]

Check your engine mounts too.  Every broken fan blade I have encountered has 
led me to sagging, worn out or loose engine mounts.  The engine mounts 
compress over time dropping the plastic fan blade very close to the bottom of 
the fan shroud. Sometimes, if you catch it before it breaks, you will see the 
fan has been wearing away on the shround for some time before it finally lets 
go.  All it takes is a small bump or dip in the road and the fan contacts the 
shroud and your fan, shroud, radiator, hood, etc. are damaged.  If you can't 
get your fingers between the bottom of your crank pulley and the sway bar 
then your engine mounts are failing.

Ben Higgins
Galveston, Texas

In a message dated 11/20/01 8:14:10 AM Central Standard Time, 
owner-alfa-digest@domain.elided writes:


> Because I failed to check my 74 Spider's fan blade at the last oil change
> inspection (yellow=replace, according to those who know) it shattered during
> a particularly vigorous third-gear Italian tune-up.  I got off easy...one
> hole in the radiator ($35 to repair), a slice in the battery (which one of
> those fiberglass battery repair kits fixed handily), and no dents in the
> hood.  Check the fan, folks.

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