# Fan clutch stays on when AC is running 2001 GMC Sonoma **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [August 13, 2019, 4:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fan-clutch-stays-on-when-ac-is-running-2001-gmc-sonoma/146642 "2019-08-13T16:59:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jameson.luttrell_154832)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2019, 4:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fan-clutch-stays-on-when-ac-is-running-2001-gmc-sonoma/146642/1 "2019-08-13T16:59:06Z")
Hi my fan clutch turns on when ever I run the AC. It happens weather it’s hot or cold outside. It will stay on till I turn it off and let it rest and will often still be engaged when I restart it the next day. The fan runs on high. It bogs down my engine bad. So far all I have done was topped off the E 134. Im petty sure the clutch fan works. The car was salvaged. I’ve wondered if the fan might not be able to handle the AC running. (I’ve seen some for sale that say their not meant for engines running AC). The bottom of the radiator shroud has fallen apart. Could that be the cause? Any ideas would be really appreciated. I’m in northern California and it’s damn hot here. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2019, 5:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fan-clutch-stays-on-when-ac-is-running-2001-gmc-sonoma/146642/2 "2019-08-13T17:07:26Z")
Try spinning the fan by hand when the engine is cold. If the fan doesn’t spin, the fan clutch is locked up and needs to be replaced. Tester ---
**Author:** ![jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jameson.luttrell_154832)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2019, 5:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fan-clutch-stays-on-when-ac-is-running-2001-gmc-sonoma/146642/3 "2019-08-13T17:11:11Z")
it spins freely. The first couple attempts at spinning didn’t spin it much. After that it seemed to loosen up and spin more freely/ longer ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2019, 5:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fan-clutch-stays-on-when-ac-is-running-2001-gmc-sonoma/146642/4 "2019-08-13T17:13:15Z")
The fan should spin freely right away. Replace the fan clutch, Tester ---
**Author:** ![jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jameson.luttrell_154832)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2019, 6:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fan-clutch-stays-on-when-ac-is-running-2001-gmc-sonoma/146642/5 "2019-08-13T18:38:28Z")
I had it checked out. Pretty sure the clutch fan is fine. ---
**Author:** ![asemaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@asemaster](https://community.cartalk.com/u/asemaster)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2019, 7:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fan-clutch-stays-on-when-ac-is-running-2001-gmc-sonoma/146642/6 "2019-08-13T19:53:06Z")
You’re talking in circles here. First you say the fan clutch stays engaged all the time and then you say you had it checked out and it’s fine? ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2019, 8:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fan-clutch-stays-on-when-ac-is-running-2001-gmc-sonoma/146642/7 "2019-08-13T20:00:18Z")
The fan will always turn some, just more so when the clutch is engaged. If you’re really concerned, you could convert to electric fan(s), but that’s $$$. ---
**Author:** ![jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jameson.luttrell_154832)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2019, 9:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fan-clutch-stays-on-when-ac-is-running-2001-gmc-sonoma/146642/8 "2019-08-13T21:30:47Z")
It stays engaged when I use the air conditioning. The rest of the time it works just as it should. My truck never overheats. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2019, 9:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fan-clutch-stays-on-when-ac-is-running-2001-gmc-sonoma/146642/9 "2019-08-13T21:33:32Z")
Oh, is this an electric fan? They typically run whenever the a/c is on, so it sounds like it’s doing what it’s supposed to do. ---
**Author:** ![jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jameson.luttrell_154832)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2019, 9:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fan-clutch-stays-on-when-ac-is-running-2001-gmc-sonoma/146642/10 "2019-08-13T21:34:54Z")
It stays engage whenever the AC is on. It’s really loud, I loose a lot of power and I’m pretty sure my gas millage goes way down. There is no way what is happening is normal. ---
**Author:** ![jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jameson.luttrell_154832)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2019, 9:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fan-clutch-stays-on-when-ac-is-running-2001-gmc-sonoma/146642/11 "2019-08-13T21:35:48Z")
No it’s stock not electric. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2019, 9:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fan-clutch-stays-on-when-ac-is-running-2001-gmc-sonoma/146642/12 "2019-08-13T21:38:22Z")
2001 GMC Sonoma fan clutch. [https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/gmc,2001,sonoma,4.3l+v6,1372867,cooling+system,radiator+fan+clutch,6812](https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/gmc,2001,sonoma,4.3l+v6,1372867,cooling+system,radiator+fan+clutch,6812) Tester ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2019, 9:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fan-clutch-stays-on-when-ac-is-running-2001-gmc-sonoma/146642/13 "2019-08-13T21:41:49Z")
If it’s a normal fan clutch it doesn’t ‘know’ when the a/c is on, except because of the extra heat going by the fan clutch. If it’s engaging when the a/c is on, then it’s because it needs to engage, if you say it’s working fine otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2019, 9:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fan-clutch-stays-on-when-ac-is-running-2001-gmc-sonoma/146642/14 "2019-08-13T21:44:46Z")
> **[Is Your Car Radiator Fan Broken? 3 Common Signs](http://knowhow.napaonline.com/car-radiator-fan-broken-3-common-signs-time-replacement/)** > > It's critical to repair or replace a broken car radiator fan before it does damage to your vehicle. Here are three ways to find out what's wrong. Tester ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2019, 10:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fan-clutch-stays-on-when-ac-is-running-2001-gmc-sonoma/146642/15 "2019-08-13T22:13:09Z")
But if it’s not locking up when the a/c is off, then it’s ok, right? ---
**Author:** ![jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jameson.luttrell_154832)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 2:26am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fan-clutch-stays-on-when-ac-is-running-2001-gmc-sonoma/146642/16 "2019-08-14T02:26:30Z")
I would think so… I’m loosing so much power though and it sounds like a tow truck. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 3:33am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fan-clutch-stays-on-when-ac-is-running-2001-gmc-sonoma/146642/17 "2019-08-14T03:33:40Z")
If it’s sounding different, then it wouldn’t be that much work and cost to replace it.