Cooling fan clutch question
 

1990 240DL Wagon 170k miles


Is it possible that a failing cooling fan clutch could make a sound like a failing bearing (a squeaking, rubbing sound)? I hear that sound coming from the front of the engine at the midline. I hear no unusual noises when listening to a piece of wood touched to the timing belt cover, alternator and power steering pump. Suggestions?

It's possible but I'd look at the belts first--they sometimes come up with all kinds of weird noises; I had a belt once that sounded like a rod knock! Best way to eliminate the belts is to run some soap along the edge as the car is idling to see if the noise changes. Of course be careful doing that procedure around all moving parts!

Yeah, I guess it was a noisy belt, but like you wrote, it was a weird noise that I would not have guessed as coming from a belt. A few spurts of belt dressing seems to have quieted things back to normal. Thanks.