Will Williams
Well-Known Member
The other day I had to take my wife to the airport. We live in a rural area in southern VA. The nearest airport is about two hours away in North Carolina. We left early and got near the airport hours before she needed to check in so we decide to go to the mall to **** time. Right after I got off the highway my steering became difficult, the battery light came on, then the radiator light came on. I told my wife to look on her phone and find the nearest auto repair shop. Lucky there was one a few blocks in the direction we were going. I pulled in there, I’m thinking the belt has broken. I confirmed it after I looked under the hood. We were now about 25 minutes from the airport, she needed to be there a little after 1500 hours and it was now just after 1300 hours. I knew the belt replacement would quick and simple, but when the belt broke it acted as a “****-wacker” on the wire connecting the clutch fan. Unless you go to a junk yard you have problems finding the wire connection only. Replacing the wire only takes a few minutes, but replacing the entire fan clutch I needed to make appointment for the next day. I only had my emergency tool box, so all of my “good” tools were at home, along with the fan belt that I recently brought. Yes, I had suspected I needed one earlier. Time was now getting critical so I had few good options if she was to get to the airport on time, call a taxi / Uber or try to drive without a working clutch fan hoping I don’t need the engine to slow down & idling too much. I decided to let the shop fix the belt and wire. Labor was about $70.00, the belt about $70.00. The bigger issue was the wire. I had to order and then buy the complete fan clutch with wire, $345.00. Like I said the belt was replaced in about 15 minutes, but the shop could not get the clutch until after 1600 hours.
Total cost was over $500.00 after taxes. I now have a new fan belt (which cost me less than $50.00) and a new fan clutch on the shelve. Yes, I am kicking myself for not replacing the belt sooner. I guess it could have been worst if it broke down on the highway on the way to the airport or after I drop her off at the airport on one of the seldom used roads home.
Total cost was over $500.00 after taxes. I now have a new fan belt (which cost me less than $50.00) and a new fan clutch on the shelve. Yes, I am kicking myself for not replacing the belt sooner. I guess it could have been worst if it broke down on the highway on the way to the airport or after I drop her off at the airport on one of the seldom used roads home.
