I am having problems removing the mechanical fan from the engine (to get at the water pump). My manual (Haynes) says to use a spanner wrench to hold the idler pulley and loosen the central nut between the fan clutch and the pulley. My Audi does not have this nut. It is a smooth shaft. I have noticed a bolt of somekind on the backside of the idler pulley shaft shroud but I am not sure it was designed to be loosened and I don't want to screw something up.

Any advise would be appreciated.

 

Hee Hee. Haynes did not tell you the fan clutch is a left hand threaded nut. To do the job without confusion you need Bentley.

You need a very slim but long wrench to lock into the nut and use a hammer to knock it loose. If the fan clutch has never been replaced now is a good time. To check you can try hand turning the fan when the car is cold. If you can feel resistance you are OK. If it free spins you need new one. It is not cheap - $92.78 at my store.

PS. You will need to make sure the belt and pulley stays put when you hit the wrench.


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I believe its a 32mm spnner wrench.

 

Yep. I use bicycle shop wrench because they are very slim yet strong.

 

^^ yep work force or park tools carries them at most bike stores, use to build and tune bikes up for 4 years.

 

Thanks for the advice, however the nut you speak of DOES NOT EXIST ON MY AUDI. There is NO nut between the fan clutch and the pulley.

That is my problem. I have no place to put the wrench onto.

 

That would be Wrench Force, it's the tool side of Trek.
Tool runs $20 retail.

 

gentlemen the water pump is driven by the serpentine belt/aux belt the big spanner job is for the older cars

 

I have the same problem on my 1999 a4 1.8t!!!!
I dont know what to do either....