Surging sound when pulling a load

[x-man]

I've asked this question in another forum and would like to get opinions from members here.

While pulling my fifth wheel trailer, (usually when it's pretty warm out), I hear this fan like noise that surges from soft to loud, up and down. It cycles (up and down) about every second. At the same time my A/C seems to have a difficult time cooling off. This will last for around 5-10 minutes and then settle down for a while and start up again later and repeats over and over.

Some have suggested that it is the fan clutch kicking on and off, but shouldn't that engage and stay engaged for more than a second to cool the engine off. It's the surge back and forth that concerns me and it would be nice to have the A/C work better too.

[late_99_PSD]

You might need to adjust the air gap in the A/C clutch. If its not right the clutch will not hold like its supposed to. Just an idea, not nescisarily saying this is your problem.

[EArmsF350]

X-man, I would say it's your engine fan. The fact you said it happends when it'e warm out and the AC going leads me to this assumption. I had an '02 7.3 which I pulled alot in the Kansas summer and the fan was just to the temp where it needed to cycle but was still not quite locked in and it was up and down for several minutes until it was back to normal operating temp. My AC would get warm while it cycled. I had a recall on the fan clutch and Ford installed a new clutch, all is well. They told me when the engine fan clutch locks in, your engine will lose up to 60 hp.

[chillls]

Originally Posted by EArmsF350

X-man, I would say it's your engine fan. The fact you said it happends when it'e warm out and the AC going leads me to this assumption. I had an '02 7.3 which I pulled alot in the Kansas summer and the fan was just to the temp where it needed to cycle but was still not quite locked in and it was up and down for several minutes until it was back to normal operating temp. My AC would get warm while it cycled. I had a recall on the fan clutch and Ford installed a new clutch, all is well. They told me when the engine fan clutch locks in, your engine will lose up to 60 hp.

you dont happen to have the recall number do you?

[x-man]

Originally Posted by EArmsF350

X-man, I would say it's your engine fan. The fact you said it happends when it'e warm out and the AC going leads me to this assumption. I had an '02 7.3 which I pulled alot in the Kansas summer and the fan was just to the temp where it needed to cycle but was still not quite locked in and it was up and down for several minutes until it was back to normal operating temp. My AC would get warm while it cycled. I had a recall on the fan clutch and Ford installed a new clutch, all is well. They told me when the engine fan clutch locks in, your engine will lose up to 60 hp.

Are you saying that this is not normal and I need to replace the fan clutch?

[EArmsF350]

I would ask your Ford Dealership if your truck is elligible for the recall for the fan clutch. I dont have any idea what the recall # was, this was in the spring of 2003 and the truck was right off the semi when i bought it in Oct. 2002. We had to wait for the tech. to peel the plastic off the windows before we could look at it. So I am not sure if it is for that particular year or what, like I said it was a long time ago. Sorry. I would defenitly look into the fan clutch issue though. We have a 2001 E450 ambulance that does the same thing but my director wont get it fixed.