Are my radiator fans on wrong sides? AC belt help needed..

[d1giPhux]

EDIT: I've changed this thread to find out some more info. Need to find out if my radiator fans were put back on the wrong sides. Like right one on left, and left on right. Or if thats even possible?

Basically, the problem is, the right hand fan is in the way of the AC bracket. You cant get the bolt off without a special tool, or without removing the fan. Or at least the way its set up now. Sort of looks like the fans are on the wrong sides.

So.. I'm still wondering WHAT IS THE CORRECT WAY TO REMOVE THE AC IDLER PULLEY LOCK NUT?

This thread was started because I wasnt sure WHAT tool to use to get the damn lock nut off the AC idler pulley.

Check below for more info:
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I'm trying to figure out what tool (wrench) is best to use for removing the lock bolt on the AC idler pulley so that I can remove belts again.

Here is my dilemma. Last time I used a 12mm 12pt offset box end wrench.. and it rounded the lock bolt on the AC pulley.

So my question really is.. what type of tool should be used to loosen this bolt? Regular wrench doesnt seem to work because of the lip, sockets wont work because of the fans in the way, etc.

Also, since mine is rounded off, I'm not really sure what to do now. I cant use 12pt, and 6pt in that size / offset are really rare it seems.

Here is the bolt I'm talking about (its the one below the E in 'tensioner'):

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/12/10308beltchange3-1.jpg

I have to get this bolt off now so that I can tighten the belt down a bit more. However.. its friggin rounded off. Not too happy my friend did that in a rush for me! :smt013

[Huffer]

Pretty sure you can get a 6pt socket and short socket wrench in there, and use a cheater bar for leverage.

[d1giPhux]

Nah.. i wasnt able to fit anything in there. Not with the radiator fans being in the way. Not sure why.. because i SWEAR ive taken it off before with a socket.. but, not this time. Totally sucks. Theres just no clearance.. or at least for my sockets / ratchets. I'm even using a shallow socket too!

[Huffer]

Did you try going at it from under the car? Or you could just remove the fans.

[d1giPhux]

Wow.. i feel stupid. No, didn't try from underneath. I think I might have to give that a try today. It just sucks.. because my stupid friend was using his 12pt wrench.. and rounded the friggin nut. So now.. I'm not even sure what I need to do to fix it.

Do I have to pull the bolt / bracket and entire thing out to get a new nut on there? Or can i just remove the nut entirely, and put a new one on? Not sure if that would even work.

Any other suggestions? On this page it says 'use ratcheting hand wrench':

http://www.subarugirlies.com/howto/v-be ... hange3.jpg (http://www.subarugirlies.com/howto/v-belts/subaru-v-belt-change3.jpg)

Full details: http://www.subarugirlies.com/howto/v-be ... -swap.html (http://www.subarugirlies.com/howto/v-belts/subaru-belt-swap.html)

.. but I'm not sure I know what that is. Like a ratcheting open end wrench? I dont think an open end will even work here..


edit: actually.. i dont think going from underneath would really help anyways.. because its the wrench/socket hitting on the fans directly across that is the problem. I could drop the fan out, just forget how to.

[Huffer]

These are ratcheting wrenches - they have a box end and a rachet socket on the other. You slip the ratchet end over the nut, and crank away. They're very useful in tight places, and you can use the old "link" trick to link two of them together for more leverage.
http://www.harborfreight.com/7-piece-me ... 95552.html (http://www.harborfreight.com/7-piece-metric-ratcheting-combo-wrench-set-95552.html)

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/12/image_11947-1.jpghttps://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/12/image_12060-1.jpg

[d1giPhux]

Hmm.. i have a set of those (gearwrench), they didn't work either. Cant get to that bolt because of the adjuster bracket itself.

I'm wondering what most people just use.. maybe my stupid sockets are just too big or something. They are the 'shallow' model, however, maybe they are still just too big. We'll.. guess i'll have to give this a second shot today. Seems like the only thing that WANTS to fit in there is an offset box end wrench. Weird..

[Huffer]

Your socket wall might be too thick to drop inside the bracket. You may have to use a smaller driver size ratchet.

[d1giPhux]

Yeah, might have to go down to 1/4" ratchet. The weird thing is.. I have a small ratchet that is the size of a 1/4" ratchet, but is 3/8"

Anyways.. couple more questions. If i undid the nut from the pulley.. would I have to pull the entire bracket off to fix it? I figure the nut is dead.. so might as well replace it now that its mangled.

[StatGSR]

If the bolt head/nut is too messed up you may need a set of something like these...
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1260 ... 0952061000 (http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00952061000P?sid=IDx20070921x00003a&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=00952061000)
Just had to use my set of extractors for the first time a week ago while removing the brake caliper from my rusty civic... worked great.


also get yourself a flex head ratch, they are boss! and should help alot for things like this...
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1260 ... 0944815000 (http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00944815000P?sid=IDx20070921x00003a&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=00944815000)

[Hocrest]

Pull the fan, use some penetrating oil then use a socket to get it off. If it close to getting a socket in there, you can try to make room by taking off the top radiator brackets and push the rad a little forward.

It is a standard Subaru nut size, but if you don't have a bucket of nuts and bolts, it should be easily picked up at any decent hardware store, if they don't have the flange nut, get a nut and washer.

[02_Legacy]

Why dont you take the top 2 bolts out and work on your rounded bolt at the bench. You might have more room around the top 2 bolts so you can use your socket but if you don't you can still try with a 12-pt wrench. You just have to know when to stop if it isn't coming.

O and 1/4 shallow well sockets are generally shorter than 3/8 shallows. So that may be worth a try also.

[d1giPhux]

Thanks for the tips guys.. gonna try some of these ideas later!

If i remove the 2 bolts holding the bracket on.. is that okay? I could just remove the bracket and work on it on the workbench.. :smt023

[StatGSR]

If i remove the 2 bolts holding the bracket on.. is that okay? I could just remove the bracket and work on it on the workbench.. :smt023

Thats pretty much what they are for! get after it!

[d1giPhux]

Cool man, didn't know that. I will give that a god, as I don't wanna mangle this too badly. Wish I knew what size the nut was.. but I guess I will find out once its off!

[d1giPhux]

Okay.. so i pulled the entire bracket off.. and something is DEFINITELY weird. Not sure if the radiator fans are on backwards.. like the left on the right side or what. But as you can see in the below picture, there is NO clearance for a wrench.

IS the adjuster supposed to be at an angle? Seems like mine is pointing straight down. Anyone have some pictures of their they could upload?

Here is mine:

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/12/ACbelt1-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/12/ACbelt2-1.jpg

Here is a view of the radiator fans. I have a feeling they are put on wrong. Looks like the left one is on the right side, and right on the left side. Can anyone confirm from the pic below?:

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/12/radfan-1.jpg

[harrymaneuvers]

Everything looks fine by me...

Why dont you just take that fan or both fans out? 7-10 minutes max...

Two bolts per fan, coolant res, electrical connection at the bottom of the fan and they just pull out...

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/12/IMAG0634jpgt1322867849-1.jpg

[d1giPhux]

Its not so much i dont wanna take them out.. but on the BD series car with the 2.5 engine, is this how its SUPPOSED to be removed? Or is something weird with the way my car is set up. It seems a bit odd to me! Just trying to find out if it is in fact that way, or if there is a special tool used to loosen this nut that I can just purchase. Closest thing I can find:

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp ... ir=catalog (http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=hand&item_ID=4806&group_ID=531&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog)

http://www.mechanicstoolsupply.com/SK-8 ... 22492.html (http://www.mechanicstoolsupply.com/SK-87781-6-Point-Short-Deep-Metric-Offset-Box-End-Wrench-11-x-12mm_p_22492.html)

6pt so that it wont round the nut.

Let me know what you guys think..

[harrymaneuvers]

Well then to answer your question...

I had the same problem when I was tightening my AC pulley last time... When adjusting the long bolt... it would push the pulley down to the point where I couldnt get a socket in there to tighten it down. I ended up just removing my fans...

I bet you get it with a set of low profile sockets... snap on makes a VERY nice set:

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSu-IIL3APZnEW9_TTvIYA-sOIjea1VAoiPuuY2kSvlrxngICmEyIVjLHSPxA

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/12/imagesqtbnANd9GcSK88n2YcVP5ronlrZkCmdfiw-1.jpg

[d1giPhux]

Nah.. there isnt any clearance. Barely enough for regular offset wrench. Oh well.. guess i'll just have to buy the snapon. I wonder why they get worn out like this? Its basically vertical.

Anyone have any pictures of their engine bay i could see?

Thanks.

[d1giPhux]

Ive updated the thread to reflect my current dillema.

Basically, I don't think that the AC lock bolt should be this hard to get to. My AC idler pulley bracket is STRAIGHT up and DOWN. Like: |

Should it be at an angle? Are my radiator fans on wrong? Or is there just some special tool used to undo this nut? Its driving me mad.. :lol:

Thanks!

[harrymaneuvers]

Im tellin ya man... I dont think there is anything wrong with your car...


I had this exact same problem when I was retightening the pulley... Tightening up the tension by turning the long bolt eventually forced the lock bolt to be directly in line with that plastic protection fin on the radiator fan. For the longest time I just didnt tighten that bolt and had a squeeky belt on start up and sometimes when I would first turn my AC on... I didnt get to tighten it fully until I got tired of hearing my belt squeek and I took the fan out to tighten the lock nut.


As far as the angle of the bracket... yes there should be a slight angle to it... I am slightly confused as to how it would be any more or less of an angle... I mean... when I look at the picture below... You would think that if your bracket was straight vertical then you wouldnt have as much of a clearance issue with the radiator fan because your bolt would be closer to the center of the fans which doesnt have that protection pillar in the way.

http://www.sunrisejapanese.com/db/images/subaru2.jpg

[d1giPhux]

Weird. I'm wondering how the heck subaru shops do this.. because surely they dont pull the fan every time. But then again, maybe they do. I'm gonna jack it up, probably pull the fan, and be done with this crap.

Went to the local subaru place, and they gave me a new nut for free.. so thats cool.

Just weird that you would need to pull the fan to get it out. I've done this before, and I don't remember pulling the fan, but maybe i did.

Do on the fans.. there are no bolts on the bottom of them correct? As i remember, its just 2 right? Cool.. should be easy enough then.

[harrymaneuvers]

Should have asked the subaru place that you were at how they do it...

Now that I think about it... they probably dont even take the whole fan out... I bet the leave the connector in place, take one or even both bolts out and just lift up slightly until the fan guard is out of the way... it probably doesnt need to move that much.

[d1giPhux]

Well. Its done.. had to do the following:

1. Jack Car up.
2. Put on stands if you want.
3. Remove 2 bolts holding fan from right side of radiator, and 3 holding fan on top (this is including the reservoir tank)
4. Remove reservoir tank from engine bay.
5. Go under car and disconnect the FAN plug. You PUSH UP on the clip to undo it easily.
6. Remove FAN from engine bay.

Well.. its all fixed now. Actually turned out to be the PS Belt anyways. LOL. At least I replaced the mangled nut.. that I mangled! :lol: :smt021

Fix to squeal / squeaking on startup: Tighten PS belt.

Took me about 1 hour while taking brakes and hanging out. Thank you all for the help and ideas! :smt023

[02_Legacy]

I had to remove the belts yesterday and it made me think of this thread. Here is what I used, it worked perfectically.
http://www.amazon.com/GearWrench-85912-GearBox-Ratcheting-Wrench/dp/B003UE1H4G
Its long and skinny so you can get it down there and it has a slight offset on the fixed end that allows it to slip on the nut and still clear the bracket.

[d1giPhux]

hmm, 0-degree offset? Interesting. I have a 12mm by gearwrench.. wonder if it would work. Its just a regular box end / open end wrench. Didn't even think to try it as it didn't seem like it would fit. Easiest way so far for me is to just jack car up, undo the plug, then remove the fan with total of 4 bolts including the reservoir tank bolts. Take a pic of your tool.. i wanna see what the offset looks like!

edit: do you use the ratcheting end, or the regular end? It worked for me with a regular 12point offset end, but it strips the bolt too easily. I went through that. I looked and found SK has a 6 point box end offset, but i didn't bother buying it.

[02_Legacy]

definitely use the regular end (non ratcheting). It is super thin so it can fit between the bolt head and the sides of the bracket, it is way different than a normal box end. Granted it is a twelve point but you can get the wrench on the bolt solidly because of the design. If I think of it I will try to get some better pics of it for you.