E53 3.0 Automatic Clutch fan nut seized
 

Hello everyone Ive been trying to replace all of the pulleys in the drive belt system, idler pulley, tensioner pulleys and water pump pulley. I cant get this clutch fan nut off for the life of me. I have the waterpump holding tool as well as the 32mm open end wrench. I know its left handed thread so lefty tighty and righty loosey. I have sprayed the nut with PB Blaster and no luck, used freeze off and also no luck. Im afraid if I use anymore force on the wrench while holding the pulley will just crack the plastic water pump pulley or taking out the expansion tank with all the force going to that side. Any other ideas i should try without cutting it from the waterpump, also i cant apply a torch because theres literaly no room and the alternator belt will probably melt. I have done this a lot of times on my E46 so i know for sure im turning it in the correct direction. Im open to any ideas. Thanks guys!!

Give it a tap with the hammer. Seriously. Don't go crazy, just a few brisk swings.

I mean hit the wrench.

Tried that one
 

Yeah I forgot to mention, I tried hitting it with a 3lb hammer. However I didn't try hitting it after spraying the freeze off. I will try again, this time after spraying the freeze off. Thanks I will update if this works. Thanks SlickGT1

You should alway try to put the wrench on, put tension on it as if you about to turn it, then give it a solid yank. Don't try constant force. You need it to be sudden.

Or the easy way :thumbup: (if you have air tools)......Mac Tools Online Store - 8-PC. Pneumatic Fan Clutch Wrench Set

Hmmmmmmm
 

Interesting..........for 236.00 + shipping I would just take it to an indy for less. Those are good to have though, I'm looking for a cheaper alternative though. Thanks

No Luck
 

I had no luck with this stupid nut. This nut is seized for some reason either the last tech who worked on it overtorque the damn thing or it wasn't removed recently ie a couple years. I hate that stupid plastic pulley that the clutch fan sits on that thing can go any minute and I can't change it out cause of the clutch fan. I have brand new pulleys to install and that clutch fan is not budging, I hate. To pay someone at a shop to do this because I've done this job at least 5 or 6 times already. But I have no choice I tried whacking the thing after spraying freeze off and PB blaster and nothing. :dunno:

I guess your only option now is to pay a mechanic...

I used a 32mm wrench and just a ligh tap with a rubber mallet, viola...

Could be the last time someone put it back on they cross threaded the left
hand threads.

No way. What's your mileage?

Can't you put a prybar between the screws on the fan hub, and counter twist against your wrench? That way, that pulley will take less of a hit. I wish I had a pic. Just these 4.8is don't have that clutch fan. I have taken off all of mine before without any special tools. All were 3 series so maybe it's different.

Can you take a pic of where you put the wrench? And wrench you are using?

I replaced my water pump and all belts on my 4.6is back in October, replaced the plastic pulley with an aluminum pulley for peace of mind. The nut shouldn't take that much to get it off, and it doesn't take much to tighten it, it will self tighten due to it being reverse threaded. You can buy the metal bar that holds the pulley in place on Ebay.

Can you modify the e53 with An electric fan like on an e46?

Good question. PArt of my motivation for buying a manual was for the electric fan like on my e46. That was unfortunately not the case.

You mean this...........yup I tried that one already

Yep, that's the one, it must really be on there. I see you're in NYC, if the vehicle has spent it's entire life in the north east it could be corrosion from all the salt they put on the roads in the winter.

Get the bar and wrench close to each other. So close that you can grab both with one hand. Use two hands though, and squeeze the two together. Or put extensions on the bar and wrench.

Yep and it is extremely easy. I used a electric fan from a 95 960 Volvo, the cooling fan relay from the same, and a 40 amp circuit breaker. Plenty of write-ups with pics on the web. This was installed on a 2002 X5 3.0l.