How to Replace the Fan in a Toyota Tacoma

Replacing the mechanical (belt driven) engine cooling fan on your Toyota Tacoma is a relatively simple operation. There is no need to drain the engine coolant or to work underneath your truck. A novice can replace a Toyota Tacoma engine fan in about an hour using just a wrench.

Instructions

1

Disconnect and isolate the negative battery cable on your Toyota Tacoma with non-conductive material such as a clean rag or work glove. Next, remove the alternator, air conditioning and power steering drive belts by loosening the bolts that hold their pulleys in place and sliding the pulleys down so that the belts go slack and can easily be removed.

2

Loosen and remove the nuts holding the fan clutch, fan and pulley in place. Remove the fan clutch, fan and pulley in one unit. Replace the fan clutch, pulley and fan with a new or undamaged unit and loosely fit the nuts in place to hold them on.

3

Return the drive belt to its original place on the water pump pulley. Tighten the nuts holding the fan assembly on to 16 foot pounds (21 Nm) of torque and make certain the water pump pulley is firmly anchored.

4

Install the other drive belts to their original pulleys and adjust to the appropriate tension. Make certain the pulleys are firmly in place.

5

Reconnect the negative battery cable. Run your vehicle and check for normal fan operation.