Engine
Fan
Noise
If
a
Tire
Goes
Flat
Your vehicle has a clutched engine cooling fan. When the
clutch is engaged, the
fan
spins faster to provide more
air
to
cool the engine. In most everyday driving conditions,
the fan is spinning slower and the clutch is not fully
engaged. This improves fuel economy and reduces fan
noise. Under heavy vehicle loading, trailer towing and/or
high outside temperatures, the fan speed increases as the
clutch more fully engages.
So
you may hear an increase in
fan
noise.
This is normal and should not be mistaken as
the transmission slipping or making extra shifts. It is
merely the cooling system functioning properly. The fan
will slow down when additional cooling is not required
and the clutch partially disengages.
You
may also hear this fan noise when you start
the engine. It will go away as the fan clutch
partially disengages.
It’s unusual for
a
tire to “blow out” while you’re driving,
especially if you maintain your tires properly. If air goes
out of a tire, it’s much more likely to leak out slowly.
But if
you
should ever have a “blowout,” here are
a
few
tips about what to expect and what
to
do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag that
pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel firmly.
Steer to maintain lane position, and then gently brake
to
a stop well
out
of the traffic lane.
A
rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a
skid and may require the same correction you’d
use
in a
skid. In any rear blowout, remove your foot from the
accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by
steering the way you want the vehicle to go.
It
may be
very bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently
brake
to
a stop
--
well off the road if possible.
If
a
tire goes flat, the next part shows how to use your
jacking equipment
to
change a flat tire safely.
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