Remove heavy duty fan?

[captainsam]

So my alternator is going bad so I bought a replacement thinking I could easily swap it out. Unfortunately I have the tow package with the heavy duty cooling system on my 06 and it blocks the tensioner you need to actuate to replace the alternator. I've looked all over this forum and everywhere else but I can't find a straightforward explanation on how to get that off. Anybody know of any videos or write ups to get it off?

 

[HoosierJeeper]

I replaced my alternator without taking the fan out. Just got to spin it to get a breaker bar on the tensioner bolt. But if you want to remove it, you need a 36mm fan clutch wrench (or if you have an adjustable that's slim enough, mine got hung up). Here's what you do:
1. Put wrench on fan clutch and whack it with a BFH on the driver's side of the wrench to loosen (normal threads, I thought it was left hand threads at one point but it's not)
2. Remove upper radiator support bolts (6 of them, 10mm), pull radiator support thing up a bit
3. Remove the 2 10mm bolts holding the shroud, disconnect efan connector
4. Loosen mech fan all the way and pull it out with the shroud and efan. You'll want to pull it straight up.

 

[uss2defiant]

are you just trying to get the serpentine belt off?

you can do that without removing the HD cooling shroud.

 

[captainsam]

Thanks so much for the quick responses! I'll take another whack and replacing it without removing the fan. I had read somewhere that its a necessity

 

[HoosierJeeper]

Just keep spinning the fan till you get enough room. It'll work, way easier than taking the fans out.

 

[captainsam]

The breaker bar worked like a charm!! Took about 10 minutes. Thanks all!