Now some things you do see on a regular basis, Pic 1 below a broken fan shroud, nothing unusual about that but look at the second photo to see the cause of it.... the water pump shaft has snapped!! allowing the fan blade and viscous to fly off destroying the shroud and just marking the radiator ( lucky )now you don't see that very often.

 

Will update on when it is fixed and what caused it, I do have a theory already:( anyone want a guess?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jeff TT

I would hazzard a guess that the belt was too tight?

I would hazzard a guess that the belt was too tight?

 

 

Yes an overtight belt could certainly cause an issue with the water pump bearing, however the usual effect is a very wobbly fan blade that hits the front pulley damaging the blade edges and the other ancillary belts.

 

There seems to be no damage on the blade edges which suggest a sudden and complete failure.

 

Jeff TT

Water pump seized, causing the belt to shatter, as it spins takes out the fan, fan cuts through the shroud..............

fan nuts/bolts not done up/loose!

 

dan.:)

I reckon its been ran dry - not sure whether through neglect or sudden coolant loss.

 

That would hump the bearings and induce a wobble, possibly enough to strike the motor a couple of times before it seized and tore itself off.

 

Witness marks on the motor suggest contact with the pulley, but there is a rust spot on the broken shaft, so it may have been cracked before.

there is a rust spot on the broken shaft, so it may have been cracked before.

 

 

Yes, see below a close up of the shaft and the arow pointing to the shaft rust spot, this suggests that area was already broken and rusty BEFORE the final failure.

 

Now I am no expert in metalurgy but the final catastrophic fracture and parting of the fan shaft would have been due to the original rust spot transfering load to the rest of the now weaker shaft resulting in metal fatigue, this is evident by the shiney look to the break.

 

Why the rust spot? I think and this is not proven yet till I dis-assemble it all I have a sneaking suspicion its an unbranded copy water pump!

 

Will see what the strip down reveals and post up more info as it is found.

 

Jeff TT

 

 

 

Edited May 31, 200916 yr by JeffTT

Why the rust spot? I think and this is not proven yet till I dis-assemble it all I have a sneaking suspicion its an unbranded copy water pump!

 

I was going to say that :D

When I priced up a genuine pump and a copy from my local parts place the difference was only about a tenner I think so not worth the saving when you're risking your engine overheating.

At least when it fails like this you're going to notice it and stop! LOL

Get a proper Nissan one.

was going to ask if it was a low grade cast type metal.

 

But how'd it get a crack to rust in the first place? maybe damaged in transit or storage and use opened it up over time then a final big break like you say??

was going to ask if it was a low grade cast type metal.

 

But how'd it get a crack to rust in the first place? maybe damaged in transit or storage and use opened it up over time then a final big break like you say??

 

If it`s as we think, an unbranded copy, then it could potentially be pure crap and the flaw was in the shaft from new and hence the rusting and the little time bomb waiting to go off, dead eager to strip it down now to find out!!

 

Jeff TT