when I start my 97 ranger, I am able to stop the fan blades with my hand, so I am assuming the fan clutch is toast. plus in about a 30 min drive the temp gauge is rising to about the 3/4 mark or higher. bad fan clutch?

 

No you can stop it with your hands. Its bad when it stays locked all the time or if you can spin it and it will freewheel for a while.

 

to be a bit clearer on this problem, when the engine is warmed up after say 45 mile of driving, I am able to stop the fan with my hand, when it is cold not a chance of stopping it.
while driving at 60mph+ the temp is finebut when Im in stop and go conditions the temp while start rising close to redline, Im not losing any coolant and nothing is weeping out the weep hole on the water pump.
I replaced the t-stat last winter. thanks for your help, I just want to make sure I order up the right part the first time

 

so you are stopping the fan with your hand while it is on and moving?

 

yes after the engine is warmed up, I am able to stop the fan blades, when the engine is cold I am unable to stop the fan anf the only time it overheats is in stop and go conditions. I can drive 45 mile to work and not have the temp gauge rise.but as soon as i hit 20 minute stop and go traffic it starts to over heat

 

Could be going. Pick one up at Vatozone. I think it was $60 for mine but it is usually locked.

 

true or false, if the water pump is bad it will leak out the weep hole?

 

thanks for your replies

 

Sounds like its time for a water pump too.