So my fun for the day. Dropped our 2014 Sorento off at Kia delearship to have them look at the AWD system as it has been acting up when turning corners (feels like its trying to engage). Anyway wife leaves with me in Disco and pulling out of there I was on the throttle harder than normal but nothing crazy and boom. Look out the side view mirror and see bits of black plastic coming out. I get on the brakes only to realize they dont seem to be working that well. Felt like the car was shut off and didnt have power assistant. Put the car in neutral and it revs way up, so quickly back into drive still hard on the brakes realizing I am fighting the throttle but manage to slow it down enough to pull onto side street where I kill the motor and coast to a safe spot on the side of a residential rode. Luckily I didnt have cars right in front of me.

Pop the hood and half the upper cowling is gone just behind that upper radiator hose, all the blades on the clutch fan are gone, thermostat housing is in half, airbox at the MAF sensor is destroyed and brake reservoir cap is destroyed. I didnt get to look at it long as I got on the phone to have it towed home and then walked back to the dealership to get my KIA back so I at least have a car to get back to work in.

My theory is that the cowling fell back into clutch fan and and broke the blades then the blades did all the damage but not sure. Anyway trying to do damage assessment and got a few questions. First is the throttle cables appear to be fine so would the airbox and MAF sensor being taken out cause the car to think it needed more air causing it to feel full throttle even with throttle at zero? Trying to think about how I am going to pull it into garage basically. I got it shut down within 30 seconds and looking at scan gauge i never got over 200 so I dont think I caused any overheating damage. Next question is on parts. Most I can pick up used but the MAF sensor. I see them on eBay for 33 dollars or so then other for about 90. Are the 33 dollars legit? I will look around on here to get some feedback but thought I would ask. Past that I think I can take a closed look tonight to see if anything else got taken out.

Posted few pics of carnage but they are terrible so sorry for that

 

Wow! That's amazing. I would expect nothing less from a Land Rover.

 

If it's any consolation yours is not the first on the V8. There was a thread on here some months back where the fan disintegrated and trashed the rad cowling and many other parts. Unfortunately it seems too prevalent in the V8 Rover engines.

 

Is this a stock fan/clutch?

 

I'm convinced that fans are not just exploding.

The lower shroud clips into 2 small clips at the base of the radiator. I have bought several discos where either the clips were not replaced when work was done or the shroud was not fitted into the clips. Also the thin connection on the drivers side radiator mount is cracked.

In addition, many top shrouds are not properly fastened or they are cracked/missing tabs.

Then during heavy acceleration or stress the shroud moves, gets caught in the fan and its goodnight. Check your shrouds. Many people do not take the time to ensure proper fit and integrity.

 

Hey Abran.....any chance you have a part # for those fan shroud clips? I have one or two broken ones, seems like a good idea to replace them after reading your theory on "exploding fans"!

Thx!

 

Maybe. I'm not sure about that one. As long as the shroud firmly grips the upper radiator hose it should remain secure. I'm missing clips on mine but it's not going anywhere.

 

Yeah I am going to admit fault on this one. So last summer I replaced the radiator since it was leaking where previous owner had tried patch job on the nipple. Thinking back I remember not clipping in the lower fan shroud and it being late that weekend just decided to zip tie it into place. No way to be positive but as I said I am pretty sure the shroud got into the fan and caused the mayhem. Fan clutch is actually new from last year still feels good so dont see it being at fault just my dumbass fault.

Got it all apart need a new lower cowl and air intake piping as well. Got into the radiator as well and bent up a 2 by 2 section pretty good so not going to chance it and replace it. In regards to the throttle getting stuck I figured that out. It busted the resonator on the air intake and that got lodge in the throttle body where it couldn't close.

 

Nah, you didn't do anything wrong, just got old and brittle. When I tell people they need a new fan clutch, they need to replace the fan also. Hayden severe duty and a new fan is the way to go.

 

I think it's time to install those electric fans I've got sitting in the garage.