is my laptop's fan nearing the end of its life?

ixfd64 · 2009-09-23, 07:08

A few weeks ago, my IBM ThinkPad T42 displayed a "fan error" message while starting up and shut down a few seconds later. This seemed like an isolated incident, but it has been happening with increasing frequency. At times, the fan will stop working while the laptop is running (!), although the CPU will automatically slow down to prevent overheating.

This problem has been intermittent, but it has gotten to the point where it is hard to turn on the laptop. I opened the laptop up and blew out the dust, but it did not solve the problem. Also, the fan makes a very faint screeching sound.

Is my fan close to death? If so, does anyone know where I can get a cheap replacement?

Thanks.

lfm · 2009-09-23, 07:15

I have a Toshiba I replaced the fan/heat sink without difficulty. I think most of them are proprietary tho so you'd have to find a IBM (or Levono?) repair place and ask them if you could get a fan. Still it shouldn't be too expensive, the Toshiba ones I got were 35-45 dollars. If they insist on replacing it themselves in the shop, the labor cost will probably be more than the parts.

Batalov · 2009-09-23, 07:18

I selected a phrase from your first sentence and ...
http://www.insidemylaptop.com/ibm-th...age-on-bootup/
I have one at work but if it dies, it will simply go down the elevator to the IT ...khm...

...heaven?

Raise your hands you whose IT is in the basement of the building!

ixfd64 · 2009-09-26, 22:40

OK, I opened up the laptop.

However, the fan assembly is secured by three extremely stubborn screws that will not come off no matter how hard I try, and I even damaged two screwdrivers in the process. I know there are online guides on how to remove stubborn screws, but they are intended for "heavy duty" DIY work (like furniture construction) rather than laptop repair. (I honestly don't think dripping acid into a laptop is a very smart idea.) I really don't want to risk damaging my laptop by using excessive force.

Am I out of options? Should I go to a computer repair shop for this?

lfm · 2009-09-27, 02:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by ixfd64

OK, I opened up the laptop.

However, the fan assembly is secured by three extremely stubborn screws that will not come off no matter how hard I try, and I even damaged two screwdrivers in the process. I know there are online guides on how to remove stubborn screws, but they are intended for "heavy duty" DIY work (like furniture construction) rather than laptop repair. (I honestly don't think dripping acid into a laptop is a very smart idea.) I really don't want to risk damaging my laptop by using excessive force.

Am I out of options? Should I go to a computer repair shop for this?

If you haven't ruined the screws yet, I guess you might as well see if a pro repair tech can do it. If the screws are wrecked you might be out one laptop.

ixfd64 · 2009-09-27, 05:36

The screws on the fan are still in pretty good condition.

I've been considering taking the laptop to a repair shop, but I'm also concerned about the quality of such services, since I've heard reports of people having their data stolen. I guess I'll wait until my father gets back from his business trip on Monday and see what he thinks.

S485122 · 2009-09-27, 06:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by ixfd64

However, the fan assembly is secured by three extremely stubborn screws that will not come off no matter how hard I try, and I even damaged two screwdrivers in the process.

Be sure to use the right screwdriver : with cruciform screws (Phillips and Posidriv) people tend to use too small a screwdriver size, the right size will fit with no play (I do not know if that is the right word in English.) For ordinary cruciform screws, the shaft of the screwdriver will have a diameter nearly equal to that of the screw head.

Another thing is not to use a Phillips screwdriver for a Pozidriv screw and vice versa.

See the wikipedia article about Pozidriv for more info.

Jacob

xilman · 2009-09-28, 07:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by S485122

Be sure to use the right screwdriver : with cruciform screws (Phillips and Posidriv) people tend to use too small a screwdriver size, the right size will fit with no play (I do not know if that is the right word in English.) For ordinary cruciform screws, the shaft of the screwdriver will have a diameter nearly equal to that of the screw head.

Another thing is not to use a Phillips screwdriver for a Pozidriv screw and vice versa.

See the wikipedia article about Pozidriv for more info.

Jacob

Good advice.

Something else to try: screws are usually made of a different material from that into which they are screwed. In particular, they often have different coefficients of thermal expansion. If you are lucky, putting the laptop into a freezer for a while will shrink the screw more than the hole, thereby loosening the screw. If you are unlucky, it will tighten the screw and, with a laptop, heating it significantly is not normally an option though you may try applying a soldering iron tip directly to the screw head until the surrounding are heats up.

An impact screwdriver may also work. The initial impulse from the blow may be enough to break any cold welds that have occurred. If you try this approach, be certain to use exactly the correct screwdriver bit and don't hit the thing too hard!

If you try any of these, it's entirely at your own risk!

Paul

ixfd64 · 2009-10-17, 17:49

It's been a while, so I thought I'd post an update. The fan assembly was glued to the motherboard and was very hard to remove, so we had to hire someone to do it for us.

Anyways, we've found the source of the problem. It turned out that the IC controlling the fan was busted, so this does mean that we had to get a new fan. The computer now makes a vibrating sound whenever the new fan is running, but for the most part, the problem has been solved.

Thanks for the advice, everyone.

2009-09-23, 07:08	#1
ixfd64 Bemusing Prompter "Danny" Dec 2002 California 7⁴ Posts	is my laptop's fan nearing the end of its life? A few weeks ago, my IBM ThinkPad T42 displayed a "fan error" message while starting up and shut down a few seconds later. This seemed like an isolated incident, but it has been happening with increasing frequency. At times, the fan will stop working while the laptop is running (!), although the CPU will automatically slow down to prevent overheating. This problem has been intermittent, but it has gotten to the point where it is hard to turn on the laptop. I opened the laptop up and blew out the dust, but it did not solve the problem. Also, the fan makes a very faint screeching sound. Is my fan close to death? If so, does anyone know where I can get a cheap replacement? Thanks.

2009-10-17, 17:49	#9
ixfd64 Bemusing Prompter "Danny" Dec 2002 California 7⁴ Posts	It's been a while, so I thought I'd post an update. The fan assembly was glued to the motherboard and was very hard to remove, so we had to hire someone to do it for us. Anyways, we've found the source of the problem. It turned out that the IC controlling the fan was busted, so this does mean that we had to get a new fan. The computer now makes a vibrating sound whenever the new fan is running, but for the most part, the problem has been solved. Thanks for the advice, everyone. Last fiddled with by ixfd64 on 2009-10-17 at 18:09

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2009-09-23, 07:15	#2
lfm Jul 2006 Calgary 1A9₁₆ Posts	I have a Toshiba I replaced the fan/heat sink without difficulty. I think most of them are proprietary tho so you'd have to find a IBM (or Levono?) repair place and ask them if you could get a fan. Still it shouldn't be too expensive, the Toshiba ones I got were 35-45 dollars. If they insist on replacing it themselves in the shop, the labor cost will probably be more than the parts.

2009-09-23, 07:18	#3
Batalov "Serge" Mar 2008 Phi(4,2^7658614+1)/2 9,497 Posts	I selected a phrase from your first sentence and ... http://www.insidemylaptop.com/ibm-th...age-on-bootup/ I have one at work but if it dies, it will simply go down the elevator to the IT ...khm... ...heaven? Raise your hands you whose IT is in the basement of the building!

2009-09-26, 22:40	#4
ixfd64 Bemusing Prompter "Danny" Dec 2002 California 7⁴ Posts	OK, I opened up the laptop. However, the fan assembly is secured by three extremely stubborn screws that will not come off no matter how hard I try, and I even damaged two screwdrivers in the process. I know there are online guides on how to remove stubborn screws, but they are intended for "heavy duty" DIY work (like furniture construction) rather than laptop repair. (I honestly don't think dripping acid into a laptop is a very smart idea.) I really don't want to risk damaging my laptop by using excessive force. Am I out of options? Should I go to a computer repair shop for this?

2009-09-27, 05:36	#6
ixfd64 Bemusing Prompter "Danny" Dec 2002 California 961₁₆ Posts	The screws on the fan are still in pretty good condition. I've been considering taking the laptop to a repair shop, but I'm also concerned about the quality of such services, since I've heard reports of people having their data stolen. I guess I'll wait until my father gets back from his business trip on Monday and see what he thinks.