Fan Error?

[ghetto guy]

Sometimes when I start up my old laptop, it just shows a black screen with white letters in the corner. It says "Fan Error" for a few seconds then shuts off. Only after blowing into the fan will it start up. Any suggestions?

[Buzzardhut]

Sometimes when I start up my old laptop, it just shows a black screen with white letters in the corner. It says "Fan Error" for a few seconds then shuts off. Only after blowing into the fan will it start up. Any suggestions?
is there a way to pop it open and clean it out with a compressed air can?
maybe a little wd-40 on the spindle will help.

Also a good idea to get a Notebook Cooling pad (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Description=notebook+cooling+pad&x=0&y=0)

[Son of the Republic]

Sounds like it is about to go. Better have it replaced before it dies and cooks something.

[ghetto guy]

is there a way to pop it open and clean it out with a compressed air can?
maybe a little wd-40 on the spindle will help.

Also a good idea to get a Notebook Cooling pad (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Description=notebook+cooling+pad&x=0&y=0)
The fan can be accessed by opening the cover over the mini PCI slot. It looks pretty clean, just a thin layer of dust but no fuzz balls or anything. To access the spindle I might have to pull up the keyboard. I've thought about a cooling pad but I don't think it would help here. This happens when I first start it up, before it even goes through the POST. I think it might have something to do with the worn out bearings, it is five years old after all and has been used heavily since I received it. The fan seems to work fine after the computer starts up, it's even running now. Thanks for the help, I'll try the WD-40.

[Pleye]

If the fan isn't starting unless you blow into it then you may have a couple things to look into.

The first, and most probably is the bearings as suggested. Depends if they are sleeve or ball. Like B said, I've kept mine operating for some time with a lubricant. Usually have to remove the sticker on the fan to access a lube point. To be honest, that doesn't always work because the lube can't get down where it is needed. I've had to remove the retainer clip, pull the blades and magnet off, and then clean the shaft and channel with rubbing alcohol. Sometimes hair and dust get in there.

If it is a sleeve bearing and the plastic is worn, the trick will be of minimal use anyway because the plastic is scored and providing resistance, but the lube may help - and it is still worth a try if finding another fan is difficult because of the age of the computer.

I just replaced a fan in a stereo receiver that was overheating. The fan still worked, but would no longer come on at low voltage, only when commanded to run high. Testing it out found it wouldn't spin up, but pushing the blade or blowing on it helped. Because we needed it to run at low speed I had to replace it.

[ghetto guy]

If the fan isn't starting unless you blow into it then you may have a couple things to look into.

The first, and most probably is the bearings as suggested. Depends if they are sleeve or ball. Like B said, I've kept mine operating for some time with a lubricant. Usually have to remove the sticker on the fan to access a lube point. To be honest, that doesn't always work because the lube can't get down where it is needed. I've had to remove the retainer clip, pull the blades and magnet off, and then clean the shaft and channel with rubbing alcohol. Sometimes hair and dust get in there.

If it is a sleeve bearing and the plastic is worn, the trick will be of minimal use anyway because the plastic is scored and providing resistance, but the lube may help - and it is still worth a try if finding another fan is difficult because of the age of the computer.

I just replaced a fan in a stereo receiver that was overheating. The fan still worked, but would no longer come on at low voltage, only when commanded to run high. Testing it out found it wouldn't spin up, but pushing the blade or blowing on it helped. Because we needed it to run at low speed I had to replace it.
I'm not sure as to what kind of bearings there are. Sometimes it dose make moaning (sort of) sounds and vibrates abnormally. The only time the fan isn't working is during the initial start up. After its booted the fan turns on and off normally. I'm not totally sure where all the WD 40 went, when I open the cover over the fan the motor is on top of the fan facing me. I managed to get the lube into the hub of the fan blades and flipped the computer over to let it drip into the motor. I still had the problem the next day. Sadly, the fan is built into the entire heat sink so taking it apart isn't much of an option. I did find a refurbished replacement on ebay for about $25 for a new heat sink and everything. I'll see if there is another way to get to the fan, it might be as simple as taking off the keyboard, which needs to be replaced anyway.

[icebear]

oh, fooey.... i thought this was a thread on fan interference in baseball games.. yanno when some dufous leans over the wall and smacks a ball in play....


*sigh*

[99svtgreensnake]

Keep an eye out on ebay for a laptop that is selling for parts. You can buy it cannibalize the part you need and sell the laptop back on ebay.