t40 Problem

[eLinux]

I'm having an issue with my t40 fan. Sometimes when I'm using the computer for a while, the fan will turn on, and the fan sound will be far from steady.

A good way to describe the problem would be a "fan burst" approximately every 5 to 5.5 seconds.

Any input greatly appreciated! This problem is definately not unique to my laptop as I have found several posts on newsgroups related to the problem but no solution yet.

Thanks in advance.

 

[eLinux]

here is a link to one of the posts on the problem in the newsgroups:

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&threadm=NDhqb.138445%24EO3.19658%40clgrps13&rnum=5&prev=/groups%3Fq%3Dt40%2BFan%2BProblem%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26oe%3DUTF-8%26selm%3DNDhqb.138445%2524EO3.19658%2540clgrps13%26rnum%3D5

 

[eriqesque]

Well there is a thread at the
Thinkpads.com forum and a person on there did this research and a few of us have had it done.
There is a FRU part than can be oredered through the parts dept. Its actually a new fan assembly from the T41p
and its totally different than the current one used in the T40's
I have had the switch done and the difference is night and day.
This fan is very very quiet no cycling and shuts itself off more efficiently.
the part number is FRU#13N5347

 

[Pandaren]

loooong thread at Thinkpads.com

 

[eriqesque]

And many including the original posts are missing
they must have dropped off.

 

[eLinux]

How very sad that this is a common occurance in t4x's!

eriqesque... Was it easy to install? I'm currently reading the thraed and learning about the problem (and how common it is), and I'm seriously considering buying the fan. I have extensive experience in installing parts on desktop computers (been doing it many years), but I've *never* installed a laptop nor changed parts in it...

I'd rather not ruin anything since I'm a poor college student who spent more than $2000 on a laptop with a popping sound

...thank you all for the help so far...I can't believe Google didn't find that thread at the Thinkpads.com forum!

 

[eLinux]

Also, does IBM know about this problem? I purchased my laptop so recently that I'm shocked there are that many users with the problem...

If I were to call tech support, do you guys think they would instantly know about my issue if I referred to the "fan problem"?

 

[TEEZLE]

Originally posted by: eriqesque
Well there is a thread at the
Thinkpads.com forum and a person on there did this research and a few of us have had it done.
There is a FRU part than can be oredered through the parts dept. Its actually a new fan assembly from the T41p
and its totally different than the current one used in the T40's
I have had the switch done and the difference is night and day.
This fan is very very quiet no cycling and shuts itself off more efficiently.
the part number is FRU#13N5347

We had to replace about 25 of the T40s where i work with this same issue. Do what he says and call them IBM up to get it repaired. The replacement fan is indeed different.

 

[eLinux]

*sigh*

I know maybe this sounds kinda stupid, but it sorta upsets me that I have to send in a laptop simply b/c of a fan...especially since it's brand spankin' new and very recently purchased.

@TEEZLE:
From what I understand, eriqesque seems to have changed the fan on his own, along with other t40 owners on the thinkpads.com forum. I'm hoping the installation isn't too difficult. Again, sending the laptop to repair is quite an inconvenience, especially since I need the laptop for school and not having it is a big deal.

 

[eriqesque]

I took mine to the service center near me to have the fan changed out
but since then i have re-opened it up and applied some arctic silver 5 to the CPU
it's very simple to do.
If you download the Hardware Maintenence Manual gives very easy instructions
on how to change every aspect of this Machine.
But I can tell you that this new part is much more efficient some people have reported that the
cycling is still there when on High speed but i have yet to hear anything except a small to normal puch of air based
on if the fan is spinning low medium or high and most of the time if you use the laptop power profile it runs on low(when it runs) and
barely audible.

 

[eLinux]

Out of curiosity...how long did it take for them to switch out the fan? Further, do you know for a fact that it was the new t41 fan (FRU#13N5347) that they put in your machine?

And a sort of unrelated question: arctic silver 5...where'd you get yours?

 

[eriqesque]

Originally posted by: eLinux
Out of curiosity...how long did it take for them to switch out the fan? Further, do you know for a fact that it was the new t41 fan (FRU#13N5347) that they put in your machine?

And a sort of unrelated question: arctic silver 5...where'd you get yours?

Well I ordered the part off the maintenance part site form IBM
and then took it to a local service center. Took it to them in the morning and had it back that evening.
It's very easy to do yourself though.
the arctic silver I got at my local PC Club.

also if the 1mm on the GPU bothers you
I have also used on the GPU part some thermal tape
It works very well and it's non-perminent

 

[eLinux]

Okay...I might just have to do that. Hopefully it will work. I might just do it myself, but I'm going to call and verify that it doesn't void my warranty or anything.

Thanks for y'alls help...glad to know I'm not the only person going crazy hearing this sound.

 

[eriqesque]

Originally posted by: eLinux
Okay...I might just have to do that. Hopefully it will work. I might just do it myself, but I'm going to call and verify that it doesn't void my warranty or anything.

Thanks for y'alls help...glad to know I'm not the only person going crazy hearing this sound.

Well as far as the warranty I have conflicting reports on that
some from IBM have said YES it does others have said NO it won't
But another person on the thinkpads.com forum had a good idea
if your machine need to be serviced just swap back in the original fan assembly
and problem solved. They have no way of knowing there was another fan there or not.
Hope all this helps and good luck.