Urgent: Fad not working after cleaning out computer, now getting outrageous CPU temps

[Protocept00]

I don't know what I did wrong. I was cleaning out the computer from dust with a can of air. I also used qtips to clean out my CPU fan which is a Vigor Monsoon II I believe.

I was getting high temps before but the computer was still usable. Now, after cleaning out my computer with the air and qtips, my CPU fan just outright died. It isn't spinning. When I boot up the system it does "try" to spin, but then it just dead stops and my computer eventually gets up to 90c.

What the hell did I do wrong? Was it a result of using qtips? Is it perhaps becaused I moved the fan blades while cleaning it? Did the compressed air cut out some power to it somehow?

And what sucks I need this computer for a new job and am very strapped for cash right now, and am unsure if I should get a new CPU cooler or not.

My CPU is a Q6600 just for reference in case anyone has fans they can recommend as a last ditch effort.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Idontcare]

Assuming your fan is the kind that has sealed bearings such that you likely did not force some dust into the fan and jam it up that way, the most likely explanation is that your fan just died coincidentally to the same time you did your cleaning.

Meaning its probably not related at all to your cleaning efforts, but just bad timing that it died at near the same time.

But none of that matters, what matters is getting your rig working again. If the fan doesn't work then it doesn't work.

If you have a regular fan, like a boxfan or something that you put in your window, you can just take the case siding off and put that fan to work for you in a pinch. Beats paying rush shipping/handling fees.

 

[sm625]

No way it is a coincidence. Start playing with the fan wires. Either one broke where it plugs into the motherboard, or where it enters the fan itself. Those are the two most common places where a fan wire will break. Find where the break is, and fix it.

I have all sorts of case fans that I can use as an interim solution. But if I didn't, I would go to a goodwill and get a fan to use. An interim solution should get your idle temperatures down to reasonable levels. You'd be able to surf and stuff like that at least.

 

[Kenmitch]

Maybe a dust bunny is stuck in the fan shrowd? Did you try giving it a bump start with your finger to see if you can get the fan spinning?

 

[Puppies04]

Maybe a dust bunny is stuck in the fan shrowd? Did you try giving it a bump start with your finger to see if you can get the fan spinning?

I was just going to suggest that .

OP how strapped for cash are you? Surely a reference cooler second hand from ebay isn't going to cost you more than $20 delivered.

Or you could fry your CPU and pay for a whole new rig, which one do you prefer....

 

[Ken g6]

Here's a really nice cooler for $9AR shipped! (I have one - it's great!)

Or get a reference-like cooler for $10.

Edit: Didn't see your current cooler. The comments made me think you had a stock cooler or something. Just spend $7 or so to get a new fan.

 

[ehume]

I'm guessing you may have a sleeve bearing fan. You might be able to resurrect it. Check out this. If it brings your fan back to life it will cost essentially nothing.

Good luck with the machine, and with your job.

 

[Belegost]

First check the plug end of the wires. If that looks good, then I think the most likely cause would be a wire falling off the solder pads in the fan hub when you got the qtip in there. Remove the fan from the heatsink and check that has good connection. If you have the tools and equipment you can resolder it. Otherwise just get a new fan, any Decent 92mm fan should work.

Do not run that heatsink without a fan, that is a TEC based cooler, and if it overheats it could damage the cooler and possibly your CPU.

 

[Protocept00]

Sorry for the late reply and thank you all for the great responses!

I actually did what Kenmitch suggested and simply recleaned the fan yet again, and spun the fan with a q-tip, almost as if I was trying to get it revved up. Sure enough, I booted up the computer and it started working flawlessly and my temps shot down to 35C!

But yeah, I recently powered off my computer, and the fan had trouble starting up again. Did the same trick and it started working, but it still has me worried what the ultimate problem is. It must be dust getting into the spinner itself.

Thank you all again for the responses.

 

[Martimus]

I doubt it is mechanical. It is likely the fan motor, and your best bet is to get a new fan.

 

[deadken]

Just clean the fan again. If you don't want to refurbish your fan motor, just shoot some spray lube into the fan (under the rubber seal like it shows in the link) and use it until you can buy a new fan / HSF.

I've cleaned and lubed many fan bearings like in the guide ehume linked to. Personally, I used synthetic wheel bearing grease. Oddly enough, it's the same kind we use at work ! Wheel bearing grease is meant to liquify when it gets warm / hot. The fact that it is synthetic just means it doesn't dry and cake up as fast.

@ sm625, I don't know why you suggested he check the wiring. Either you didn't read / comprehend his post, or you don't understand that once he said: "When I boot up the system it does "try" to spin, but then it just dead stops" it wasn't a connection problem.

 

[knightc2]

I would guess that either, as others have said, you forced some dust into the sleeve or possibly you forced the fan to spin at a very high RPM when blowing air into it damaging the bearings or the motor itself. I usually hold the fan so it won't spin when blowing air at it so it doesn't spin at 'mach' speed. That said, I would look at getting a new fan. Even if you are able to temporarily resurrect it, for piece of mind I would replace it. I believe that fan is a 92mm and a replacement should cost you under $10.

 

[Martimus]

What I mean by "I doubt it is mechanical", is that it sounds like the symptoms of the winding getting shorted, causing the fan motor to lose torque. This means that it will have a hard time spinning up, but once it gets going it should have enough power to keep it running.

I was a systems engineer working with electric motors for a few years (really I did a crap ton of testing on the motors to try to find failure modes, and solutions to them), and it sounds more like bad windings than bad bearings, simply because the fan turns fine once it gets up and running.

 

[Charlie98]

What I mean by "I doubt it is mechanical", is that it sounds like the symptoms of the winding getting shorted, causing the fan motor to lose torque. This means that it will have a hard time spinning up, but once it gets going it should have enough power to keep it running.

I was a systems engineer working with electric motors for a few years (really I did a crap ton of testing on the motors to try to find failure modes, and solutions to them), and it sounds more like bad windings than bad bearings, simply because the fan turns fine once it gets up and running.

^^^^ Yes...