T42 Fan Error - With a Twist

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bclobo · #1 Post by **bclobo** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 10:57 pm

Hi All,

This is my first post, so do forgive me if I lack some proper forum etiquette.

After 3 and 1/2 years with no problems, I received a fan error about two weeks ago or so on my thinkpad T42 (it has the ati 9600 and the long fan). After reading through the multitude of posts on this site (thanks), I went ahead and ordered a new fan on ebay and proceeded to install it.

Sadly, I still could not hear the new fan spin, and I still received the fan error before my system would shut itself off.

In any case, I proceeded to read more, and realizing that you could test the fan using a 5 or 6v setup, I proceeded to do that (I just chained 4 D cells together spliced some copper wire out of a phone cord and applied voltage accordingly, it works well for those of you wanting to test a fan/heatsink without a fancy EE Lab Style HP power supply).

My old fan would not spin, however the new one would (trying to make sure I didn't have a DOA). So I reinstalled the new fan, and then booted. Thinking I had struck gold, the fan began to spin, but sadly I received a fan error message again from my thinkpad.

Running the system again open (everything closed except with the keyboard removed) I saw and heard that the fan spins furiously, then stops, then furiously, then stops, repeatedly through the IBM boot screen, and then I get the fan error.

So after that short story, heres my q's.
1) Has anyone seen/heard of this before?
2) Does anyone know what the problem is?
3) Is it possible that I received a fan that is able to spin, but is DOA in terms of functionality?
4) What should I do

If anyone has an answer, I would be truly indebted. I'm a poor med student trying to avoid having to replace my mobo....or my laptop for that matter.

Thanks!

#2 Post by **richk** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 11:16 pm

It could be a bad fan and still spin. It also could be the motherboard. Since I have machines and fans around here, I would try the fan on a different machine and a different fan on that one. Without spares, I'm not sure what to suggest. If the seller will swap fans, that may be best. If a buyer has good feedback and has a problem with a fan I sell him, I just ship a second fan and ask him to send it back if it doesn't fix the problem.

sojourner · #3 Post by **sojourner** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 11:36 pm

Being an electronics hobbiest, and considering your skills allow this, I'd hook those D-cell batteries back together and let the fan sit and spin at full throttle for 20-30 minutes (positioning the fan so it can 'breath' of course). If it NEVER turns off or display radical speed fluctuations, I'd say it is your MOBO for sure.

Hate to say it but nothing much lasts forever!

bclobo · #4 Post by **bclobo** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 11:38 pm

richk. If only I had know you sell fans. How much do you charge if you don't mind me asking?

Also, if it turns out to be a mobo issue, what are my options? because I'm not sure If I'm competent enough to replace it myself.

Brad · #5 Post by **Brad** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 3:05 am

I have seen the motherboard fail and cause a fan error report.

Unfortunately without having some parts to swap it makes this problem difficult to accurately diagnose.

Why does this always happen when the warranty has expired.

Brad

w0qj · #6 Post by **w0qj** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 3:33 am

Yeah, my T42s (2373-K5H)'s fan died just days before my 3-yr Warranty expired, so got it to Lenovo Service Center, and they fixed it within 6 hours!

Efficient service

visionviper · #7 Post by **visionviper** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 1:02 pm

I saw and heard that the fan spins furiously, then stops, then furiously, then stops

Had a similar problem on my desktop's motherboard. The usual fan connector for the CPU fan was broken in some way, and the fan would so exactly as you describe your fan doing. When I hooked it up to another spot on the motherboard, it worked fine. I'd say it is certainly your motherboard.

bclobo · #8 Post by **bclobo** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 7:36 pm

Thanks for all the feedback.

It sounds like its a mobo issue, and I'll have to replace it.

Should I try and do this myself? or go to a shop and have it done?

Also, where's a reputable place to get a new mobo for a good price. I've seen a lot of components for sale on the forums, but I'm not sure about pricing and such.

Tim M · #9 Post by **Tim M** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 10:29 pm

Here's another thought. With the computer open, install the fan, but instead of hooking it up to the motherboard, connect it to your D batteries. If the machine will let you boot with the fan thus "disconnected," see if the fan error returns.

#10 Post by **underclocker** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 8:11 am

Very coincidental that both the fan and motherboard would fail at the same time. I suppose a bad fan could cause the motherboard to fail, too?

Anyway, I'd also suggest trying a third fan, since a mobo is so expensive.

I would also try installing the second fan and pressing ESC when the Fan Error message is displayed. That will allow the machine to boot. I would just want to make sure that the fan doesn't start at all after the boot up. Yes, it is bad not to have a fan working on boot up, but you certainly have a few minutes before the CPU starts to heat up.

If the fan works this way, I'd shut down, remove the AC, battery and CMOS battery for a short while, then install everything and try again. That might clear up the error - assuming the new fan is working properly.

Good luck and let us know if you get it working.

P.S. I, too, have seen instances of the "Fan Error" pointing to a bad motherboard. One of the fan control chips must go bad. Very frustrating.

bclobo · #11 Post by **bclobo** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 11:00 pm

Sorry to be so unresponsive, its crunchtime with exams and I've just been grinning and bearing it with the computer at the library.

I'm going to see if I can get something to work with removing the cmos, or doing one of those IBM hard restarts where you pump the power button several times to drain all the capacitors.

I'll also probably try another fan just for the hell of it.

Any sellers interested in selling me a (working) 13r2657?

Thanks a lot.

#12 Post by **richk** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 11:20 pm

Let me ask another question: When you put the new fan on, did you put on thermal paste?

bclobo · #13 Post by **bclobo** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 11:50 pm

richk, I used arctic silver 5, and tried my best to only use a bb size dab of it.

could using too much paste cause that kind of error? as I've heard that conducting paste turns into an insulator if you use too much....

#14 Post by **richk** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 12:44 pm

No. I'm sure you didn't use too much. I assume you spread it out on the die and screwed the fan down evenly. You want a thin layer that completely covers the die. The screws all need to be snug before you tighten them. I don't have that particular fan here. The part you mentioned is the M10 fan. I have a couple of the other long fans but not that one. I cannot tell from the maintenance manual which fan your machine came with orignially. Based on your graphics chip, I assume it came with one of the other long fans. I have found that the long fans are pretty much interchangable. The M10 fan (the one with the pink thermal pad) supposedly has a little better heat transfer. It comes with the ATI FireGL models. If you want a different long fan to try, I can send you one. Send me a private message.

bclobo · #15 Post by **bclobo** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 1:02 pm

hrm....so quick update (and revision).

I got home and removed the ac/battery/cmos, and then restarted, sadly, the fan error still persists....(thanks for the idea underclocker)

So i rebooted and I tried hitting escape when I got the fan error message, and it allows me to boot to windows, with the fan still whirring and stopping in a very even rhythm.

However, once it boots up completely, and windows is loading, the fan stops for about 10-20 seconds before it starts whirring and stopping again. this cycle repeats continuously until windows loads. Then, the fan stays dormant for a while, and then does that cycling for a bit, and then goes dormant again..

I didn't want to push my machine too far (since I know it does actually still work....kind of), so I shut it down immediately after about 10 minutes of it running like this.

Any ideas? Just curious if this is more indicative of fan problem or mobo problem...

and richk, I'll send a pm shortly, thanks!

kyrotech · #16 Post by **kyrotech** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 9:51 am

Try to RMA back the fan assembly you got. If it works well on their end then definately your system board has a problemo.

Looks like electrical problem of the power connector in the system board.

bclobo · #17 Post by **bclobo** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 10:31 am

alright....so i'm hoping to try a new fan this weekend and see if it fixes the problem.....

i've an exam on friday, so probably no updates till monday. Thanks again for all of your help so far.

#18 Post by **underclocker** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 4:43 pm

It's a unique problem. The fan seems to be working properly, but the motherboard doesn't know it!

Either something about the replacement fan is bad or you have a rare issue - and probably need a new board. Hope the third fan works.

bclobo · #19 Post by **bclobo** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 3:21 pm

HOORAY!

I received the new fan from RichK, installed it, and the problem appears to be solved. Thanks to everyone who helped me figure out what the heck to do about the issue.

I truly appreciate it.

T42 Fan Error - With a Twist

T42 Fan Error - With a Twist

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