T43 Fan noise

[IBM]

Well, after a couple of days of messing around with my new T43, I have noticed one slight problem amongst the others. The fan makes quite a bit of rattling noises. I will be sitting with the T43 on my lap and working on a few reports, and when the fan starts to kick on, it makes a lot of rattling noises. I have opened up the laptop to see if anything was loose or if the fan was dirty, but found nothing. What could I do to resolve this issue? Any help would be appreciated!

IBM

[Harryc]

What could I do to resolve this issue?

Replace the fan?
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... 58791.html

[IBM]

I have replaced the fan today, the sound has diminished, but is still present. Perhaps a fault with the case?

IBM

[Harryc]

You're going to have to remove the keyboard but leave it's connector on and power up the machine to see if you can isolate the noise. T43 fans are annoyingly noisy to begin with, so it is difficult to interpret what you are classifying as a rattling noise.

[IBM]

Eh, it is not really that bothersome, but it is annoying when everything is real quiet. Especially in class, everybody has really quiet laptops, then here I am with my T43 that sounds like it has digestion problems.

IBM

[ajkula66]

Do you have the latest BIOS installed?

How about ThinkPad Fan Control?

[IBM]

Do you have the latest BIOS installed?

How about ThinkPad Fan Control?

Actually I did flash the BIOS to the current distribution, but that did not really do anything. Fan control would be in Windows? I use Ubuntu, so I think I lost the control ability unless I find a 3rd party app for it.

IBM

[ajkula66]

There are fan controls available for Ubuntu users, but you'll have to do a little research - I can't point you to one at the moment.

Good luck.

[IBM]

There are fan controls available for Ubuntu users, but you'll have to do a little research - I can't point you to one at the moment.

Good luck.

Thanks m8

IBM

[VIJAY M]

- hello folks...good read preceeding posts...thx..and here is my beef with T43..
I have a similar issue with my T43-2668 with BIOS version 1.24-FAN ERROE appears with black screen upon cold boot up - repeated attempts with no success - found a way around via esc and bios via F1 access - reboots OS(win-7)
heats up and then shuts down the notebook-occassionally works after booting via bios access n ESC...?
started all this recently and fan has been noisy much of the time lately - opened the notebook and looked into the fan access area all looked OK - dusted off with compressed air can - twice dusted from the fan vent earlier and seem to work - but every time FAN ERROR comes back..??
wonder if there are any related BIOS update issues for win 7 OS on the machine?
what about error code 2010 that has been mentioned in other blogs related to T43 funtionality ?
an early input to address the issue will be much appreciated..thx ahead..

[ajkula66]

You need a new fan.

Once you replace it, update the BIOS to the latest.

Nothing else is an issue here - "2010 error" is hard-drive related and has no bearing on any of your troubles.

[VIJAY M]

You need a new fan.
Once you replace it, update the BIOS to the latest.
Nothing else is an issue here - "2010 error" is hard-drive related and has no bearing on any of your troubles.

Thx a bunch and appreciate your input...as adviced will change the fan...NOW just come confusion here DO I NEED TO CHANGE the WHOLE unit - i mean the FAn and the HEAT SINK etc or SOLELY the FAN and will be OK..
look forward to your additonal feed back..thx again BTW wondrer if you have an adea how expensive the FAN unit is /resource to get one in a cost effective manner..thx

[newmanm]

the fan comes with a heatsink. you'll probably need some thermal paste for the CPU. unless I am doing it wrong, one does not put paste on the GPU.

I have changed my fan twice in five years. it looks like they last about two years.
the fan I just replaced I should have done a year ago and I can say I should have replaced the first fan sooner than I did. I just got used to the noise.

the first fan I got from Lenovo for free since my unit was still under warranty. they sent me the fan and I installed it. the second fan I bought recently off of eBay from a Hong Kong vendor and paid around $30 including shipping. the label looked like it could have been counterfeit, but I really don't think it was. the Hong Kong unit looked exactly like the one I replaced.

I also get the 2010 message. I replaced my hard drive. it is a Seagate and is not on the list of supported drives.

[VIJAY M]

the fan comes with a heatsink. you'll probably need some thermal paste for the CPU. unless I am doing it wrong, one does not put paste on the GPU.

I have changed my fan twice in five years. it looks like they last about two years.
the fan I just replaced I should have done a year ago and I can say I should have replaced the first fan sooner than I did. I just got used to the noise.

the first fan I got from Lenovo for free since my unit was still under warranty. they sent me the fan and I installed it. the second fan I bought recently off of eBay from a Hong Kong vendor and paid around $30 including shipping. the label looked like it could have been counterfeit, but I really don't think it was. the Hong Kong unit looked exactly like the one I replaced.

I also get the 2010 message. I replaced my hard drive. it is a Seagate and is not on the list of supported drives.

WOW-thx for such an impressive prompt follow up & feedback..Glad to read ur input..
OK i just did some research and found many overseas vendors on eBay also...i opted for a supplier located in US(NYC) and fan incliding the heat paste tube offered at $13 incld s/h..with ref to the ibm(lenovo)FRU ref../
I hope that will do - BTW Fan on my T43 has been noisy for a while but now it appears to have died?
i'm able to do cold boot by passing theerror prompt via BIOS access and esc route..using support outside fan(lol) that seems to work till i get the replacement fan...also the T43 is over four yrs old and has been subjected to an extensive use...look fwd 2ur any additional input that will be helpful..thx again..regards

[KDelphi]

I am not a "techie"--by anyone's standards....I just don't want the ThinkPad 43 that a techie gave me to crash.....I do not totally understand Fan Control, but the temps get in the 80s sometimes.....any advice? (too afraid to take it apart)

[lukee]

I use the fan from T42p (will post the FRU later) and it is really much more silent than original T43p fan. Temperatures remained same as with the original T43/p fan. It is not problem on T43/p to get CPU's temp to 80deg. of Celsius if the system is under heavy load (video editing / gaming etc.). Pentium M 770 & 780 has temperature specification threshold at 100deg. of Celsius - over this temperature the ThinkPad will automatically turn off. So I can say that 80deg. of Celsius is still safe temperature.

[KDelphi]

Thanks for reply! If I have never opened a laptop (only a tower desktop) before, am I risking hard drive and limb by opening my TP43 to clear dust out? Thank you so much again....I wish my sister hadn't broken up with the guy who gave me this

[VIJAY M]

Ok folks back againand hello..
I did open the T43 to assertain the FRU ## for the cooling fan cuz there are apparently TWO versions (Long Fan n Short Fan with heatsink) the screen size determines the compatiable FAn one needs to replace..in my case its LONG FAN(i assume-if it's just fan that may be common but if you need with heat sink then diffrent)the FRU # for me is 26R9074 and 26R9066..
while at it i did dust off the ThinkPad with compressed air and carefully clean the surfaces . additionallyi had some SILICONE LUBE so i took liberty to drop some in the fan area..put the machine backand worked like a charm..silent n NO FAN ERROR..that i was there ..BTW i had managed to bypass the fan error prompt via F1 and Esc route to cheat the BIOS to cold BOOT the OS while using and external cooling pad(inconvinieced but working) this effort did work BUT for a while like SIX SEVEN DAYZ and back to Fan Error prompts...
i'mabout to order the cpu-cooling fan with heat sink(abt $ 34.00 with thermal paste) and hopefully that will address the issue effectively..
Meantime look forward to any additional feedback/input ....thx again..

[lukee]

I use the fan which has these two FRUs on its label in my T43p: 13R2656, 13R2657:

This fan originaly came from T42p and is very very silent (I can hear only air flow sound, no resonance, drilling etc.). Physical difference between the original T43p fan and this T42p fan is in thinner heatpipe from GPU and absence of two copper pieces on the GPU part, where the heatpipe is mounted and of course probably another type of motor bearing I was very precisely cleaned the surfaces between the fan and GPU & CPU and I was put Arctic Silver 5 compound to both places - under CPU and also under GPU thermal pad as well and the system temperatures, especially CPU and GPU temperature remained same at least or little bit lower than with the original T43p fan. Need to say that I have 15" T43p.
Hope this helps.

[VIJAY M]

@ Lukee...Thx my friend for the meantinful additional perspective on the issue...yes i have read about the variants on this component and appears that most are adoptable from the T40 series Think Pads..i had taken the FRU numbers from the unit itself that were labeled with yellow and white sround stickers..in fact i did bring in a short version fan with heatsink but then after i opened the machine it apparantly was diffrent cuz it was missing the third extended copper sleeve (thin one) and was advised NOT to use it instead replace it with FULL size (LONG VERSION-one in your post...thx....the price range on eBay is from 12.00 to 30.oo dollars plus s/h either from US vendors or for most part from Hong Kong / China - if you have any addition resource input to explore i will sure appreciate as i'm soon ordering one...thx again - alwayz a joy to be able to interact on these wonderful forums..look fwd 2ur feedback asap..

[BigCatAndy]

Hello everyone,

my T43p makes a lot of noise, and I decided to clean my fan. I bought a silicon-free grease at ebay and wanted to apply it, but have read on ThinkWiki.org, that only silicone-containing greases should be applied. It is true? Does anyone has experience with silicone-free materials?

Cheers from hamburg/Germany,
Andrey

[SkiBunny]

my T43p makes a lot of noise, and I decided to clean my fan. I bought a silicon-free grease at ebay and wanted to apply it, but have read on ThinkWiki.org, that only silicone-containing greases should be applied. It is true? Does anyone has experience with silicone-free materials?

Cleaning can definitely lower the temperature but I dont think you need silicone free lubricant. I never used that and seemed okay over the years, but maybe it destroyed my fan bearings or something eventually (see next post)

[SkiBunny]

I have a noisy fan too. Lubricating has helped in the past but now it is rattling badly until it gets warmed up (fan is 6-years old original fan).

Anyone know whether it is a bad or good idea to replace just the fan and not the heat sink? (they sell fans-only on ebay but those seem to be one-size-fits-all)

Thanks.

[BigCatAndy]

Hello @all,

just an update: I replaced my fan (I bought replacement at eBay for approx. 30€) and applied the grease to CPU and GPU. It works, the temperature is in a right range, and the cooler is not that loud (although it's of course more loud that the on on my work laptop T410).

Cheers,
Andrey

Hello everyone,

my T43p makes a lot of noise, and I decided to clean my fan. I bought a silicon-free grease at ebay and wanted to apply it, but have read on ThinkWiki.org, that only silicone-containing greases should be applied. It is true? Does anyone has experience with silicone-free materials?

Cheers from hamburg/Germany,
Andrey

[VIJAY M]

OK pplhad the fan replaced (full version with heat sink) and also dusted off as well as applied some SILICONE BASED LUBE from Canadian Tire (spray can) and put the TP43 back ..all systems go since my last post - one happy customer with lots of feedback n input from the forum here...thx ppl..hope prev posts put some meaningful perspective on the issue...hav fun folks...

Vijay M..

[RealBlackStuff]

Your FAN needs lubrication.
I hope you put thermal PASTE between CPU and heat sink, not this spray gunk!

[djsharpie]

Hi all

I have just bought a T43 which is about 6 years old the the fan is quite noisey some of the time when operating.

I had a look at it and it appears to be loose, ie the actual fan rocks from side to side. I have spoken to the seller and he has told me that a noisey fan does not class the laptop as faulty..

"Unfortunately unless the laptop shows signs of failing or the operation of the laptop is faulty then a noisy fan would not be classed as faulty "

Surely a rattly sounding fan is not good for the operation of the laptop over any length of time?

[VIJAY M]

Your FAN needs lubrication.
I hope you put thermal PASTE between CPU and heat sink, not this spray gunk!

Tha my friend and yes I did put that thermal paste as required and yes as mentioned earlier the FAN ERROR that started the project has disappeared and the notebook is working great since correcting/fixing the noise from the fan..

@ djsharpie
I agree that the rocking/apparent noise from the fan operation is NOT NORMAL and should be looked into else you may face sudden interruption in the operation of the Notebook..certainly it's unusual harware issue that warrants attention before it's too late...six years with original fan is a good run and it's due for service/replacement....all the best my friend..