T60 (14 inch non-widescreen) FAN noise problem

[zarthos]

I know a million people have discussed this problem before me. but no one seems to have come up with a proper working fix for this problem.

Problem: Fan makes noise... like its almost flapping against something ... or pulsating noise as some would call it. also fan does shut down from time to time.
noise is coming from the left top corner of the machine, where the vents are located (copper vents can be seen on the inside). this area also gets really hot sometimes (hot like omlette frying hot)

Machine Info:
model: Thinkpad lenovo T60 - 14 inch non-widescreen model.
2GB ram, 2+ghz intel core 2 duo, ATI graphics
OS: Windows XP service pack 3.
BIOS upgrade: latest upgrade installed.
warranty: expired few months ago.

attempts to fix: none

if someone has had success fixing this issue (software OR hardware), please let me know. i cant sleep at night with that fan buzzing like a cricket all the time !!!!!!

thanks.

[mgo]

Problem: Fan makes noise...
if someone has had success fixing this issue (software OR hardware), please let me know. i cant sleep at night with that fan buzzing like a cricket all the time !!!!!!

thanks.

Available info on this forum:
Read: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=17715
faq: http://www.staff.uni-marburg.de/~schmitzr/donate.html
credits to the authors: Sander"Iconman"http://a-st.de
and Shimodax & emaijala @ http://forum.thinkpads.com

I run this freeware and it makes s big difference. You must adjust the .ini file to suit your tastes for quietest operation vs. how hot you will allow the machine to run.

[Zender]

I have the same machine and probably experience the same problem. Have been experiencing it ever since I bought it. I even recorded and filtered it so that it can be heard by everyone (listen to the high-frequency sounds, the low freq. humming/distortions come from imperfect filtering). Problem with these sounds is that they can be heard many metres away from the machine - by people like me who are sensitive to high frequency sounds.

That said, machine with C2D 1.8GHz processor clocked down and with X1400 can be kept with fan mostly switched off - TPFanControl referenced by mgo might help you achieve that. If not, cleaning the heatsink should help.

However, this is not a solution for you if you run secondary display connected to the machine. In that case, graphics card will level the temerature at much higher speed requiring fan enabled most of the time (may it only be the lowest setting, the high frequency sounds are actually worst with lowest setting). In this case, I haven't come up with solution. Would propose asking for a fan replacement, but out of warranty it might be an expensive test...

[kkposh]

this is a hardware issue

the fan bearing needs to be lubricated

[ejwong]

this is a hardware issue

the fan bearing needs to be lubricated

i opened it up, i didn't see any access holes in the fan part to lubricate though. any thoughts? here's a good guide though:
http://www.dansdata.com/fanmaint.htm

he uses 3 in 1 lubricant, NOT WD40 (although made by the same folks)

also, i tried using TPFanControl, but it doesn't seem to be compatible with the T60. is there another tool that works for anyone?

[kkposh]

this is a hardware issue

the fan bearing needs to be lubricated

i opened it up, i didn't see any access holes in the fan part to lubricate though. any thoughts? here's a good guide though:
http://www.dansdata.com/fanmaint.htm

he uses 3 in 1 lubricant, NOT WD40 (although made by the same folks)

also, i tried using TPFanControl, but it doesn't seem to be compatible with the T60. is there another tool that works for anyone?

I once used TPFanControl v0.18, works well on my T60.You should first configure it by editing fancontrol.ini to make it work.
If it still doesn't work, you may try NHC(Notebook Hardware Control), an excellent software which provides much more function other than fancontrol such as modifying CPU voltage and so on.

Software can only reduce the activation of the fan, which still can't eliminate the fan noise. so if you call for ultimate solution, you may consider the hardware method.

Here are two pictures from my picasa album for guidance(sorry for the bad picture quality).

Assuming that you've already taken the fan out of the laptop body.
1 http://picasaweb.google.com/kurtyan777/ ... 8263460018

Prize up the four copper hooks marked in red,uncover the scotch tape marked in blue which is used to fix the wire,then lift the fan cover open.

2 http://picasaweb.google.com/kurtyan777/ ... 1064318066

Pull up the fan and then you'll discover the bearing there.

I used the Mobil lithium-based grease , my fan works pretty well since lubricated three months ago.
Any other kinds of lubricant designed for high temperature and high rpms conditions will also be ok.

NOTE: this method is NOT officially supported by Lenovo and may cause permanent damage to your laptop, so you are doing all this AT YOUR OWN RISK.


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