Thinkpads Forum

So bummed.
Just spent the evening replacing the CPU fan on my T61.
Fan error before and fan error after.

I felt everything went well. The old fan was full of black dust. I cleaned it out very well and then replaced it with my nyciticom ebay new lenovo toshiba fan 42W2462 as noted in another thread. Confirmed in hardware manual.
The replacement fan had less fins, otherwise looked identical. Fit nicely into the heatsink.
I cleaned off the CPU and nvidia grease spots well (rubbing alcohol w/ coffee filters) and added Artic Silver 5 instead. I left the " thermal pad" alone for the 3rd item.
Screwed on CPU screws in a cross pattern.
Overall everything came apart and back together fine.
Appeared to spin OK, and I could feel some heat cranking out of the CPU vents.
I was messing around in bios for a few minutes, then got the fan error again and it shut down.

I guess it is possible this new fan is bad?
Any other ideas?
Should I try running with keyboard and things apart and watch the fan?
Maybe redo my CPU grease?

My Specs.....
ThinkPad T61 (7665-13U)
T7500(2.2GHz), 2GB RAM, 120GB 5400rpm HD, 14.1in 1440x900 LCD, 128MB nVIDIA Quadro NVS 140M, CDRW/DVDRW, Intel 802.11agn(n-disabled), Bluetooth, Modem, 1Gb Ethernet, UltraNav, Secure chip, Fingerprint reader, 6c Li-Ion

It is possible that the fan is bad. If it gives "fan error", I think the fan is not working or the tach pulse sensor (on MB) is bad. Bad thermal grease application will usually cause hard shutdown, from my experience.

How can I see the fan speed and settings?
At this point, there is no OS on the hard drive.
I didn't see an option in the BIOS like I have on my desktop PCs.

OK I removed the keyboard. The fan is not spinning at all.
This is the ebay fan from ny-citi-com for $11.99 shipped.
It is actually FRU 42W2460 , but it supposed to be compatible...
What can I do to test the fans out with voltage or something?

EDIT:
OK I plugged in the old dirty fan to the header. Old fan FRU is 42W2462 (toshiba)
It spins! It still gives fan error though.
This does make me think I received a bad fan at least.
I decided to test out my new T42 fan. It spins for a quick moment, then then fan stops spinning.
BUT it does not give a fan error
lol
perhaps it is smart enough to not run the fan yet until it reaches a certain temp, right?

OK I will send this thing back. Learned my lesson this time..... test before installing all the way....
I hope this seller doesn't make me send them this bad fan on my dime.
I see other sellers that offer free return shipping for DOA when search by 42W2460 .

As a side remark, you are right - the fan does spin on startup (this is the fan being tested), and then stops until the temperature is high enough to need it.

You can check the speeds and try and force the fan to run by using 'TpFanControl'.
If I was in your situation, I would be thinking that it was a bad fan. Since your old fan still spins, but with 'Fan Error', you might want to try forcing it to spin.
Hope you get a working replacement

Bummer, getting fan error on my T61 again. The replacement fan lasted 8 months or so.
At least this time around I know to test the fan before getting it all the way in!
I just hope it does not take 2 tries. I think this time I will get 2 fans to keep one handy.
My wife bummed with no laptop until this gets fixed.....

Does anyone have any other sellers to try?
I didn't like ny-citi-com since they make me pay the return shipping even if their product faulty.

I think I found a better seller in this regards for our t42 parts.....
OK back to searching, thanks!


EDIT:
OK I ordered 2 from ebay seller justrisk4us for $20.56 shipped.
I am curious where this ships from....

All the fan error issues I had, over 50 t6x series and 20 x2xx series. All I did was take the fan/sink out. Open that fan assembly, pull that foil back and clean the fan out and drop some lube into that center piece and put back. Originally I had a pile of t6x series sitting at home and now it's all working. I couldn't find the link on how to do it, but it was someone here that did it. Maybe the fans you got dried up as well.. I would lube it and try again.. maybe even lubing your original one also

http://forums.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.p ... error+lube here's the link, try this

rsutoratosu wrote:http://forums.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.p ... error+lube here's the link, try this

Wow thanks! I will try tonight! So best thing is mineral spirits? Not sure what that is but I will Google and find it unless something else better?

I decided to not try the oil method since the fans would be here today.

Bad news, I ordered 2 fans to be safe and neither spin when plugged into the motherboard header.
While there is a chance they sent me 2 bad fans, I figure that would be rare? My first one was indeed bad.
So what do I try next?????

Try those fans in any other mobo.
The connections are all the same.
You might have a blown fuse on your T61 mobo...

RealBlackStuff wrote:Try those fans in any other mobo.
The connections are all the same.
You might have a blown fuse on your T61 mobo...

New motherboard then? What's the best deal?

Since you have an nVidia gpu you need to be very careful about buying a board, many being sold online have had the GPU chip reflowed in attempt to fix a failed chip, but it never works for long. I can probably get you the more rare Penryn board for your 14" widescreen with either Intel or nVidia graphics, one that has never failed or had any repairs done. If your interested let me know and I'll check what's available.

OK please do, I really appreciate it!
I do have a limited budget though unfortunately.
I've never changed a mobo on a laptop before, but I will look at some instructions and see!
Go ahead and hit me up via PM.
Thanks again!

TuuS wrote:Since you have an nVidia gpu you need to be very careful about buying a board, many being sold online have had the GPU chip reflowed in attempt to fix a failed chip, but it never works for long. I can probably get you the more rare Penryn board for your 14" widescreen with either Intel or nVidia graphics, one that has never failed or had any repairs done. If your interested let me know and I'll check what's available.

ygpm also

thank you so much everyone!!!


Just curious, is there a write up on replacing the fuse as noted here?????
http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/T61-and-pri ... d-p/317727

This may work though....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y00nqbqCMqw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Od48R4XxlU

maybe i can ask one of these guys are working on a fuse replacement guide....
http://www.insidemylaptop.com/replace-c ... 61-laptop/
http://laptoport.com/2012/03/11/lenovo- ... or-part-1/

I will share if I find it!

You can just piggyback solder a new fuse on top of the old one.

RealBlackStuff wrote:You can just piggyback solder a new fuse on top of the old one.

Any guides with pics?
Good cheap source and part number?

Very tempting to get this ideapad for $399.........
talk me out of it!

http://slickdeals.net/f/4974638-Lenovo- ... s-B-M-only

Lenovo Ideapad Z580-2151-28U 15.6" Laptop, Intel® Core™ i5-3210M, 8GB,750 GB HD, for $399.99 + Tax AC and Student MIR @ Staples B&M only
Math:
$749.99 - $150 instant savings - $100 with the linked coupon = $499.99
If you have a student ID, with a $100 MIR $499.99 - $100 Visa Card = $399.99


Specification :
•Laptop Battery LifeUp to 5 Hours
•Laptop ColorBlack
•Laptop Screen Size15.6"
•Laptop Operating SystemGenuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
•Laptop Network Card802.11 n
•Laptop Display TypeHD LED-backlit
•Laptop Memory ExpandableN/ACPU Cache3MB L3
•Laptop Processor Speed2.5GHz
•Laptop Processor TypeIntel Core i5-3210M
•Laptop Optical DriveIntegrated DVDR/RW
•Laptop Memory TypeDDR3
•Laptop Memory RAM8GB
•Laptop UseProfessional
•Laptop Hard Drive Capacity750GB
•Bluetooth CompatibilityYes
•Laptop Webcam.3M Webcam

Prodeje79 wrote:Very tempting to get this ideapad for $399.........
talk me out of it!

Should be easy: it's NOT a Thinkpad!

RealBlackStuff wrote:Should be easy: it's NOT a Thinkpad!

tell me more?!?!?!?

The Ideapad Forum is located under the heading: Non-ThinkPad Lenovo Hardware
And if you look in the Ideapad forum, you will notice a colossal lack of answers to the questions posted there.
In other words, if you have a problem, you're on your own!

hi.

I have an Intel 14.1 board for sale.

how about 75 shipped?

A member graciously sent me another laptop I can use for parts. Unfortunately I have not had chance yet. On vacation now. Thanks all

Facing the exact same problem as OP here, brought a replacement fan from nyciticom.

Two youtube videos uploaded, one which shows the shutdown and other when blowing air at startup into the vent to get the fan to rotate lets the machine boot up. Ofcourse once booted up , the machine sits on a cooling pad and lot of air is circulated and temperatures stay within control and machine functions normally.

Is this a problem with nyciticom fans , is there a possibility to use a T400 fan in a T61 ? or any other better fan model.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdDE1ktLls0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rb2bzf5tgl4

Prodeje79 wrote:It is actually FRU 42W2460 , but it supposed to be compatible...

I don't think that the 42W2460 is compatible to your notebook. The 42W2460 is meant for models with Intel GMA X3100 chipset graphics, but not for models with the nVIDIA graphics chip. According to the HMM, you need the 42W2462 or the 44C0557.

Is there a preference for one particular FRU over others.

TuuS do you have any reliable T61 fans you can sell.