Thinkpads Forum

The fan on my x61s has been noisy, so I removed the keyboard and top frame, blew on the fan and reassembled. When I try to boot, the fan makes a grinding type noise, then the screen has "Fan error" and the machine stops.

Any suggestions other than replacing the fan?

EDIT: if I hit escape a few times, it will boot. Trying again, it boots without error. Might it have been a transitory problem?

No, it's a sure sign that your fan is on the way out.
Get another one (WTB in our Marketplace forum or eBay).

Any major issues replacing the fan? If I understand, a screwdriver, the HMM and some patience are what is required, without any particularly difficult work required.

Any views on getting a refurbished fan, as that's what the US ebay sellers seem to be selling? Do I need the fan plus heat sink assembly?

richarddd wrote:Any major issues replacing the fan?

No -- After you remove the keyboard and palm rest, a couple of other screws will loosen the motherboard. You need to lift the motherboard from the bottom case to get to the fan/heatsink screws. Do NOT get a used fan -- given the age of these machines, even a good used fan has been used enough and deserves a rest. It's worth the 2-week wait to get a new fan/heatsink from Hong Kong:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-IBM-lenovo- ... 4aaf5acc53

[Note: The black fans are for the X60/X61, and will not fit the "s" units. Order the full fan/heatsink assembly.]

Good luck!

It seems to be working normally now, back to it's usual background hum/whine. I hope it holds out for a two week wait.

In addition to the fan, I take I need a dab of thermal paste, such as http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6835154003

I've been considering an x220 (in part for cooler and quieter operation, plus an i5 and ips screen), so it would be nice if my x61s would hold out long enough to find a good price on that. I should have pounced on an $850 price yesterday at the outlet store.

I have both an X60s and a T61 . . . I don't know if this is going to be of any help . . .

But I removed the fan on the T61 and put a drop of oil on the spindle - and that solved an identical problem for that laptop.
It takes a little finessing - bending back some tabs and cutting through some foil tape - but all in all not too hard.

I just don't know how easy it is to do the same on the X60 series.

Here is the link I used for that :
http://www.msb0b.com/home/thinkpadt60fanrepair

To get to the fan, I used this page (again, for the T61)
http://www.insidemylaptop.com/replace-c ... 61-laptop/

You can probably just google for fan replacement instructions - i.e., how to get to the fan - for the X60 series.

Good luck

It's good to hear that fan error issues can be corrected. I suppose I'll monitor the x61s and order a new fan if problems heat up.

thanks all!

They really collect a lot of dust over time.
I opened mine up and cleaned quite a lot out, but the buzzing sound returned not too much later.
That's when I tried the oiling trick. I've done this also on some fans on video cards with very good success.
Most of the time they run for perhaps another year before you have to oil them again.

I'm counting on having to do this with my X60s as well before long - it's not quite as quiet as it used to be.

Replacing them is not that hard either. The fans have an ID number on them too.
I take photos as I go, just so I'm sure I can put it back exactly as it was.