IBM R61 15.4 inch- "fan error"

[david_thinkpad]

Ok, approx 2 weeks ago I got my parents' IBM r61 cause the fan was making some noise and the laptop was getting hot. So I get in there clean it out and the fan has a little rattle to it, not terrible and I am typing this message on it right now with the current "rattle-y fan" .

So I bought 2 from an ebay seller. Matched the parts numbers up and everything, everything matches to the best I can determine. I even sent pics after the purchase and such and verified everything matched as it did.

So I get the first fan and put it in. I get "fan error" and the laptop just shuts off. So I check everything over, and I can't find any problems or any steps I missed. I put the original fan back in and the laptop boots right up. So I figure I probably got a bum fan, not a big deal. So after some question answering, they sent me a replacement fan. I was thinking "ok, maybe the first was just a bad one." I install this fan and I get the same "fan error".

Of course the entire time, I can re-install the going bad fan, and the laptop will boot right up and I can use it again. Laptop works and cools just fine minus the low humm noise.

After thinking it through, and I know this fan seems to be a common fan with a certain toshiba model as well. Is it possible that I got a toshiba compatible fan instead of a IBM fan? When I talked with some other techie peers this morning one had a thought maybe it wasn't sensing the RPMs of the fan and that's why it throws up a "fan error" and shuts off. Part of me wonders if what he is describing is what is happening. If it is, I won't have any control over that I guess.

Is there something I am forgetting or something I need to re-double check again? It sounds stupid but so far I can't find any reason why either of these fans would just not work.

[RealBlackStuff]

If that were really a Tosh-fan, compare the wiring in the new fan's plug with the original one.
They may have it wired differently.

[jaspen-meyer]

I had an R61 the other day giving me 'fan error' and taking the fan apart, removing the blade from the housing and adding a shot of vaseline to the spindle cured the rattle and the fan error. Not sure what that has to do with your two bad fans.

[david_thinkpad]

If that were really a Tosh-fan, compare the wiring in the new fan's plug with the original one.
They may have it wired differently.

Well I did see some wire difference, I did try that but to no luck. I actually made it worse because the fan didn't turn at all. As opposed the way it was the fan as least spun. My guess is the fan is spun to test the RPM sensor, and "test" the fan and make sure it is working. If it is not, then of course... "Fan Error" . That would seem to co-inside with what is happening.

At this point I am trying a fan from another vendor to see if it has any success one way or the other.

[david_thinkpad]

I had an R61 the other day giving me 'fan error' and taking the fan apart, removing the blade from the housing and adding a shot of vaseline to the spindle cured the rattle and the fan error. Not sure what that has to do with your two bad fans.

I may have to try this, least this would give me an option to try and if it works it's a viable option for a while.

Thank you for this suggestion.

[jaspen-meyer]

If the machine's been getting hot
a) open up fan housing and clean all sides of the cooling grill and also the blade
b) vaseline as mentioned
c) replace thermal paste

I had always been in the habit of just blowing on the fan and grill, thinking this
would get rid of any dust balls. Now that I've started taking the fans apart (idea from this forum)
I notice blowing from the outside doesn't get rid of the dust builtup.

[axur-delmeria]

I notice blowing from the outside doesn't get rid of the dust builtup.

Blowing from the outside will never get rid of the dust buildup.

Worse, you can actually destroy the fan if you use to much air pressure (my neighbor's Ideapad G450 can attest to that).

@david_thinkpad,
If you know anyone with access to test equipment like an oscilloscope or logic probe, it may be possible to check if the fan sends out the RPM signal or not. IIRC, the fan sends out two pulses for every revolution, and the oscilloscope could be used to sense that.