'Fan Error' with ThinkPad T41

[tatar_0x4e]

Dear all,

First of all, thank you for the great forum, I've read it a lot and it is always very helpful. Now it is time to ask for help myself.

Recently I've replaced the faulty fan assembly on my Thinkpad with the fan from T42 (longer one). After that everything was working just great for about two hours, but then the fan stopped working. When I restarted the laptop, I've got the famous 'Fan Error' message. My first idea was that the new fan was faulty as well, so I borrowed the original fan from T41 (which is working just fine on another machine) and installed it. No success, I'm still getting the 'Fan Error'.

Do you have any idea what it could be? Currently it seems to me that it is either BIOS or physical fault on the motherboard. I wouldn't like to change motherboard as it costs more than my laptop now, so I would be extremely greatful for any other suggestions. I will be very glad to get any ideas, even if they will not help me to fix the unit, just to understand what has happened and don't do it again

Thank you!

[poshgeordie]

Hi Tatar and welcome to the forums.

Referring to this diagram check the fuses and especially F4. Gotta say - not sure if that's the right one (it's the only one without an ident) but it's the one that's nearest to the fan connector.

[tatar_0x4e]

Hi poshgeordie.

Thank you for the response, I didn't think about fuses. Unfortunately, I can check them only visually, because I don't have proper testing equipment here. Do you think that the T42 fan which I've installed could have caused some voltage spike which burnt out my motherboard? Is it possible? I thought it uses the same voltage as T41's one.

[sojourner]

Do you think that the T42 fan which I've installed could have caused some voltage spike which burnt out my motherboard? Is it possible?

No. But any number of things may have happened:

1. the T42 fan for whatever reason may have drawn excess current (needed to much power) and caused a fuse to blow (the fuse PROTECTS your motherboard)
2. the T42 fan my have shorted thus blowing the fuse
3. the fuse may have already been 'weak' (on its last leg) and finally blew

Lastly, and hate to say it but you should keep in mind it may not be a fuse, it may be something else in the fans power supply section went bad.

BTW, are you sure the fans tiny three pin white connector is seated and connected propery on the MOBO? Have you removed the KB and looked to see if the fan even giggles when you power-up?

[tatar_0x4e]

BTW, are you sure the fans tiny three pin white connector is seated and connected propery on the MOBO? Have you removed the KB and looked to see if the fan even giggles when you power-up?

Yes, I'm pretty sure. I've removed the keyboard and the palmrest. Actually, for the last tests I powered up the machine having keyboard removed. The fan doesn't stir at all when I power the laptop up, so it seems like it is just totally offline. The fan's power supply is fit very well, I've double checked it.

I like your idea about fuses: I was compiling quite a lot of stuff with gcc on this machine recently and it got overheated like hell from it. It is quite possible that one or two fuses where ready to blow up by the moment when I installed the new fan. Unfortunately, even if I found thait it was a fuse, is wouldn't be very helpful information for me. I do not have any tools to test or replace fuses. I have only my favorite pack of screwdrivers

[poshgeordie]

PM sent

[richk]

fuse for the fan is F4. top of the board between the fan and pc card cage

[ABuNeNe]

Hi my T43, model 2668, still have this fan error even after changing to a working fan. Is there a way to check the cause is from the motherboard F4 fuse? If yes, how can I change it?

[richk]

The fuse is under the fan - very near. It is about 1.5 mm long and soldered in place.

[MBece64]

Just to chime in I ran into this problem with a fan I replaced. I decided to go cheap and just buy the fan. Worked for a bit but the fuse did blow. The fan I got was 5v 0.3A the original was 5v 0.2A so I guess that made a difference and I stupidly did not look at that. Any ways. Ordered complete fan and heatsink assembly and still no joy. Found Fuse as mentioned above, F4 and simply solder bridged the fuse and all is well. I know not ideal way of fixing but need the laptop to last another couple of months.