I have to say wow!
for this IBM ThinkPad or Lenovo ThinkPad, that maximum number of these machines
run out to have Fan error when used for more than 2 to 4 years of time. Well,
my T60 went through same problem with fan making noise for some days and beeping
with Fan error popping on the top left corner right after the POST screen
leading the pc to shut down after some time.My model of Lenovo T60 notebook has
hardware specification with 14.1-inch display, equipped with a 1.83GHz Intel
Core Duo T2400 (4M Cache, 800 MHz FSB) Centrino (Merom) processor, 2 x 2GBDDR1667MHz
(PC-5300) memory, Graphics ATI Mobility Radeon X1300 and a 320GB (5400rpm) hard
drive. This machine doesn't have the biometrics scanner as in Lenovo ThinkPad
T61.
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| Picture 1 | |
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Lenovo ThinkPad T60
So when I got the
"fan error" on the screen as shown below, I researched about it on
the web to find out that this does happen when the machine is overheating, on
top of that the dust plays equal role to bring the fan down to create noise out
of it. However, I have also read Lenovo machine's fan is not lubricated during
its manufacture. Therefore, accumulation of dust on fan creates noise while
spinning with full speed.
Now to solve this kind
of error, I was just bypassing it by pressing ESC key at first, which I
did several whenever I switched ON the notebook. But then the cooling fan noise
irritated me also I have found out that if the fan completely stops working it
would have to order new one and replace it. So I had better idea of cleaning
this CPU fan and lubricating it instead. Besides, I was aware that if the fan
doesn't even work at all it's going to wear out the CPU inside because of the
over heat. Finally I got on to the work of disassembling T60 which can be shown
below.
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| Picture 2 |
Keyboard Faced.
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| Picture 3 |
Removing Hand rest cover.
I opened it and
finally the cooling fan was visible with lots of dust on. Had to take out the fan module out of the machine to clean out the dust.
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| Picture 4 |
Dust visible on the Fan area.
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| Picture 5 |
Closer View of dust on Heat Sink and Fan.
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| Picture 6 |
Dust accumulated on fan.
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| Picture 7 |
Machine after Fan module was removed.
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| Picture 8 |
Closer view of Fan module slot.
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| Picture 9 |
Fan module.
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| Picture 10 |
Cooling Fan taken out from Heat Sink to clean the dust.
In above Picture 10, need to be very carefully while unlocking those copper lock that press the aluminum plate covering the cooling fan to prevent the lock from breaking out. The dust can be cleaned with the air can or the cleaning brush. When the dust is cleaned thoroughly, lubricate the shining shaft of the cooling fan. The lubricating material that I used is Silicone Grease from Sharp. Now insert the fan in the shaft hole to give it a spin so that the grease melts properly. Finally close down the fan lock and reassemble every part back and get ready to test the machine. For some attempts the Fan Error might appear on the screen, bypass it by pressing ESC key. For me I got rid of the Fan error after 3 attempts of windows 7 shutdown. So Good Luck to those who have Fan Error!
