Comments on: Replacing a MacBook Pro Fan

By: Susan LB

Susan LB — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 17:59:08 +0000

Thank you! That noise was driving me crazy. My problem was fixed by installing SMCfancontrol and switching the “Active Setting” in the drop-down to “Higher RPM.” It took me a moment (of reading the instructions, duh!) to realize that the controls for the app live in the menu bar and not on the dock (hey I’m a newbie at all this!!). Anyway, I now sadly realize that my previous Powerbook probably crashed because the fan wasn’t keeping things cool enough, as I had heard a similar whirring sound before I started hearing the grinding screech of the hard drive failing … live and learn (some expensive lessons). Thanks again!

By: Coda

Coda — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 12:44:33 +0000

Some people shouldn’t be disassembling car transmissions either, but there are people that do, and do it well. Just admit you don’t have those particular skills, and move on…

By: Gary Rosenzweig

Gary Rosenzweig — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:02:05 +0000

Thanks for sharing your experience. I’m not a hardware expert, but I have taken apart many Macs in my time and never had an experience like that. Wonder which Mac model you were working on. Anyway, there are plenty of Mac shops all around, in every city in the US, so plenty of people do work on Macs.

By: Moribund

Moribund — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 04:53:29 +0000

I repair PCs. But I would never try to repair a Mac. Just to remove the hard drive (takes 20 seconds in most PCs)you need not only to open the box and remove parts of internal frame but you also end up with 50-90 screws of all shapes, sizes, threading, numbers and colors. Some of them may be invisible to naked eye
:-)They have to be all put in individual boxes and named and a diagram where to place each one after needs to be created :-)

In the end…I swear 3 of the boxes contained dead ants, not screws as the exhausting undertaking has induced hallucinations. But I faithfully screwed them back in their sockets and it’s just then I realized I have 9 small useless parts which were not at all required to hold integrity of the case or safety of the parts inside.THEY ARE FOR ELEGANCE!! DARN! It’s put there so that in case you happened drop the Mac from the fourth floor, – although it would be busted up inside and completely dead – it would still look sleek and “airtight” LOL Why don’t we hold a MAC funeral? So I started unscrewing some of those reddish ants back and putting them in boxes…
When I was done I realized I had to seriously dry the motherboard. It was drenched in my sweat. In only one short MAC motherboard replacement I lost so many minerals out of my body that I began to have muscle cramps…You get my point :-)

I AM GLAD THAT I WILL NEVER AGREE TO REPAIR ANOTHER MAC IN MY LIFE! Not only are they non-serviceable by user, THEY ARE NOT SERVICEABLE BY HUMAN. Period.

By: Karl

Karl — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 07:51:06 +0000

You can buy those fans very cheap on Ebay for as little as $10.80 including shipping . Not the original fan, but a Sunon fan which is a very good brand. I bought one to replace my old noisy fan on my Macbook pro (2007, A1226 model)

By: Gary Rosenzweig

Gary Rosenzweig — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 01:20:08 +0000

I’d just take the part to a computer repair shop and buy a replacement. It will be hard to find online unless you can identify the exact part name.

By: garrett

garrett — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 23:20:03 +0000

when I pulled out the power connector the black 4pin piece that is connected to the motherboard pulled off as well. Any ideas where I can buy a new one?

By: Will

Will — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 03:38:29 +0000

I’m a Mac harware tech and have seen this a number of times. The cause of the noise usualy is dirt between the shaft and the winding of the motor. Don’t use WD-40. Its not a proper lubricant. I have found that electronics oil works the best. Take the plastic impeller out, clean the metal shaft and lightly coat it with oil. Insert it and spin a few revolutions. Take it back out and clean it again. This grabs more dirt that was in the motor. Very lightly oil the shaft again, reassemble everything and enjoy the silence.

By: Appleguy

Appleguy — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 01:02:01 +0000

There is this guide too might be helpful:
http://appletoolbox.com/2011/02/do-it-yourself-guide-to-replacing-a-macbook-pro-fan/

By: AL

AL — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 23:34:23 +0000

I have been having similar problems with my MacBook Pro. The RIGHT fan intermittently made a HORRIBLE whirring noise (similar but definitely worse than what’s on the video). I had already had smcFanControl installed and had the fans programmed at 4000 rpm initially to better cool my computer. However, it seems that this higher fan speed setting INCREASED how frequently the right fan would become super noisy. I shifted back down to the default 2000 rpms for both fans w/ some improvement initially but then the right fan would once again start acting up. What shows up on smcFanControl display right top corner of the screen by default, though, is the speed of the LEFT fan. When I changed smcFanControl preferences to show the speed of the RIGHT fan, it was consisently LESS than 1000 rpm’s when it became extremely noisy (even though it should have been at the 2000 rpm minimum I had programmed). Pressing the + and [] keys down forcefully eliminated the noise and brought the fan speed back UP to the programmed speed. Basically, my suspicion is that there is something mechanically wrong with the fan but can be corrected w/ subtle repositioning.

By: Gary Rosenzweig

Gary Rosenzweig — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 19:37:46 +0000

If you just want to recover those files, I would remove the hard drive and try to get the files off of it directly. A Mac repair shop should be able to do it for you.

By: Kat

Kat — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 18:35:14 +0000

I got a new one a week ago, but I want to recover this one as I have a lot of files I need. In fact, I got one (the newest MBP) in April, and it had a noise and got hot since the day one, but I didn`t pay much attention to it, but now I understand it`s wrong. Unfortunately, I left it at my parents overseas and can bring it back to the States after the warranty expires.

By: Gary Rosenzweig

Gary Rosenzweig — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 18:11:21 +0000

It sounds like you have a lot wrong with it — not just fans. It is getting old. I’d take it to a Mac repair shop. Or, get a new one.

By: Kat

Kat — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 18:08:45 +0000

I have an early 2006 MBP which made very loud noise, got very hot, and now doesn`t upload (it passes the grey screen and stays on blue screen trying to upload, but it can`t complete) I had to do forced quit because Firefox crashed, and then I couldn`t start it up. AHT gives me two errors:
4MOT/1/40000002: Left_Upper-Front
4SNS/1/40000000: `TCOP`
apparently something wrong with the fans.
I did repair permission in Utility, but it didn`t find any errors.
Any ideas on my case, and if that`s what I need to fix the problem-to replace the fans?

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 18:07:21 +0000

I’ve had my 2006 mbp right fan out twice and lubricated the bearing surface and shaft. 1st fix with WD40 lasted 5 months. 2nd with an “electronic” lubricant and that lasted 2 days. Going to try 3 in 1 next. I agree with the earlier posts – both WD40 and the electronic lubricant are primarily dewatering/solvents. Installed SMCFanControl – excellent for 5 months – now I have to change the speeds manually. Need to beat the heat!

Thanks for all the posts – very helpful!

By: Adam

Adam — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 18:40:37 +0000

smcFANCONTROL fixed the problem!
thank you so much!
!!!

By: jamie

jamie — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 01:49:31 +0000

you can download a “fan monitoring” program that will tell you the rpm’s of both the right and left fan. the program will install into your system preferences panel.

By: DAPHOTO

DAPHOTO — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 00:45:05 +0000

Just fixed my macbookpro fan. My problem was with the right side fan. The very loud grinding noise has now stopped. SmcFanControl
did not fix my problem, but I do recommend that every one should have this app. It tells you the RPM of each fan so you know if you have a dead fan.
I fixed my by removing just the top silver cover of the fan not the whole fan housing its self. The fan and blades are attached to this part. Only two screws hold it in place. I could clearly see the fan blades had been rubbing on the metal plate. I pulled the fan blades off the motor (The blades pull off quite easy) and could see the shaft had a dark all most burnt color to it. So I figured the fan was shot and I would have to buy a new one, but after blowing off all the dust and putting every thing back together, my computer is as quiet as the day I bought it.

By: MARCIA WACHIRA

MARCIA WACHIRA — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 10:25:10 +0000

THANK YOU MAX for the smc fan advice..initially mine was at 6000rpm then i took it to 4500 like you said and i could hardly hear the noise .. then i saved and waited 5 sec and put it to 1500 the noise died out completely. The noise has been driving me nuts..it was so loud.

By: Gary Rosenzweig

Gary Rosenzweig — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 19:21:12 +0000

Take it to a Mac repair shop to have it looked at.

By: Dimas

Dimas — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 18:37:08 +0000

My macbook pro was making noise on the left fan i switched off then i switch it on again and it never start please it seems dead. Any advice

By: Gary Rosenzweig

Gary Rosenzweig — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 21:18:31 +0000

What you’re looking for is a little more detailed than a simple video. If you need something that detailed, then you should probably have a pro do it, as it can be quite tricky. Plus, unless you have the exact same model (and the one shown is quite old now), it will be different for you.

By: macbooker

macbooker — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 21:10:21 +0000

he talked a lot and he missed the most important part of the video .. that is how to put the fan ..!! and how to conected .. !

By: Gary Rosenzweig

Gary Rosenzweig — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 21:11:59 +0000

I don’t really have any screen color issues. I never had any other problems with it — I used it often until just a few months ago when I upgraded to a new MacBook. It still works well, though.

By: Renee

Renee — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 20:31:57 +0000

Thanks for the Vid. I ordered my MBP in jan 2007 so i have a late 2006 model. You must have the same. Your screen looks like it has the same discoloration issues that mine has had. My fan also makes the same noise. I also intermittently have issues with display driver, always have.

I didn’t get the extended warranty and the moron at apple (who sang on the phone!) told me not to worry about sending it in in the middle of the semester. He said since the problem was documented i could send it in at the end.

HA! Did you know Apple is not responsible for their employees’ claims? I didn’t until they refused to fix anything. $2000 down the drain.

Did you have other problems with your model? I always wondered if the display had anything to do with the fact that the temp outside was 19 below zero.

By: Gary Rosenzweig

Gary Rosenzweig — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 03:31:27 +0000

Unless you have the exact same model as I did in the video, then you may need a different fan. Probably do. If you really want to do this on your own, then open it up and find out what model number of fan you need to replace. Search on that model number.

By: Alberto

Alberto — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 23:00:56 +0000

I have the same problem, but i could not find the address to buy the same brand of the one is install, please, can you give to me???

Thanks.

By: Gary Rosenzweig

Gary Rosenzweig — Fri, 07 May 2010 16:18:04 +0000

I think the danger is in your MacBook not cooling properly. Without those fan blades, the chips won’t cool. They may overheat. Once that happens, you’ve got a dead MacBook.

By: Ronald Valverde

Ronald Valverde — Fri, 07 May 2010 16:13:37 +0000

It started making really loud noises like the one described here, 3 weeks ago. (I didnt find your forum until last night… but I did read some other posts about the problem being fairly common)

So I decided to try blowing compressed air from a hose in a workshop I have access to; I thought it would be the same as the pressure from a can of compressed air. But I think it was too much pressure. I heard a snap while I was blowing air into it. The weird thing is that I did it to every opening in the computer, right fan included, and nothing snapped in the right fan it would just make a hissing rotating noise. So it leads me to think that the left fan was already sensitive somehow and couldnt take the pressure… I just helped it to continue breaking?

So you think it’d be a problem to leave it in there rotating without the blades? I cleaned them all out of the computer. Now its just the center piece rotating without the blade endings. And did you say definitely not unplugging it so that it doesnt run while the macbook pro is on?

Thanks again!

By: Gary Rosenzweig

Gary Rosenzweig — Fri, 07 May 2010 12:04:34 +0000

Weird. Any idea how that happened?
I wouldn’t run it again until you have a working fan in there.