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In this guide I’ll be cleaning the cooling module in an Acer Aspire 3620 laptop. Most likely my instructions will work for some other Acer Aspire models. Fell free to leave a comment and mention the laptop model if it works for you.
This particular laptop was shutting down by itself while running some intensive applications. I found that the cooling module (heat sink and fan) is completely clogged with dust and needs a good cleaning. Unfortunately, in this model the cooling module is buried deep inside the laptop and it’s necessary to take the whole thing apart in order to access it. OK, let’s start.
If you need spare parts for your Aspire 3620 laptop (or any other laptops) try to search here. If you search by the laptop model and part name, most likely you’ll find it. For example, if you need a new keyboard, search for Aspire 3620 keyboard.
Step1.
First of all turn off the laptop, unplug the power adapter and remove the battery. Remove the hard drive and memory covers from the bottom.
Step 2.
Remove four screws securing the hard drive assembly. After that slide the hard drive to the left and disconnect it from the motherboard. Now you can remove the hard drive assembly from the laptop.
If you are replacing the hard drive, you’ll have to remove the mounting bracket from the old one and install it on a new hard drive.
Step 3.
Remove both memory modules.
Disconnect two antenna wires from the wireless card (two yellow circles) and remove the wireless card same way you remove the memory module.
Step 4.
Remove one screw securing the CD/DVD drive. Push the drive from the laptop with a screwdriver. Pull the drive from the laptop.
Step 5.
Remove all screws from the bottom of the laptop. Disconnect the cooling fan cable from the motherboard.
Step 6.
Carefully start removing the keyboard bezel as it shown on the picture below. Be careful, the bezel has a circuit board which is connected to the motherboard.
Step 7.
Place the keyboard bezel so you can access the screw securing the keyboard. Remove that screw. Do not forget, the keyboard bezel is still attached to the motherboard.
Step 8.
Lift up the keyboard and place it upside down on the palm rest. Before you can remove the keyboard, you have to disconnect it from the motherboard.
On the picture below you see the keyboard cable connected to the motherboard. In order to unlock the connector, move the brown part about 2-3 millimeters towards the palm rest. Do not disconnect the brown locking tab from the connector, it must stay attached to the base.
On the picture below you can see the same connector in the unlocked state. Now you can pull the cable and remove the keyboard.
By the way, if you are only removing or replacing the keyboard, you can follow steps 6-8. You don’t have to remove anything from the bottom.
Step 9.
Now you can disconnect the cable connecting the keyboard bezel to the motherboard and remove the bezel. This cable belongs to the power button board which is attached to the bottom part of the bezel.
Step 10.
Pull the wireless antenna cables through the opening in the laptop. Disconnect the video cable from the motherboard. Remove two screws securing the display panel.
Step 11.
Now you can remove the display panel assembly. In the next post I will explain how to remove the LCD screen and inverter board.
Step 12.
Disconnect two white cables from the motherboard same way you disconnected the keyboard cable.
Step 13.
Start separating the top cover assembly from the laptop base.
and remove the top cover assembly.
Step 14.
Remove five screws securing the laptop motherboard. Disconnect the speaker cable from the motherboard.
Step 15.
Start removing the motherboard from the left side as it shown on the picture below.
The motherboard has been removed.
On the next picture you see the bottom part of the motherboard.
The cooling fan is attached to the base assembly and can be easily removed and replaced now.
Step 16.
Now I’m going to remove the heat sink.
Remove five screws securing the heat sink and carefully lift it up.
As you see, the heat sink is completely clogged with dust. I’m going to use compressed air to clean it.
You’ll find some gray (or other color) stuff on the top of the processor, it’s thermal grease which helps to conduct heat from the processor to heat sink. If thermal grease looks dry, you’ll have to replace it with new grease. Otherwise, you can reuse old grease, just spread it evenly on the top of the processor and install the heat sink back in place.
January 5th, 2012 at 2:00 pm
Hi. I would just like to say that I ran across this guide a fair while ago, and it was invaluable to me to help repair my laptop, I have an Acer Aspire 3620.
I used this guide to disassemble my laptop for the purpose of replacing the DC power jack (a replacement easily and cheaply found on Ebay).
To the people that have replied that after they have re assembled the laptop to find that the monitor did not show any display , I had this problem too the first time that I stripped my laptop.
Before you remove your keyboard bezel (Step 6), take note of a small black pin that protrudes from the bezel. When depressed (normally when you have the screen on the laptop closed) this cuts off the signal to the screen.
When reattatching the keyboard bezel, make sure that this little pin goes through the little hole in the keyboard bezel, otherwise it will be stuck down and you will have no display on your screen.
October 24th, 2011 at 2:05 pm
@ jumme,
In most cases just cleaning the fan and heatsink should be enough to stop overheating.
October 24th, 2011 at 1:49 pm
Thanks a lot. Had the same problem with random instant shotdowns.
Fan was clogged, I didnt bother to renew the termal paste, though.
I hope the suddan random shutdowns will stop now.
August 9th, 2011 at 10:28 am
I have Acer Aspire 3684 NWXCi Notebook that gave sound as if fan or hard drive is stuck, not sure and not getting started. In the begining it gave sound and turned offffffff. but trying to switch again and again (4-5 times) it seems to be totally dead. pushing the power button gives a click sound and in a matter of 2 sec the power indicator turns off. Could you suggest me the defect and its solution if possible.
mrsheikh
April 16th, 2011 at 2:55 pm
Very well done.
I am a Sr. Network Engineer, and I wish everyone would document so well.
This article prevented me from throwing out a friends laptop, and she can not afford another things being what they are.
Much Thanks,
AJ
April 14th, 2011 at 12:44 am
Thanks much for the writeup. My acer 3620 was heating up frequently and I used your instructions to open it up and clean the heat sink. It worked!
April 11th, 2011 at 12:14 pm
I have removed the fan from an acer C310. I would like to test the fan as it was not working. I see it is a 5v fan. Does anyone know the function of the wires (white,orange,red), so I can test it before buying another. Thanks
February 12th, 2011 at 8:41 pm
can I just remove the back cover and then clean the heatsink? though the motherboard is faced down, right? I just worry about damaging the keyboard connector.
February 2nd, 2011 at 2:33 am
great post its always challenging getting laptops apart, many thanks
January 24th, 2011 at 4:26 pm
Top Post, though I have yet to use it, I will be.
As a periodic task, on my 3620, I just stick the vacuum cleaner nozzle to the underside, until I hear the fan spin, & remove clods of dust from the grill with a needle. Then vacuum the side exhaust. That is not as comprehensive as this though.