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In this guide I explain how to replace the cooling fan assembly in an IBM ThinkPad T43 laptop. This laptop was starting up with a “Fan error” message indicating the cooling fan failure. The fan is a part of the heat sink assembly and when the fan fails, the whole cooling assembly has to be replaced.
Also you can use this guide for removing and replacing the keyboard and hidden memory module.
Turn off the laptop, unplug the AC adapter and remove the battery.
STEP 1.
Remove three screws securing the keyboard on the bottom of the laptop.
The first memory module can be accessed through the door on the bottom.
It’ not necessary to remove the memory module in order to replace the cooling fan.
STEP 2.
Insert a sharp object between the bottom of the keyboard and palm rest and carefully lift up the keyboard.
Place the keyboard upside down on the palm rest.
STEP 3.
Disconnect the keyboard cable from the motherboard.
STEP 4.
Remove the keyboard.
If you are looking for a new keyboard for an IBM ThinkPad T43, you can find it here.
STEP 5.
The cooling fan assembly is hidden under the palm rest and cannot be removed until the palm rest is removed.
The second memory module is located under the keyboard.
STEP 6.
Now we are going to remove the palm rest.
Remove all marked screws from the bottom of the laptop.
STEP 7.
Disconnect the touchpad cable from the motherboard.
STEP 8.
Start separating the palm rest assembly from the laptop base.
STEP 9.
Remove the palm rest assembly.
STEP 10.
Remove three screws securing the cooling fan assembly.
Disconnect the cooling fan cable from the motherboard.
The cooling fan assembly part number is printed on the label.
STEP 11.
Lift up the right side of the cooling fan assembly.
STEP 12.
Remove the cooling fan assembly.
In order to find a new cooling fan assembly, I would suggest searching by the IBM FRU part number. In my case the part number is 26R7950.
You can buy a new cooling fan assembly here.
STEP 13.
Clean up the CPU and GPU chips with an alcohol swab.
Do not forget to apply fresh thermal grease on the CPU. You don’t have to apply thermal grease on the GPU because it will be covered with thermal pad located on the heat sink.
A new cooling fan assembly should come with thermal grease pre-applied on the heat sink. Also, it comes with thermal pad for the GPU.
May 12th, 2012 at 10:26 am
@ K. Roberts,
It’s possible to replace just the fan but it requires extra work. It’s way easier to buy the entire cooling assembly.
By the way, thank you for your generous donation.
May 11th, 2012 at 9:36 pm
Your instructions were very good, everything went smoothly once I realized I needed the whole fan assembly, not just the fan itself. I would stress to anyone trying this to keep very careful track of which screws came from which holes, also it might not be completely obvious to a neophyte laptop repairer (like me) that the screws for the palm rest along the front of the laptop are under little plastic-y stick on covers that you just have to gently pry off.
April 28th, 2012 at 2:48 am
Thanks for posting this detailed guide. I’m trying to decide what to purchase. Some parts I look at are just the fan and some are the fan and heatsink. I’m not getting any fan errors. I just need to get rid of the noise!
March 29th, 2012 at 8:21 am
First of all, I just want to say Wow! Your instructions were clear and 100% accurate! Originally I was experiencing my IBM T43 laptop go through turmoil; as I would go to turn it on, the Fan Error message would pop up and then shut down my computer. Luckily there was another computer in the house to browse the web for resolutions on this problem, and I found this helpful website! After reading the instructions, I ordered a fan assembly for my T43 IBM laptop on Amazon.com for $35. I just replaced it for the old one in my T43 IBM laptop and everything is back to normal, YAY! Thank you so much for writing these instructions; I wouldn’t have had the confidence to take apart my beloved IBM without them. Such a lifesaver! Now I can take back the little $400 laptop I bought for the meantime which means I just saved $365! Thank you again.
February 14th, 2012 at 6:56 pm
@ Marius,
I’m not sure if this is a permanent fix. I think it might fail again soon.
February 13th, 2012 at 8:58 am
Why change the whole assembly fan when you can insert some oil with a needle between the rotating plastic part and the static part of the fan? Then you have to clean the excess oil, but works perfect. No noise. No more fan error messages, at least for a long while.
@Dawn Stratton
Same problem. Simple solution. Just pre-bend before install the other way the flexible keyboard and the gap disappears like magic (also the annoying noise when pressing the keys).
Thanks for these tutorials.
September 19th, 2011 at 3:03 pm
The process was easy to follow. I also encountered the sticking problem on the ATI chip. I’ve reconnected everythinh. It boots, no fan noise, But… No display. Do you have any ideas?
September 2nd, 2011 at 10:08 am
This was a great guide. I followed it to the letter. My computer was a little different, but the basics were great. One question, while trying to replace the keyboard, I can not get the bottom right corner to seat. What am I doing wrong? Thanks again for the guide.
June 9th, 2011 at 2:32 pm
I just replaced the fan in a 15″ T43p (2668-H2U). I had the same problem with the fan being glued to the GPU. After some hard wiggling of the fan, I was finally able to break it free but it took the metal ATI plate off with it. I was able to separate the ATI plate from the fan with a chisel which deformed the plate a little. I removed the goop from the back of the ATI plate and the top of the graphic chips with alcohol and cleaned the adhesive from the top of the plate with a razor blade. Then, I made the ATI plate as flat as I could, applied artic silver to the bottom of the plate in the four corners and the center and placed it on top of the graphic chips. The rest of the fan reassembly went normally. After replacing wristpad, keyboard and screws, it powered up beautifully. The fan noise was gone. Now I just have to see if the graphics chipset will withstand the major surgery over the coming months/years. Hope this helps those with the the thermal pad glued to the ATI plate dilemma.
May 12th, 2011 at 12:42 pm
Anon,
Make sure memory modules seated correctly. Try reconnecting them.
Also, make sure you installed right screws into right holes.
Sounds like this is something simple. I would remove the cover again and check if everything looks normal and all cables routed correctly.