Comments on: How to replace cooling fan in IBM ThinkPad T43 laptop

By: Bill

Bill — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 23:03:35 +0000

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?

By: Dawn Stratton

Dawn Stratton — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 18:08:05 +0000

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.

By: TheOx

TheOx — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 22:32:46 +0000

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.

By: Laptop Tech

Laptop Tech — Thu, 12 May 2011 20:42:48 +0000

Anon,

but now the laptop only responds when right front side is elevated and pressure applied to left front side it’s a bit impracticle to do this all the time might i have accidently damaged something

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.

By: Anon

Anon — Tue, 10 May 2011 13:20:42 +0000

i’m really glad i found this guide on how to replace the fan in a T43 i follwed all instructions since my T43 doesn’t have the fingerprint reader i had to removed an extra screw where the PCMCIA card slot is to remove the palm rest assembly in 2 parts and succesfully repaired the fan but now the laptop only responds when right front side is elevated and pressure applied to left front side it’s a bit impracticle to do this all the time might i have accidently damaged something

By: Name

Name — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 00:07:36 +0000

“the thermal pad is more or less glued to the GPU”
Same here (2668-G4G). There is some really hard material between the two parts, were you can see the arrow in step 11. I wanted to clean the laptop and replace the heat-pads etc., but couldn’t move the copper. This isn’t mentioned in the hardware maintenance manual.

By: Laptop Tech

Laptop Tech — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 17:06:30 +0000

thijs,

I replacing the fan at the moment. But i’m having the problem that the thermal pad is more or less glued to the GPU. Do you have any suggestion to release the thermal pad from the GPU??

Does your new fan have thermal pad for GPU? If it does, just remove the old thermal pad with a knife. After that clean the GPU surface with paper tower soaked in 99% alcohol.

By: thijs

thijs — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 15:03:15 +0000

Hello,

Thanks for this useful guide to replace the fan.

I replacing the fan at the moment. But i’m having the problem that the thermal pad is more or less glued to the GPU. Do you have any suggestion to release the thermal pad from the GPU??

Kind regards,

Thijs

By: Laptop Tech

Laptop Tech — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 19:24:08 +0000

Mistyck,

I think my Gateway NX570’s AC outlet part got fried when the adapter jack got wet and I inserted it into the laptop without realizing it was wet. I smelt a burnt plastic smell and the jack got hot as did the input on the laptop. Is it possible that I can fix this without having to fix the power jack?

I don’t know. It is possible but you’ll have to buy a new AC adapter and try it. There is a chance that your DC jack/motherboard still fine. The laptop still runs on battery power and this is a good sign.

By: Mistyck

Mistyck — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 21:07:20 +0000

Hi there, got a question…

I think my Gateway NX570′s AC outlet part got fried when the adapter jack got wet and I inserted it into the laptop without realizing it was wet. I smelt a burnt plastic smell and the jack got hot as did the input on the laptop. Is it possible that I can fix this without having to fix the power jack? The laptop does work fine on battery, but right now I don’t have a way to recharge the battery so am not powering up the laptop.