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In this post I explain how to replace a noisy or failed cooling fan in a Lenovo ThinkPad T61 laptop.
This guide might work for some other Lenovo ThinkPad models. If it works for you, please mention the laptop model number in the comments after the post.
The cooling fan is a part of the heat sink assembly. If the cooling fan fails, the whole heat sink assembly has to be replaced.
It’s possible that you can separate the fan from the heat sink and replace it separately, but in this guide I’m replacing the whole assembly.
Let’s remove the cooling fan assembly and replace it with a new one.
Turn off the laptop, unplug the AC adapter and remove the battery.
STEP 1.
Remove four (red) screws securing the palm rest.
Remove one screw (yellow) securing the keyboard.
STEP 2.
Lift up the palm rest.
STEP 3.
Place the palm rest upside down so you can access the touch pad cable underneath.
STEP 4.
Disconnect the touch pad cable from the motherboard.
By the way, both memory modules are located under the palm rest. If you are replacing or upgrading memory modules, you don’t have to follow the guide any further.
A Lenovo ThinkPad T61 laptop can take up to 4GB RAM total. You can install up to 2GB memory module into each slot. You should use DDR2 PC2-5300 or PC2-6400 memory modules.
STEP 5.
Lift up the keyboard and place it upside down.
STEP 6.
Disconnect the keyboard cable from the motherboard.
In order to disconnect the cable simply lift up the the connector, same way you disconnected the touch pad cable.
If you are replacing the keyboard, you don’t have to follow this guide any further.
You can find a new replacement keyboard by the Lenovo FRU part number printed on the label. In my case the keyboard part number is 42T3209.
Need a new keyboard for your Lenovo ThinkPad? Search here.
STEP 7.
Remove three screws securing the speaker cover.
By the way, the CMOS battery is located under the keyboard.
STEP 8.
Remove two screws securing the speaker cover on the bottom of the laptop.
STEP 9.
Remove the speaker cover.
STEP 10.
Remove four screws securing the cooling fan assembly brackets. Remove both brackets.
I would recommend taking a close up picture of the lower bracket, so you know how the wires are routed. The picture will help you to rout wires correctly when you assemble the laptop back together.
STEP 11.
Remove two screws securing the left speaker.
Disconnect connectors shown by two arrows.
Move the left speaker with cables to the right side, so you can get to the cooling fan assembly.
STEP 12.
Disconnect the cooling fan cable from the motherboard.
Remove four screws securing the cooling fan assembly.
STEP 13.
Lift up the cooling fan assembly as it shown on the picture below.
STEP 14.
Remove the cooling fan assembly from the laptop.
If you are replacing the failed cooling fan assembly with a new one, most likely the heat sink already has thermal grease pre-applied.
On the other hand, if you are installing a refubished cooling fan assembly, you’ll have to apply thermal grease on both chips shown below.
You can search for a replacement cooling fan assembly by the Lenovo FRU number from the failed fan.
The FRU number is printed on the label. In my case, the FRU part number is 42W2460.
You can find a new or used cooling fan assembly here.
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April 30th, 2013 at 8:13 am
Thank you very much for this guide. I needed to replace the cooling fan and these instructions were perfect. I have never taken apart a laptop so I had some reservations about doing this myselft but it was very easy. Thank you
April 2nd, 2013 at 10:29 am
super guide, made the Job so much easier, thanks
February 12th, 2013 at 1:27 am
hi
thanks for the great guide. i had a question: i installed everything but the computer wouldn’t turn on. i just get a series of short beeps and a black screen. the fan works, the hard drive spins, but nothing else. any idea what this might be?
jason
February 8th, 2013 at 11:22 am
First time I’ve ever fixed my own laptop – thanks for saving me $100. Gotta love the internet and peoples ability and willingness to share their knowledge.
January 22nd, 2013 at 6:54 pm
Thank you for the explanations, very accurate.
In my case I bought some thermal grease and a product to lubricate and clean the fan.
After lubricating it I made the fan spin with an air blower. Made it dry for a time and then reassembled.
Now the fan works perfectly, no more fan error message.
I think it is worth doing this before buying a new fan, you will save a lot of money.
January 16th, 2013 at 9:51 pm
Excellent Guide ! I will use this when the replacement fan arrives
December 6th, 2012 at 11:04 am
Also, worked for T400. I only needed to open it to blow out the fan and vents. Laptop is no longer overheating. Thanks.
November 20th, 2012 at 7:10 pm
Followed your instructions to remove fan on Lenovo T61. Instructions worked very well. Surprised that fan turned freely and seemed quite clean. Poked a couple of drops of 3 in 1 oil on underside clearance between fan impeller and hub. Spun the fan impeller with a finger, blew into the grilles a couple of times, impeller spun freely. Old thermal compound removed, replaced with Arctic MX-2 electrically non-conducting paste, put laptop back together. First boot-up, I got the “Fan Error” signal. Oh darn. But next shutdown and restart went OK, fan started up and has been working ever since. Thank you for your accurate detailed instructions. Hope this experience saves T61 aficionados some money.
November 18th, 2012 at 6:25 am
Many, many thanks for your detailed step-by-step with photos!
I never did get the speaker cover off. There are more screws involved on my T61P than on yours and I chickened out. Because of my chicken-heart, I didn’t get to where I could remove the fan assembly.
While the keyboard was removed, I powered up. The fan did spin up at power-on and then stopped. Didn’t leave the power on very long.
Probably a good thing that I couldn’t go any further. I blew air on the fan and exhaust ports to remove accumulated dust, reassembled, and–so far–the heat problem has not come back. We’ll see after the machine has been running for a little while longer.
Thank you again.
October 27th, 2012 at 7:36 am
My T61 was working fine in the morning but shut itself down over lunch. On re-boot the fan made mechanical noises and ground to a halt. The fan error signal came on screen and the laptop shut down. Using the exit button turned out the fan error signal enabled the boot to complete itself. One side of the laptop is propped up, a small external fan is blowing air under it and the air coming out of it is cooler than it ever was – so safe for the moment.
A fan consists of one moving part rotating in bushings or bearings – what can wear out? It’s more likely that dirt or lint got sucked into the fan and is jamming it, no?.
As an impecunious, long-retired old clutz, I shall follow your instructions very carefully and once able to get at the fan, apply JEFF’S inexpensive, clean and re-oil technique, and hope for his result. Thank you for excellent instructions. I’ll let you know the results.
Can the fan be tested before putting everything back together? If so, how? What is thermal grease and where do you get it?