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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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September 27th, 2010 at 12:10 pm
abdul hameed,
I would try reconnecting the wireless card. Remove it from the slot and install back it.
It’s possible that contacts between the wireless card and slot got oxidized and reconnecting the card will fix the problem.
If it doesn’t help, I think you’ll have to replace the wireless card.
I don’t think this is software related problem but just in case try reinstalling/upgrading the wireless card driver. Do it before going inside the laptop.
September 26th, 2010 at 9:20 pm
Thanks for the information. I am facing another problem for my thinkpad T61. It’s wirelss connection is disconnecting frequently and reconnect automatically.
How ca solve this problem(I am sure it is from lapop itself not from access point).
Advance thanks.
abdul hameed
September 23rd, 2010 at 6:21 am
thanks bro for your kindness to share with others. may Allah bless u.
September 23rd, 2010 at 2:13 am
Does anyone know where the Clear CMOS/Recovery jumper is located on the T60/T61? I have had no success finding it. Thanks.
August 31st, 2010 at 12:58 pm
Thank you! I had a Fan Error on bootup on a Monday. I found this guide, click and bought a fan assembly on the same day. The ebay seller shipped it same day and the part arrived next day. I used your guide to replace the unit and in 20 minutes, my computer is back up (and quieter!).
August 1st, 2010 at 3:43 am
Hi there!
Why is it necessary to replace the whole copper heat sink? What if I buy the fan on e-bay as twice cheaper as the whole heat sink assembly? It seems that installing the fan into old sink will require some soldering work around which is not a problem to me. Would appreciate if you confirm.
Kirill
June 30th, 2010 at 3:01 pm
my Lenovo ThinkPad T61 laptop is showing power Light but not coming up, what can i do to the board for it to come up
Thanks.
June 4th, 2010 at 9:04 am
Thanks for the information you posted. It was very handy. I replaced cooling fan on a T500 model. It is almost similar to your directions . Some screw locations were slightly different, removing speaker cover required additional screws to remove from inside and moving some wires around. Using your directions as a guide I was able to put a new fan on this laptop. Thanks again.
This replacement was for my daughters laptop. I will also do the same thing for my son’s laptop which is a T60.