Buzzing fan on the Mac-book Pro 2011 i7 processor

What is happening is as I use the laptop I press down on the frame (6, t, y keys), for example, resting palms next to the keyboard, lifting the device up and down.

The bottom is flat and rests on four low-profile feet. Pressing down on the palm rests should not lift the device up and down. The only exception is when the case is already bent, either due to physical damage or a battery inside the case that is swelling.

If a fan is buzzing, fix it. What you describe is not normal.

Hi AbleM.

Have you opened yours to inspect the fan and its mounting?

My 2012 13-inch has the same fan mount as the 2011 and I'd taken photos when I removed my fan to clean the heat sink it serves The fan is mounted to the logic board, not directly to the chassis. I'm not sure I can envision stress on the chassis having such an immediate affect on the fan when the logic board keeps the fan from direct contact with the chassis.

Here are two views of mine with the fan removed, and the fan mounts indicated with the yellow arrows:

[Ignore the little gray box. I drew one arrow pointing to the wrong fitting. 🥴}

The mounting screws are quite short and I can't see a way for the fan or its mounts to make direct contact with the aluminum chassis.

In my experience, buzzing due to vibration is most commonly due to dirt of the fan blades, followed about equally by loose mounting screws after servicing and foreign objects.

Have you run diagnostics? On the older diagnostic routine, Apple Hardware Test, a "4MOT" error indicates a fan motor problem, not just a dead fan.

I'm not trying to be accusational so apologies if it sounds that way. I really want to better understand.

A suggestion: Your posts will be easier to read onscreen if you use some paragraph breaks. Most of the senior contributors here are older than dinosaur poo and need all the help we can get!!

Thanks,

AJ

Understood. It will be great to hear what you find.

Admittedly my experience with that specific form factor is based on an n=2 sample size, but we have been inside both. The other one—my son's—has seen a rough life of being backpacked through four years of engineering school, being the only family computer, numerous drops, toddlers with dirty hands, one bicycle crash, and an episode where something jammed the fan blades (fixed). It still works without extraneous noise. Its running with 8GB RAM and a 500GB SSD we retrofitted. It's fast.

That form factor used from 2009-2012 was a rock star IMHO. Darned near bullet-proof compared to the doily-thin little slabs of puff that the MBP has become since 2012. At least we can get under the hood of our models.

I am going to tear into the device further and explore the fan better however I need the laptop at the moment.

You have chosen—wisely. Good approach.

And thank you for the paragraph brakes. Much appreciated!

I look forward to your findings.

In my experience, buzzing due to vibration is most commonly due to dirt of the fan blades, followed about equally by loose mounting screws after servicing and foreign objects.

👍