Replaced Left Fan now fan wont turn on

Question

Level 1

0 points

Replaced Left Fan now fan wont turn on

I have a macbook pro 15'' Early 2009 (2.66 GHZ). I am running Lion (10.7.5) I recently replaced the left fan in my computer due to it not working well. My computer seems to run fine, however, the left fan will not turn on. I double checked to make sure the connection was good, and it was. The fan was brand new, and did not seem to be damaged, and I cannot figure out what is wrong with it. I am out of my warranty, and would prefer to avoid taking my computer in to the apple store if possible, so any suggestions would be appreciated.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.5)

Posted on Jul 13, 2013 10:55 PM

Reply

Answer 1

mende1

Level 10

93,624 points

Jul 13, 2013 11:07 PM in response to livious

Welcome to Apple Support Communities

You shouldn't have repaired it yourself, because now Apple will refuse to repair your Mac, so the option to take your Mac to an Apple Store isn't valid.

If you have checked that all connectors look good, try with another fan. If it doesn't work, replace the logic board or get a new MacBook Pro

Reply

Answer 2

livious Author

Level 1

0 points

Jul 14, 2013 1:08 AM in response to mende1

well the warrenty had run out anyways, the store should still repair it, they will just charge me parts and labor and all that. If they don't I'm sure geek squad or some other place will repair it. Ya thats a good idea Ill try putting my old fan in, and if that works I can try maybe with another fan. Is it possible there is some software issue that might be affecting it? That maybe the computer is not detecting a new fan or something?

Reply

Answer 3

mende1

Level 10

93,624 points

Jul 14, 2013 1:11 AM in response to livious

The SMC controls fans, so it may be a SMC issue. Make a SMC reset > http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964

Reply

Answer 4

LowLuster

Level 6

12,105 points

Jul 14, 2013 1:11 AM in response to livious

Could be it wasn't the fan that was bad but something on the logic board that supplies power to the left fan. Replacing the fan wouldn't fix that problem.

Reply

Answer 5

livious Author

Level 1

0 points

Jul 14, 2013 1:23 AM in response to livious

I tried doing the thing to reset the SMC, there wasn't anything to signal that it reset, but I followed the instructions so Im assuming it worked. didnt change anything. Um for the logic board that is a possibility, but the old fan was on, it was just gradually running slower and slower until it was pointless to even use it as it would sometimes have trouble starting. If I push it with my finger it doesn't spin very long, I think it might just need oiling, but it might be easier to just get this new fan working, if possible. This new fan isn't running at all, or making any attempt to run. Is there some way to tell if the logic board is working properly?

Reply

Answer 6

livious Author

Level 1

0 points

Jul 14, 2013 2:39 PM in response to livious

Ok so I tried turning it on with the hood popped, and it seems that the fan will turn on, for seconds at a time every so often. I cant tell that it is on because it is so quiet. I tried it with my old fan in, and same thing, so it seems that it is not the fan that is broken, but something else. hopefully not the logic board. Any ideas? I might end up taking it into the apple store just to get it fixed.

Reply