Another success, like many others above. I ordered the fan directly from IBM (using the new part number) - cheap and came in a few days. The IBM manual + hairdryer tip did just the trick.

One small query - the new fan came with a 3M backing tape with 5 stiff black peel off sticky tabs. Can’t work out what these are for, nor find any reference to them in the manual, nor in any of the posts above.

Anyone know what they are for??

While waiting for a chance to order the fan, I used the notebook without the fan, on ’slow’ speed, with a notebook cooling pad (and hitting ‘escape’ when booting up), and keeping an eye on the temperature with ‘tpfan’.

IBM Canada delivered a new fan via Purlolator about sixteen hours after I called. The fan popped off after a little twist (no prying required), and was easily replaced. I cleaned the CPU and GPU with alcohol, and left the pink pad on the new fan in place (the old one had it as well). Started everything up, and I was away to the races.

Only odd thing I noticed was a little strip of five 3M adhesive pads about 5mm X 7mm each. I couldn’t find anywhere to put them, so I left them out (I figure whenever I take something apart and have parts left over after I’m done, that I’m ahead of the game :-))

The new fan seems very quiet (it is the new FRU you note above), 66.39 (Canadian) delivered, except when it kicks into wind tunnel mode.

Thanks again.

Regards,
Rob

Without exaggerating, my fan assembly has died about 5 times in the life of my T42p (originally acquired in April 2004). This, however, was the first time it died out of warranty. Despite assurances from the IBM service technician last time, saying that IBM would look at the service history and see that it’s been a problem from the beginning, they wouldn’t have anything to do with my out-of-warranty unit.

I’ve had my system board replaced before (under warranty) so this time I was skeptical but thought it was worth a try. Before I pulled everything apart, I plugged the new fan unit in and started the old girl up — thankfully the new unit whirred where the old unit did zip.

I routinely leave my notebook running 24/7, which the fan unit is clearly not cut out for.

The FRU (41W5204) was delivered to me for CAD $65.80 including tax.

from IBMFRU@us.ibm.com
to
date Mon, Sep 15, 2008 at 5:57 PM
subject ibm.com Your order # xxxxxxx is being processed
mailed-by us.ibm.com

Reply

Dear Jeffrey

Thank you for purchasing from ibm.com. Your order information is included below for your reference.

To get order status, call 1-800-765-5944.

ibm.com confirmation number: CNxxxxxxx
Order date: 09/15/2008 11:53:01 AM GMT
Your payment method: American Express Credit Card

Cart items

Qty. Description Item Price Line Total
________________________________________________________________________________

1 FRU FAN $32.94 $32.94
Product: 41W5204

________________________________________________________________________________

Shipping $13.50
Tax $2.90
Total* $49.34