JonnyJ
Member
Registered: 23rd Sep 05
Location: Scotchland
User status: Offline
|
Got a 6 year old or so Macbook here. About 18 months or so back it started to make a pretty awful "whirring" noise. Started out usually when it got warm but sometimes randomly started up as soon as i put it on. Im pretty sure it was the fan bearings (the noise sounds sort of similar to how it sounds when your wheel bearing starts to go on your car).
After about 5 months of it making the noise it randomly stopped but just these last few days its started up again. Its really annoying 
Does it sound like im right in saying fan bearings? And why would it stop completely for a while then start up again?
Also is it fixable? Something i could attempt myself or send away job?
[Edited on 06-01-2013 by JonnyJ]
|
Marc
Member
Registered: 11th Aug 02
Location: York
User status: Offline
|
Isn't the casing sealed?
|
Dom
Member
Registered: 13th Sep 03
User status: Offline
|
Probably could ebay for a new fan and surround which you could then swap over. Have a look on Ifixit or youtube for dismantling, will give you a good idea if you're up to the job (shouldn't be that difficult to be honest).
Otherwise Apple service centre but you'll get torn a new one for the privilege.
[Edited on 06-01-2013 by Dom]
|
JonnyJ
Member
Registered: 23rd Sep 05
Location: Scotchland
User status: Offline
|
quote:
Originally posted by Dom
Probably could ebay for a new fan and surround which you could then swap over. Have a look on Ifixit or youtube for dismantling, will give you a good idea if you're up to the job (shouldn't be that difficult to be honest).
Otherwise Apple service centre but you'll get torn a new one for the privilege.
[Edited on 06-01-2013 by Dom]
Aye, kinda why i dont want to send it to them
That Ifixit is a good site Dom, cheers for that. Had a look at it, seems do-able but im sure they'll be something that i fuck up along the way
Any idea why it would stop whirring for a good year or so then randomly start up again?
|
ed
Member
Registered: 10th Sep 03
User status: Offline
|
Bit of crap in the bearing might do that. In an old job I had a computer sent back because the GPU cooler was noisy on and off.
|
Balling
Premium Member
Registered: 7th Apr 04
Location: Denmark
User status: Offline
|
Dying harddrive can also make a whirring noise. Be sure to have up to date backup.
Put your ear to the machine and listen for where the sound is coming from. Can only really be hard drive, fan or optical drive.
|
Balling
Premium Member
Registered: 7th Apr 04
Location: Denmark
User status: Offline
|
quote:
Originally posted by Marc
Isn't the casing sealed?
Sealed with what?
|
Marc
Member
Registered: 11th Aug 02
Location: York
User status: Offline
|
As in the case is one piece aluminium. I wasn't aware that you could just unscrew it.
|
JonnyJ
Member
Registered: 23rd Sep 05
Location: Scotchland
User status: Offline
|
quote:
Originally posted by Balling
Dying harddrive can also make a whirring noise. Be sure to have up to date backup.
Put your ear to the machine and listen for where the sound is coming from. Can only really be hard drive, fan or optical drive.
Nah its not hard drive but its all backed up anyway from when my old External Hard drive died. Stored on my bros media server.
Think we're going to take it apart and give the fan a blast of compressed air. Looks a little bit tricky to get into but not too hard.
|
Balling
Premium Member
Registered: 7th Apr 04
Location: Denmark
User status: Offline
|
quote:
Originally posted by Marc
As in the case is one piece aluminium. I wasn't aware that you could just unscrew it.
6 years ago it wasn't one piece.
Also, of course you can disassemble it, how would you repair it otherwise?
The unibody Mac's have a detachable underside.
[Edited on 06-01-2013 by Balling]
|
Sam
Moderator
Premium Member
Registered: 24th Dec 99
Location: West Midlands
User status: Offline
|
Yep it'll be the fans.
Slightly time consuming to replace, but pretty straight forward. If you're doing it yourself, the iFixit guides are a good help.
|
Sam
Moderator
Premium Member
Registered: 24th Dec 99
Location: West Midlands
User status: Offline
|
quote:
Originally posted by Balling
quote:
Originally posted by Marc
As in the case is one piece aluminium. I wasn't aware that you could just unscrew it.
6 years ago it wasn't one piece.
Also, of course you can disassemble it, how would you repair it otherwise?
The unibody Mac's have a detachable underside.
[Edited on 06-01-2013 by Balling]
Unibody ones are great, only 10 screws and a alu cover stop you from easily changing the battery, fans, RAM and drives! 
|
JonnyJ
Member
Registered: 23rd Sep 05
Location: Scotchland
User status: Offline
|
quote:
Originally posted by Sam
Yep it'll be the fans.
Slightly time consuming to replace, but pretty straight forward. If you're doing it yourself, the iFixit guides are a good help.
Looking at the comments on the Ifixit guides some girl says "Between this guide showing me how to open the laptop and remove the fan and another guide which recommended opening the fan and giving the metal pin inside a little clean"
Reckon its worth giving that a go first before ordering a new one? They arent too much, about £35 or so but every little helps and all that.
In case i struggle, would this be a job you could do Sam? If so, how much? U2U if you wish.
|
Steve
Premium Member
Registered: 30th Mar 02
Location: Worcestershire Drives: Defender
User status: Offline
|
If you can change a plug socket in your house, you can pretty much do anything regarding replacing components in computer equipment
|
JonnyJ
Member
Registered: 23rd Sep 05
Location: Scotchland
User status: Offline
|
Never changed a plug socket mate
|
JonnyJ
Member
Registered: 23rd Sep 05
Location: Scotchland
User status: Offline
|
Well ive ordered the tools i need to do the job. Hopefully they'll come this week and i can give it a go. The sound drives me nuts!
|
Sam
Moderator
Premium Member
Registered: 24th Dec 99
Location: West Midlands
User status: Offline
|
quote:
Originally posted by JonnyJ
quote:
Originally posted by Sam
Yep it'll be the fans.
Slightly time consuming to replace, but pretty straight forward. If you're doing it yourself, the iFixit guides are a good help.
Looking at the comments on the Ifixit guides some girl says "Between this guide showing me how to open the laptop and remove the fan and another guide which recommended opening the fan and giving the metal pin inside a little clean"
Reckon its worth giving that a go first before ordering a new one? They arent too much, about £35 or so but every little helps and all that.
In case i struggle, would this be a job you could do Sam? If so, how much? U2U if you wish.
Yeah I can do it if you get stuck mate - you can pay cash or we could exchange services
Let us know on here how you get on first though.
|
JonnyJ
Member
Registered: 23rd Sep 05
Location: Scotchland
User status: Offline
|
Noted Sam, cheers. You might receive it in bits like if this goes wrong 
|
