My Problem

I've had my MacBook for 6 years...maybe more now, and it's lived in Japan with me, and traveled all over. In the last year it started to make a noise that sounded like a small animal was dying inside my computer. It got so bad that you couldn't hear anything except this whining screaming noise. I figured it had lived it's life, and was preparing myself for the day it wouldn't turn on again. Then it got worse, it would get so hot, and eventually shut down. Fearing the end of our relationship (me and the computer) my husband found your site, and we ordered a replacement fan.

My Fix

It was a challenge, found out once inside that when Apple fixed my screen flicker issue (when covered under Apple Care) they stripped one of the smallest screws needed to pull apart the case to get inside so badly that I thought all was lost! Also they didn't put back all the screws that they took out, which was interesting.

I took my laptop to work to have our maintenance manager give it a try (with hopefully better tools) to get it out. He got it out, but I was fearful that we almost broke the computer in half while trying.

Continued with the repair, and everything was so straight forward with the instructions and the pictures, I did it myself. Until the end of the repair, and the dreaded black felt tape. The instructions said not to rip it...but didn't give advice on what to do if it did, and how not to.

I brainstormed that black electrical tape would work nicely on top of what little of the felt tape was left (since so much wouldn't come loose from the old fan, and what did was dry and cracked). Black electrical tape in place, and everything back together (minus the missing screws), the test came. Does it turn back on again...YES SUCCESS, no more dying animal inside. It's like a brand new computer!!!

My Advice

Advice/Recommendation:

1) Include a small piece of replacement black felt tape in the fan repair kit! Or give instructions that a piece of electrical tape can be subbed on top if you have slight rippage.

2) You can never use enough compressed air, I was able to pull out huge chunks of dust, gross.

3) Smaller hands are better for this repair, since so many tiny parts to get at.

4) Get on a schedule of cleaning out the inside of your MacBook every quarter or at least 2-3 times a year to try and prevent the dust that ultimately clogged up the fan and killed it in the first place :)

My Problem

The fan was making noise and I was afraid the overheating would damage the computer

My Fix

It went well by and large. There were a few problems. I was not able to remove the old fan without tearing the black felt tape, in fact I ruined it in the process. I worked around this by replacing the pieces as well as I could and then securing the whole strip with paper tape (the kind you use for first aid).

Also, when I inserted the left screw to install the new fan, the screw would not seat into its threads. I had to remove the new fan again in order to figure out what was wrong and I found that the plastic housing for the threads of that screw was all cracked and when I tapped it with the spudger, it fell apart. The pieces and the brass threads for the screw scattered into the computer. I was able to get all the pieces out and the brass threads so I just ignored the fact that I could not use that screw to secure the fan. I had to assume that the right screw and the one passing through the other hole (coming from the outside) would be enough to secure the fan. So far, so good.

My Advice

Warn people about the possibility of losing one or both screw housings on older models (mine is Late- 2006). I presume this problem occurred because of dust build-up on the left side of the fan at the heat sink causing unsymmetrical overheating on the left side of the fan compartment. This overheating could be the cause of the plastic degradation.

If possible, find a way to fix the screw problem and the tearing of the black felt tape. I noticed that you don't sell the tape so there seems to be no way to replace it.

My Problem

My Rev A MacBook was in fine shape until the fan started to get noisy and work half the time. The laptop would over heat and have performance issues. Not to mention sound like a lawn mower when the fan decides to work.

My Fix

Ordered a new fan from ifixit which came in the mail within 2 weeks. Followed the easy guides and now my 2006 MacBook is as good as new.

My Advice

Make sure you have a can of compressed air ready to blow out the gross dust bunnies you will encounter replacing an old fan. I cleaned out the entire logic board which was unfortunately caked with my body hair. :S

My Problem

Noisy fan. CPU temperature starting to rise (measured with Hardware Monitor Program), so the fan was clearly about to fail.

My Fix

Lots of screws! Don't mix them up. While a 00 Philips is the only tool required, I found a pair of strong reading glasses and tweezers very helpful. Actually, I stacked TWO pairs of reading glasses for extra magnification; this is what come of eyes of a "certain age".

My Advice

Be very careful of the screw at the right rear of the fan, the one that is closest to the screw on the Macbook power button side. Be very gentle with those closely routed cables, because they don't have much slack. Don't put in the fan and then the fan case screws, instead transfer the screws from the old fan and move the fan case in with it holding the screws.

Some, but not all(!) of the screws attach to a magnetic screwdriver. I think some are stainless and hence non-magnetic.

My Problem

Fan would not work even with programs to force it to run at higher RPM

My Fix

Bought a new fan and spudger from ifixit, actually bought two new fans because my first order was for the wrong fan.

Took about 2 hours.

No problems.

No pictures, I was expecting this to be a lot more frustrating.

My Advice

- Read the instructions, fully. I missed a sentence and got pretty confused.

- I spread the instruction sheets on my work table and placed each screw that I removed on the instruction sheet where it is pointed out. When I put it back together, I knew which screw went where. I think this saved me a lot of head ache.

My Problem

Superdrive broken, I need to replace it. I am very happy with your help and I think that in future I'll contact you again if I need to fix my computer. Thak you for you kindness, the high quality of your repairing guides and for the fast delivery!

My Fix

Very fast and easy with your great guides.

My Advice

...

My Problem

when i use macbook it shout down every 25 minutes of use, i had look for temperature and Rpm fun

Hight temperature and 0rpm fun, i had open the mac look the fun but she stay stopped.

My Fix

No particular detail, only one, the first time than i had fit the connector fun, the fun don't turn, probably contact problem, after i've wash the contact and after the fan start perfectly

THE GUIDES ARE FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!

My Advice

I'ts all Perfetc, the guide and the components

My Problem

Over time, our old Macbook's fan decided to slow down, then get noisy and eventually stop. When this happened, it would of course get beastly hot in a short time, and eventually crash.

Quotes were $400 to fix this problem. We fixed it with a little time and patience for $55 using the ifixit site parts and guidance.

My Fix

A little over two hours, no problem. Works great!

My Advice

Just get all your small tools, a magnifying glass, small magnet for pulling tiny screws (keep the magnet away from obvious critical areas,) and an egg carton to label the steps and associated screws in order. Be patient. Reverse, you'll be fine.

My Problem

One day I noticed my macbook was getting hot, I checked my iStat Pro and realized that my fan wasn't spinning. I knew that it would over heat if I continued to use it without a fan.

My Fix

Easy, step by step instructions made the repair go smooth and easy.

My Advice

If you ever have an issue that you need to fix, go to ifixit.com for all the parts and instructions you may need.

My Problem

As most MacBook Core 2 Duo, fan made a lot a noise. I tried to clean it, and make as many operations as I found on the internet, without success.

So I bought a brand new fan on iFixit, as I didn't find any in France...

My Fix

On previous time I tried to clean my fan, I broke one of the legs to the motherboard when trying to pry the connector (I think it'll be better to make new photos, as the one on the website is not really helpfull, as this connector is really small, and really hard to pry...

And this morning, when trying to pry the connector once again, it broke finally out the motherboard.

I wanted firstly to solder it back the MB, but on the 4 pins, 2 were broken also.

So I cut the wire from the old fan, solder them to the MB, cut the connector on the new fan, and solder them together.

Then, I isolated the solderings with nail varnish, to prevent trouble.

My Advice

I reconnected the keyboard, and powered up.

Lion started without any trouble.

I used iStatpro to check, and fan is recognized, no more noise.

I made then some more test (using flash games), and fan rotation increased without fail, and without noise also.

So repair was fine (but with a lot a stress when soldering on the MB...