IBM ThinkPad T41 Fan Replacement

Step 1 Keyboard

• Close the screen and turn the closed laptop over.
• Remove all 17 screws on the bottom of the computer.
• The multiple colors (turquoise, red, blue, orange, yellow, and purple) are for organizational purposes, indicating different screws.
• The yellow marker at the rear denotes the UltraBay device retaining screw. This screw is optional as the UltraBay mechanism will hold the drive or battery in place anyway. The yellow marker at the front denotes the hard disk caddy retaining screw.
Step 2

• Remove the extra RAM cover, by lifting where the screw was and pulling out.
Step 3
• Turn the laptop right side up and open the screen.
• Lift the keyboard, using a spudger at the seam between the keyboard and trackpad.
• Careful of the ribbon cable underneath, which may tear if the keyboard is lifted too vigorously.
Step 4
• Unplug the keyboard’s ribbon cable, by lifting up the edges of the plug.
• Remove the keyboard.
Step 5 Trackpad
• Close the laptop and turn it over.
• Remove the five plastic stickers covering the screws on the front edge of the case.
• In order to reuse the stickers, remove them carefully.
Step 6
• Unscrew the five screws that were hidden by the stickers.
Step 7
• Turn the computer right side up and open the screen.
• Lift the trackpad assembly by placing hands on both edges and then pull towards you till it is free of the case.
• Be careful of the ribbon cable underneath. It may tear if the trackpad is pulled too vigorously.
Step 8
• Unplug the trackpad’s ribbon cable by pulling on the white plastic tab.
Step 9 Expansion Slot
• Remove the screw on the left hand side of the case, above the expansion slot.
Step 10
• Lift the black plastic border by lifting on either side.
• Once the sides are up, pull the border towards you and away from the screen.
• When lifting up, there are two pairs of plastic clips hooking into the fan grill. If you pull hard enough the border will come away, but it's better to push the clips with the spudger.
Step 11
• Pull the sheet metal cover away from slot.
Step 12
• Lift out the expansion slot by starting at the entrance hole and pulling upward.
• Note: Try wiggling the slot from side to side until it comes out all the way.
Step 13 Screen
• Close the computer screen.
• Remove the four screws on the back of the laptop, near the right and left hinges.
Step 14
• Open the laptop screen.
• Remove the single screw that secures the left hinge to top of the computer.
Step 15
• Remove a single screw from the metal plate that secures the display cable.
Step 16
• Pull the metal plate away from the display cable.
Step 17
• Disconnect the display cable.
Step 18
• Carefully pull up the long antenna cables that were attached to the wireless network card.
Step 19
• Lift out the screen.
Step 20 Fan
• Unsnake the black cable from the black plastic frame.
Step 21
• Remove the sheet metal piece, which was underneath the modem.
Step 22
• Remove the rubber microphone cover in the upper left hand corner by lifting up the gray metal frame.
Step 23
• Lift away the gray metal frame.
Step 24
• Remove three screws near the edge of the computer, holding the optical bay and HDD covers.
• Remove three other screws on the other side of the covers.
• You should have six screws in total, three of one size and three of another size.
Step 25
• Lift out the optical bay and HDD covers.
Step 26
• Lift out the black plastic frame.
Step 27
• Unplug the fan from the motherboard.
Step 28
• Remove the three screws on the fan.
Step 29
• Lift the fan out.

Author

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Marissa Blustein

Member since: 04/16/10

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Team

Cal Poly, Team 7-8, Maness Spring 2010 Member of Cal Poly, Team 7-8, Maness Spring 2010

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