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MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Late 2011 Left Fan Replacement

What you need

  1. MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Late 2011 Left Fan Replacement, Lower Case: step 1, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the following ten screws securing the lower case to the upper case:

    • Three 13.5 mm (14.1 mm) Phillips screws.

    • Seven 3 mm Phillips screws.

    • When removing these screws, note how they come out at a slight angle. They must be reinstalled the same way.

  2. MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Late 2011 Left Fan Replacement: step 2, image 1 of 1
    • Using both hands, lift the lower case near the vent to pop it off two clips securing it to the upper case.

    • Remove the lower case and set it aside.

  3. MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Late 2011 Left Fan Replacement, Battery Connector: step 3, image 1 of 2 MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Late 2011 Left Fan Replacement, Battery Connector: step 3, image 2 of 2
    • For certain repairs (e.g. hard drive), disconnecting the battery connector is not necessary but is recommended as it prevents any accidental shorting of electronics on the motherboard. If you do not disconnect the battery connector, please be careful as parts of the motherboard might be electrified.

    • Use the edge of a spudger to pry the battery connector upwards from its socket on the logic board.

    • It is useful to pry upward on both short sides of the connector to "walk" it out of its socket.

  4. MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Late 2011 Left Fan Replacement: step 4, image 1 of 1
    • Bend the battery cable slightly away from its socket on the logic board so it does not accidentally connect itself while you work.

  5. MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Late 2011 Left Fan Replacement, Left Fan: step 5, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the three 3.4 mm T6 Torx screws securing the left fan to the logic board.

    • In some models, these T6 Torx screws may be 3.1 mm long.

  6. MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Late 2011 Left Fan Replacement: step 6, image 1 of 3 MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Late 2011 Left Fan Replacement: step 6, image 2 of 3 MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Late 2011 Left Fan Replacement: step 6, image 3 of 3
    • Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the left fan connector from the logic board.

    • It is useful to twist the spudger axially from beneath the fan cable wires to release the connector.

    • The fan socket and the fan connector can be seen in the second and third pictures. Be careful not to break the plastic fan socket off the logic board as you use your spudger to lift the fan connector straight up and out of its socket. The layout of the logic board shown in the second picture may look slightly different than your machine but the fan socket is the same.

  7. MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Late 2011 Left Fan Replacement: step 7, image 1 of 1
    • Lift the left fan out of the upper case.

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

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2 Comments

Hey, I accidentally broke the connector from the logic board. Can it be fixed somehow? I tried to glued back together but it doesn't work.

Rosario - Reply

Rosario, take that to a pro. Those things sometimes can be resoldered (Glue wont work), but it takes an experts eye and a steady hand. I got that eye, I dont have the hand, so as much as I can drive an oscilloscope with the best of them, my hand tremmor means I’d never trust a fix like that to myself.

shayne.oneill - Reply

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