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iBook G3 12" Fan Replacement

Written By: iRobot (and one other contributor)
  • Comments: 24
  • Favorites: 3
  • Completions: 5

Difficulty

Difficult

Steps

18

Time Required

Suggest a time??

Sections

4

Flags

0

Introduction

Replacing a defective fan is pretty easy and will keep your laptop running cool.

  1. Use a coin to rotate the battery locking screw 90 degrees clockwise.

    • Use a coin to rotate the battery locking screw 90 degrees clockwise.

    • Lift the battery out of the computer.

    Edit

  2. Your laptop should look approximately like this.

    • Your laptop should look approximately like this.

    Edit

  3. Continue to run the spudger around the front, right corner. There are two tabs on the port side of the computer, one near the front corner and one near the sound out port.

    • Continue to run the spudger around the front, right corner. There are two tabs on the port side of the computer, one near the front corner and one near the sound out port.

    Edit

  4. Remove the three 5.2 mm newly-revealed Phillips screws.

    • Remove the three 5.2 mm newly-revealed Phillips screws.

    Edit

  5. Use a pin (or anything you like) to remove the three rubber feet from the lower case.

    • Use a pin (or anything you like) to remove the three rubber feet from the lower case.

    Edit

  6. Use a spudger or small flathead screwdriver to pry up the three metal rings that housed the rubber bumpers.

    • Use a spudger or small flathead screwdriver to pry up the three metal rings that housed the rubber bumpers.

    Edit

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  8. Remove the one 10 mm and two 20 mm hex screws using a 2mm hex. Alternatively, a T8 Torx screwdriver key will do.

    • Remove the one 10 mm and two 20 mm hex screws using a 2mm hex. Alternatively, a T8 Torx screwdriver key will do.

    Edit

  9. Remove the two 4.2 mm Phillips screws on either side of the battery contacts.

    • Remove the two 4.2 mm Phillips screws on either side of the battery contacts.

    Edit

  10. Breathe deeply. Trying times are ahead, but we promise the lower case does come off.

    • Breathe deeply. Trying times are ahead, but we promise the lower case does come off.

    • Push the thin rims of the lower case surrounding the battery compartment in, bending them past the tabs, and then lift up to free that corner of the lower case.

    Edit

  11. There is a slot on the wall of the battery compartment that locks the lower case in place. Use a small flathead screwdriver to pry out the slot's lower rim and pull up on the lower case to free the slot from the tabs holding it.

    • There is a slot on the wall of the battery compartment that locks the lower case in place. Use a small flathead screwdriver to pry out the slot's lower rim and pull up on the lower case to free the slot from the tabs holding it.

    Edit

  12. Run a spudger along the seam between the lower case and upper case on the front of the computer to free the tabs locking the lower case. Pull up on the lower case and continue to use the spudger as necessary until you hear three distinct clicks.

    • Run a spudger along the seam between the lower case and upper case on the front of the computer to free the tabs locking the lower case. Pull up on the lower case and continue to use the spudger as necessary until you hear three distinct clicks.

    Edit

  13. Once the front and sides of the lower case are free, turn the computer so that the back is facing you and pull the lower case up and toward you until the back tabs pop free (it may be helpful to jiggle the case up and down).

    • Once the front and sides of the lower case are free, turn the computer so that the back is facing you and pull the lower case up and toward you until the back tabs pop free (it may be helpful to jiggle the case up and down).

    Edit

  14. Remove the small greasy springs with white plastic caps from either side of the battery contacts.

    • Remove the small greasy springs with white plastic caps from either side of the battery contacts.

    Edit

  15. Your laptop should look approximately like this.

    • Your laptop should look approximately like this.

    Edit

  16. Remove the five 5.8 mm Phillips screws from the bottom shield.

    • Remove the five 5.8 mm Phillips screws from the bottom shield.

    • Peel back the yellow tape and foil shielding outlined in the image.

    Edit

  17. Lift the bottom shield off.

    • Lift the bottom shield off.

    Edit

  18. Your laptop should look approximately like this.

    • Your laptop should look approximately like this.

    Edit

  19. Remove the single Phillips screw on the left side of the fan (there may be two screws).

    • Remove the single Phillips screw on the left side of the fan (there may be two screws).

    • Lift the fan out of its housing and disconnect it from the logic board.

    Edit
Conclusion

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

5 other people completed this guide.

Attached Documents

Author

with 1 other contributor

iRobot

Member since: 09/24/2009

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