New TB User and Fan Problem

Just got my first Toughbook and love it. I like it enough that it has replaced my newer HP dual core machine as my primary laptop. Its a CF-72 semi-rugged [email protected] with 1.25Gb Ram and a 20Gb HDD (soon to be upgraded) and a touchscreen. I got it plus 1 1/2 spares and made a real nice one out of them. Here's my problem: the fan does not come on at all. I noticed this before I tore it down and while it was apart put 5v to the fan to make sure it actually works. I also made sure it was properly hooked up. Checked temps with Speedfan but as I noticed one user remarked on here it stays stuck on one temp, 38C. At one point it got so hot I could no longer touch the bottom of it. Anyone had this problem and have a fix? My fallback plan is just to wire the fan either straight to the 5v on the usb port or possibly put a switch in line on it. I do have 2 more of the boards that the mobo, fan, and everything else plugs into and might swap them out and give that a shot. Thanks in advance. -Fred

 

Never had that issue , and yes the fan should always be on
The modular design of the cf-72 means that it's just takes a few minutes to swap out the main component m/b with the same mk#

 

Upgrade to a 2.5 CPU and you will be back here asking if the fan ever turns off

One thing I did was take the heatsink/fan apart and re paste it with artic silver where the oem paste was. Another thing I did was aquire a parts 72 and installed a 3rd heat pipe. Didn't take pics before I loaned it to a family member for the time being. There is a slot that goes twards the power button where a heat pipe could go but ws nixed after production. there was no spot to ancor it to so I carefully bent it to the right angle so the cpu is holding it in place.