Clevo 170HM3 fan problem

My laptop is slightly long in the tooth but it still gives me good performance. However its warranty ended some time ago and I now have a problem which I'm not sure how to fix.

One of the fans in my laptop now makes a very audible noise when it is spinning, almost as if something came loose inside. I initially thought it was a dust problem and cleaned out the vents. But the noise did not go away and has been like this for over a week now.

I can still feel air coming out of the vent so I'm confident the fan system is still functioning. I'm just not sure if the groaning noise I hear is of a dying fan belt or of something loose in the internals which I cannot fix on my own.

Anyone know of any freelance computer repair specialists who deal in old Clevo models in the London area? I had my laptop repaired once before but the person I visited last time has probably moved on and is now unreachable.

 

hi stranger, long time no see. hope you are well.
if my memory is correct i think it was me that helped you out back in the day and got in contact with Adrian for you.
ive not heard from him in ages but if you want i can find out if he is still doing private service work on old clevo's.

just holler if you want me to try and contact him.

the only other place is in Birmingham called clevoweb, the one stop source for all clevo and clevo brankded product spares and repairs

 

Good to see you're still here. Yes you did help me out the last time with Adrian.
I sent him an email two days ago but there was no reply. I don't think the mobile phone number given the last time round works either.
Worst case scenario, I go to Birmingham with my laptop and see whether or not they can help.

 

It sounds like a faulty bearing (there are no belts). They're pretty robust, but they're certainly not immune to kicking the bucket. Sometimes some high grade lubricant can abate the noise, although you may want to look into replacing the fan altogether as they don't cost a lot.

The trouble is finding a replacement.

 

It's definitely one fan that has this problem but not the other.

It looks like I'll be making a visit to Birmingham, I don't have the skill to apply the lubricant and it's not a solution to the underlying problem.

 

Replacing a fan is dead easy but if you really don't want to open it up i'm in the coventry area.