My 1-day-old Sony Vaio CS laptop has this intermittent whirring noise from the fan when my laptop is on!

BAD NEWS...

Got my vaio back today and the noise persists. Even after the tech changed out the fan and claimed he didn't hear it again, I still hear the noise, only IT'S WAY LOUDER than before, so this sucks. Mine now sounds identical to the first youtube clip - sounds like a friggin zipper! Makes me wish I had the first fan.

They better release that promised software patch or this thing is getting sold and I'm buying a dell.

 

I'll also note that I now feel a vibration from the fan buzzing that I did not feel before. I'm calling up sony now and giving them hell.

UPDATE: speaking with a tech now as he's going through his info he has on it and checking part numbers on my work order. he just mentioned a newer part number for the fan that was supposed to fix the issue, which may not have made it into my laptop....back on hold now...

UPDATE 2: He's calling me back shortly - the tech supervisor was at lunch. He mentioned, in addition to the different part #, that they can send someone out to my house this time to fix it so I don't have to ship it back. I'm still waiting on an answer to the software update and the status of that. They tell me they'll work to fix the issue. I'll update later.

 

watching and waiting,
thanks for keeping us posted rpeters83

I now have a new problem - my screen blacks out when the noise kicks in!
Blacked out 4-5 times while posting this. ARGH.

Definitely calling Sony again. Will also post with update.

thinkpink

 

LMAO, now that's a new one! perhaps the wire that's being hit is the wire for the LCD? I'm still waiting for them to call me back. I have the part #'s for the faulty pieces (assembly and bottom housing) is anyone needs them when calling, if it helps.

 

another update...

I spoke for a while with the tech, very nice btw and was eager to fix the issue. They're sending a tech to my house in a few days since I had already sent it out for repair once. I even mentioned others on this board who are having the problem and said I can even watch the guy and take pics of the disassembly (thinkpink, I even mentioned your screen issue you're having). He said the tech coming to my house should have the new part # this week.

As far the software update...well, I mentioned to him I heard about it from two sources. He said that even his supervisor had no idea about it, which seems odd...

What he said was that if anyone is having the issue, CALL SONY NOW. The man I spoke with was Ulysses at the san diego facility and was very, very helpful in both looking into the issue and setting up in-home service.

 

OK - I just hung up from Sony Tech. They are still denying that they are aware of any problem with this model. I told him that it was a hot topic on the boards and even the European Sony board (which we can't post on as North Americans.)

European Saga here http://club.vaio.sony.co.uk/clubvaio/GB/en/forum/viewthread?thread=59310&offset=0 (for those that may have missed earlier post link. )

(page 3 - Spanish guy Vamp1387 - who started the thread - says Euro techie admitted fan problem and it's noted in Sony database! Sure would be nice if these techies could all access the same database! Global village idiots.)

Anyhoo, back here my techie said he checked all of his internal memos and has no info on this problem! *sigh* However, he was more than insistent that the laptop go in for repair. So off it goes - will be picked up by them in a day or two. Will keep everyone posted.

rpeters - sure, let us know part #'s if you have them. I will tuck a note in with the laptop with the appropriate "clues".
Anything else I should write? :rolleyes2:

thinkpink

PS Would be GREAT to take pics during the repair. Maybe we could start a new Flickr group.

 

my god this thread has grown big ....

 

These parts are faulty. Fan is still creaking like crazy here.

GD2 COOLING ASSY-IN (E22C) - #A1563411A
GD2 HOUSING BOTTOM (F12A) - #X23200341

I'll update everyone again when the tech arrives this week, hopefully with pics and a quieter fan.

 

I sent mine in a couple of weeks ago to get that fan noise fixed, and it came back with a stupid piece of paper with two check marks saying that the hard drive had been replaced. I turned it on, and there was that lovely clicking sound from the fan. Unbelievable. I had to call support again to find out what the hell happened, and they said the hard drive was defective. Thanks, s, but what about the ing fan?!! I talked to two different techs and neither of them knew what I was talking about. So now I'm going to send it back a second time, and we'll see how that goes.

 

rpeters thank you for updating us. this is really helpful!!

i got mine back on wednesday, and i just looked at my invoice..and they replaced the fan, and the part number is that A1563411A that you posted here as faulty. -_-

so let me get this straight...they've told you there is a NEW part, that they are using to replace that part?? So our computers (which were both there around the same time) went to San Diego sometime RIGHT before they replaced the faulty part with a better one?

also, how in the WORLD did you get them to do in home repair????? I've already sent it twice (apparently they replaced it with that faulty part TWICE)...and no one ever mentioned a possibility of that!! I didn't even know that was an option!!

uuuuuggggh i'm all about buying a dell right now. I feel trapped with this computer...it's too late for me to return it. It's frustrating because other than this (which is kind of a big deal haha) I really love this laptop.

 

when i spoke with the tech yesterday (i was transferred to him in san diego after calling tech support). He reviewed my previous work order and read the notes. I told him the previous tech claimed, twice, that the noise was fixed with the fan he replaced. however, it was returned to me twice as loud, has a vibration now, and the duration of the noise lasts longer. I even mentioned thinkpink's claim that the screen was blackening out when the noise happened. I was very detailed with him. He was very understanding. I was on hold for about 5 minutes while he looked through the part #'s for my work order and we agreed that the new fan part didn't make it into my laptop. He said there was was supposed to be a new fan model to fix this issue.

Because I had already sent mine out for this issue only for it to be returned in worse condition, and I said I'm not sending it out again, he offered for a tech to come to my house and fix it. now, the person who offered this was the guy at the san diego facility, not a regular sony rep. He said the tech will be receiving the new fan model. When the in-home guy calls me in the next few days to set up a date/time, I'll confirm with him the new part #. I was also told that I can even work with the tech to see why the issue is happening, as I told him it sounds very much like a wire is hitting the blade when the laptop case is assembled. he didn't rule this out. when the tech comes, I'll try my best to take pics and document the disassembly process.

and yes, this is my last chance. if this tech with the new fan model doesn't fix the issue, I'm selling this immediately and buying a dell.

be firm with these guys. if you already sent it out for repair once for the issue only to get it back in the same or worse condition, tell them you're not sending it out twice or even a third time. if you call up, ask to be transferred to a tech (higher level support).

 

There is customized software that comes with Sony notebooks called "VAIO Power Management". Its purpose is to control various power settings and is accessed in Windows Vista through the following steps:

1. Start
2. Control Panel
3. Hardware and Sound
4. Power Options
5. Change plan settings
6. Change advanced power settings
7. "VAIO Power Management" TAB

Unfortunately this particular model (VGN-CS110) doesn't seem to have an option to control the fan. Here is a link to a screenshot that does include a version of this software that has the option to control the fan: http://www.tomsguide.com/us/exit-the-sony-vaio-t,review-607-21.html

I'm almst certain that if I could change the fan controller settings this issue would be resolved.



For anyone who is interested, below is dialogue from Sony e-Support.... note that this problem is "A KNOWN ISSUE".

LiveAssist Chat
Status: Analyst Cory_ is here and your issue status is: working Problem: Fan noise End Session user Jared has entered room

analyst Cory_ has entered room

Cory_> Hi Jared. Welcome to Sony Online Support. I'm Cory. Please allow me a moment to review your concern.

Cory_> Thank you for waiting, Jared. I'm sorry for the inconvenience you are experiencing as the Computer fan is making noise. I'll be glad to assist you with this.

Cory_> Have any Hardware and Software changes occurred since it last worked normally?

Jared> Are you aware that many people are experiencing issues with the fan in brand new CS series VAIO notebooks?

Cory_> Yes, Jared.

Jared> Is there a software fix in the works?

Jared> ...or currently available?

Cory_> May I know the Operating System installed in the Computer?

Jared> Windows VISTA.... this is a brand new computer and the problem with the fan has occured ever since the first time the notebook was removed from it's original box and powered on.

Cory_> Thanks for the information, Jared.

Jared> Most likely the trouble is with the BIOS.... fan controller

Cory_> In that case, please change the VAIO fan settings in the Power Management to resolve the issue.

Cory_> I will forward the steps to change the fan settings.

Cory_> Please click on the start button.

Jared> Thank you... I'm unfamiliar with Vista and am unable to find the fan settings

Cory_> Then click on the Control Panel.

Jared> ok

Cory_> Then click on the Hardware and Sound.

Cory_> Then click on the Power options.

Cory_> Then change the settings to plan settings.

Cory_> Then change the Advance Power settings.

Jared> ok

Cory_> In the VAIO Power Management tab.

Jared> ok

Cory_> Then click on the CPU Fan Conrol.

Jared> I don't see "CPU Fan Control"

Cory_> Are you able to view the VAIO Power Management tab?

Jared> yes

Jared> Items: LCD(video), CD/DVD/BD..., iLINK Port, Memory Card etc

Cory_> I have been notified that you have left the room, are you still with me?

Jared> ...no "CPU Fan Control"

Jared> yes... still here

Cory_> Then change the CPU Settings.

Cory_> It may be listed as the CPU settings.

Jared> no "CPU" settings of any kind under VAIO power management tab

Cory_> Please stay online while I check this information for you.

Jared> Thank you.

Jared> I'll wait...

Cory_> Thanks for waiting, Jared.

Cory_> I suggest that you refer to the User Guide page to change the VAIO Power management settings.

Jared> Where do I locate the User Guide page?

Cory_> I would like to forward a link to a page where you can download the User Guide.

Cory_> When you receive the link please click on it to open the page and let me know if you are able to view it.

Jared> OK

Cory_> http://www.docs.sony.com/release/VGNCS100series.pdf

Cory_> Are you able to view the page?

Jared> Yes, thank you.

Cory_> Please follow the User Guide to change the VAIO Power Management settings.

Cory_> And check the issue is resolved.

Cory_> If not, then the issue needs service to resolve the issue.

Jared> OK, I will do that. Thank you for your time.

Cory_> As this is a known issue with the CS series.

Cory_> You're welcome.

Cory_> Is there anything else I may assist you with today?

Jared> No, that is all. Thank you again.

 

there are options to control the fan better if you're running XP. however, it looks like with vista, you're limited in what you can do. also, i tried speedfan, but it doesn't recognize my fans.

 

I just called sony AGAIN (third time's a charm?) and they FINALLY acknowledged that this is a known issue, which it seems other people are hearing. About time...they never admitted that before, or didn't know, I'm not sure.

The guy seemed to be confused about why they did not replace my fan with the NEW fan, which is apparently the fix for this problem. He says they should have the last time I had it in there, which was about a week ago.

Anyway, it looks like they will send someone to my house, like they are doing with rpeters, to replace the fan with the new fan. I believe they are only doing this because I have already sent the computer in two times, so if you haven't yet called Sony, you probably can expect to have to send it in rather than have someone come on site.

SO hopefully it works. At least I'll be able to personally check to see if the sound is still there after they replace the fan.

 

good to hear! what they told you was exactly what they told me. may i ask who did you spoke with?

btw, i got a courtesy call from the in-home tech facility just now. the tech himself will call me thursday to set up an appointment.

glad to hear some success and that more people are getting proper help.

 

rpeters - question for you - was the part number on your work order form that got sent back to you with the computer the part number you posted on here as the "faulty part"?

Because now they are telling me that I have the new part (it is the number you cited on here) and there is nothing more they can do.

I am never buying a vaio again.

 

yeah, the part #'s I posted were from the work order I got back.

Who was the tech you spoke with? Are they canceling your in-home service?

I can't possibly have the new part, as the new part is far worse than the old one!

also, it doesnt matter if it's the new part number. if it's installed incorrectly and the noise is still there, the unit is still faulty. i can turn mine now on its side and the noise goes away.

 

I didn't get his name. He is supposed to be calling me back. -_-

Did your tech tell you that there is a NEW part, newer than the one they had already put in the computer?

He was about to cancel the offer for in home service, but then I mentioned that it also vibrates (in addition to the grinding)...so he said he has to ask his supervisor or someone about THAT now. he told me that his supervisor said that this model just makes a fan noise and that's how it was built. I definitely don't buy THAT one...

 

yes he did. he said he was confused why the new part didn't make it into mine, so I'm assuming that means it wasn't. He had all my work order info there and was on hold for a while when he was checking it. was your sound identical to how it was before it was sent out?

make sure the supervisor knows that fans don't make noise. give them this link: http://tinyurl.com/vaiocsfan so they can hear for themselves.

THE FAN IS HITTING SOMETHING. This is not normal fan noise.

 

Or the fan assembly is loose for whatever reason (poor engineering?) which would cause the oscillations at lower speeds....

Either case, this is a defective Sony product.

 

did they ever call you back?

 

the sound is better than it was before i sent it out the second time. But still not GONE...which is what i was hoping for. obviously.

and no, haven't heard from them again...i guess i will have to call tomorrow if i don't hear from them because i have no time until then. joy.

 

i'm sitting with the laptop on the couch watching tv, drinking some wine, browsing the web...

the random vibrations from the fan on my lap feel kinda nice after a while ;-)

 

car, any update from sony about that part? i should be getting a call tomorrow from the tech to schedule a date. thanks.

 

not yet -_- and i didn't have a chance to call today either (since i'm assuming i should call during business hours...but maybe i'm wrong..) so i'm calling again tomorrow morning.

i think my sound is a lot better than yours is...but is it too much to expect near perfection in a brand new computer?? haha

 

the first fan they replaced had a noise just like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMl9-VqQ1Ug. That is my laptop the first time around. The sound was much quieter and shorter, but still there. Two techs, one at geek squad and one at sony's repair facility, heard the noise on the first one. The one that came back is like the other video, here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFdpRrRsAdc. Much worse.

In the end, the noise is not normal and may lead to a shortened life span of the fan. Nothing should be hitting the fan blades during operation, even if it's just a little.

 

the tech is coming to my office today around noon. oddly,the part # he said was the same as mine, but he said the one that may have been shipped may be different, who knows. at least we can try and fix it today. i'll take pics.

 

well, mine used to sound more like the second one, though it was never QUITE that loud...maybe if a mic were right next to it haha...but now it sounds more like the first one, so it's not nearly as bothersome as it was.

yeah, when i called them they said the fan they put in mine is the part number for the new fan.

I think i might hold tight for awhile and see what happens with yours. I'm irritated by constantly calling them when I don't even know if the issue can actually be fixed. I'd rather wait and see if they can actually fix yours completely, then at least I'll know it CAN be done.

Interestingly, I've ALWAYS noticed the vibration through the casing, even now when the noise is much quieter and less noticeable. it's not as intense as it was before, but still exists.

Even more interestingly, I NEVER noticed the fan noise in my Dell at ALL. -_- guess i know what brand to buy next time hahaha...

until then, using a cooling pad or ensuring that there is a lot of background noise (music, tv, people talking, etc) seems to work. hahaha.

 

oh, and another question...how long does the warranty last on this thing? provided that i didn't pay extra to get any sort of special warranty? i read somewhere that said 90 days for a certain kind of warranty..and a year after that...i just need to know that i have plenty of cushion time for these free repairs. hahaha.

although...if they finally DO get a fix for this...we should ALL get it for free regardless of warranty, right?

I've never needed to worry about warranty before...I've never had a computer with problems...

 

alright, the tech just left. very friendly guy.

while i didnt get pics, i now know how to disassemble and what the internals look like. i actually got the keep the fan which is nice. i can take a pic of that later on.

the verdict? the noise is still there, though MUCH quieter than before (so far). i really have to listen for it now. this is the 3rd fan and the part # was the same as the old one. it's running on my desk next to me so i can see how it is. we looked at it and there are no obstacles that could be hitting the fan blades. even handling it and spinning them for myself, the fan itself sounds perfectly quiet. the wires going into the fan housing are taught back and have plenty of clearance between them and the blades.

so, we were both puzzled at what the cause was. i may take it apart next weekend and just do a double check to make sure there wasn't anything on the board that could be hitting it, now that i know how to take it apart. tonight, i'm going to disassemble the fan from the old one and see if there can be anything inside the housing that, when assembled, can cause a noise. at this point however, it could just be a characteristic of the fan itself. i will try playing with the screws that mount it and see if there's just too much tension perhaps on the fan casing. i'm going to attempt myself to fix it. ugh...

also, the warranty is 1 year i believe, but someone correct me if i'm wrong.

still hoping for a software patch...

 

ok, thanks for letting us know

I guess mine is as good as it's going to get, then, because mine is really very quiet. I had it sitting on a table 2 feet away from my couch in a silent room and I could hear the fan, but couldn't hear the grinding.

I guess if there is no obstruction to the fan, and we don't have to worry about anything going wrong with it later on....it might just be a weird glitch to get used to. haha.

But let us know what happens with your efforts...

I'd also like to see a picture sometime.

 

it seems like we're the only two left on this thread. has anyone else gotten their fixed or simply sold/returned it?

 

ugh, i've been using it for a few hours and it seems to be getting worse! ?!!?!

I took apart the replaced fan and am able to see the inner workings. I uploaded some low-res pics from the webcam on the laptop. does anyone know about this type of motor? the fan blade spindle seems like it's held on magnetically. the fan is facing downward, so perhaps when it spins fast, it moves away from the base slightly and the movement of this is causing a vibration?

http://dev.redheadcompanies.com:8005/vaiofan/

 

I purchased the CS from Best Buy a couple of weeks ago and noticed the fan noise as well. As I'm attending online school and do a lot of studying for grad school, it's really important for my laptop to be quiet. I played around with the CS and couldn't stand the fan noise coming in and out. The clicking noise was also present. So I decided to return it. I wasn't charged the restocking fee because fortunately there was another defect on the lappy; it was wobbly in the front, meaning it didn't sit straight on a desk but wobbled.

I really liked the CS (especially the silky keyboard!!!) but I didn't want to deal with calling customer service and getting the fan replaced to no avail, etc. etc. I really feel for you guys. =( Can you return your CS claiming that the fan is a defect?

I decided to purchase a Vaio NS instead. I haven't heard of any reports of a noisy fan... It's not as sleek as the NS in design but it has a bigger screen, very similar specs as the CS I previously purchased, and about $160 cheaper.

car321, you mentioned in a earlier post that you're thinking about getting a Dell instead. If you decide to do this, be careful which Dell model you purchase. My previous laptop was an older version of the Dell, Inspiron series, which made no fan noise. Being very satisfied with my old Dell which I used for five long years, I purchased a new Dell Insprion 1525 two months ago to replace it. Wow, you want to talk about a noisy fan? That laptop's fan was three or four times as loud as the CS. It came on intermittently and it drove me crazy!!! So I returned it saying that the fan was defective (no restocking fee charged). My point is if a quiet laptop is important to you, which it is, do not get a Dell Inspiron 1525. I think that's true of all laptop brands. Within a brand, certain laptops are quiet while others are loud. I guess we have to do our research ahead of time and come on forums like this one before committing to a laptop.

Good luck to all of you and hopefully Sony will come out with a software fix!

 

Hi there

I am from Germany
Got the CS11S in November (bought it in a shop) went home turned it on... guess what…. the rattling noise came on.
So I returned it to the shop next day and they gave me another one.
The new one was ok, for about one month, then it started again. First it was only occasionally then it got worse.
I went again to the shop, but this time they did not replace it, but they offered to send it in to sony, would take 1-2 weeks. Not good I am writing on my master thesis need the notebook. Calling Sony, they told me they´d pick it up and fix it, but it would take some time.
I am annoyed. But I have to live with it. So I wrote some remarks on Amazon etc. to warn others.

Soon, when I do not need the notebook desperately I will bring it again to the shop, in Germany the law says if its not fixed after the second try, you can get your money back (first six month).

May be the law is in your countries similar.
I also have an idea what could be the prob., perhaps the fan has a ty resonance frequency, so when it accelerates and stops, the rotation speed passes through that frequency for a short moment which causes the krrrrrr.
(same effect like the Tacoma Bridge but slightly other dimension)
Will keep you updated if anything new happens
btw. next time i ll get a Dell, they send someone to your home to repair it there, or if needed to replace it.

 

i'm eyeing up a 13" inspiron...maybe even a studio 15. i'll wait to try and confirm a software update for it. if not, on craigslist it goes.

 

Mine's on its way into Sony Repair. Will post back when it's returned.

Thanks for all the info you've provided rpeters83.

btw - if I were to return/exchange this it would be for another Sony model. Overall, I have been very pleased with Sony Customer Service, which I cannot say for some of the other Big Brands.

thinkpink

PS Just checked SonyStyle.ca and the CS Model has been pulled. Gee, d'ya think they're finally on to something? Here's hoping... I'll call Sales during regular business hours and post back, tomorrow.

 

thinkpink, please post the part #'s on your work order when it's returned. if i sell this, i'm going dell.

it may not be much help but here are a couple pics of the unit when i opened it up tonight. it's actually quite easy to do so.

http://public.ryanpetersonline.com/vaio/

(you can see my s****y attempt at a pad using an old laptop foot in one of the pics, but i dont htink this pad is good enough)

I'm going to experiment putting padding on the unit in attempt to dampen the sound. the fan itself is fine to me. spinning it with my finger creates no noise at all and there are no obstructions in the casing that it can hit.

so, my guess is that the low speeds are causing a vibration, or the motor itself is just poor quality and the motor itself is vibrating. i was able to pull the fan blade and spindle off the motor - it stays connected using a magnet. i'm not motor expert so i dont know if this is normal or not ( http://dev.redheadcompanies.com:8005/vaiofan/Image6.jpg)

 

if they pull the CS, or are revamping it to get rid of this problem, i certainly hope they provide a fix for those of us who already have them...

 

**POSSIBLE FIX!**

I took it apart again this morning. I played with the fan again to see if there was anything hitting it or could possibly hit it - nothing. I then decided to try re-oiling my replaced fan (that the tech let me keep) by removing a few screws and putting a drop of 3-in-1 oil in the shaft hole (the fan just pulls out). It was all actually quite easy to do!

The verdict is, so far, after a lot of spin ups and spin downs, it's completely silent! Even at various angles and my ear right up near the fan, I hear no buzzing.

Now, it has only been about 30 minutes, but usually it would be buzzing like crazy now. I'm going to put the rest of the screws back in and see how she runs. I'm hoping this is the fix. Luckily, it's very easy to do and the laptop is very easy to disassemble since you're only removing the bottom.

UPDATE: 11:10, still no buzzing noise, sitting in a completely silent room (wife's at work, dogs sleeping). Maybe sony just got a bad batch of fans with too little oil.

UPDATE 2: 1:30, still rockin! I'm hoping the oil doesn't dry up because this is definitely the fix. The fan is super quiet now. Hoping this keeps up!

 

This is funny,

I have been for six in the QM Dept. in China (for a big german car company) daeling with all sorts of problems. We had all the time trouble with chinese vendor parts. This oil issue sony has is nothing!
But the real funny thing is, that all the technicians couldn´t find that simple solution. Tells me a lot about the skills of that people.

my conclusion
never buy sony this people are defenetly evolutionary delays

 

well i do like this laptop, a lot. the quality of it otherwise is nice. the fan was just driving me nuts. look like reoiling it was a simple solution that does the trick. you can fix it yourself in about 20 minutes and not void your warranty (as long as you're not reckless).

 

it was pulled because the new CS220D and CS260D systems are arriving in early February
http://www.sonystyle.ca/commerce/se...categoryId=100520&navigationPath=32009n100299

 

Good to hear that. Is the whrring sound still there after the oiling?

I was suprise that a brand new fan needs extra oiling for it to work properly, what is sony thinking

 

Not entirely Sony's fault. It's cheap parts from China.

I'm not sure what this whirring sound is, but you'll obviously still hear normal fan noise when it ramps up in speed. I was surprised too. I even suggested that the fan might need more oil to the tech when he replaced my last fan, but he said no way. Guess I showed him.

It's still quiet even as of this morning and am MUCH happier now.

If anyone wants a how-to for reoiling, let me know and I'll write something up on my free time.

 

rpeters83 thanx a lot for tellin us about possible solution for fan. but can u tell us about whirring sound - is it still there? I think it`s most important think for all of us.

 

maximus, I'm not sure what this whirring sound is. The only sound I heard before was the fan coming on and off, along with a slight "creaking" noise that could be heard before and after the fan came on. I hear only normal fan noise (mostly air moving but also a little bit of the motor). All 3 fans had the same type of fan sound. Overall though, it does sound a little quieter than before.

 

is this whirring sound just the fact that the fans turn on and off frequently during normal use? If so, that's an issue already recognized by sony and are allegedly working on a bios update for it.

Again, the fan is quieter now when on. I'm in a completely quiet room and when the fan turns on, it's barely noticeable. You hear it, but it's quiet. I'm happy with it and when the update comes out, I'll be 100% satisfied.

 

Hello,

rpeters83 you´ve just make me happy .

I think i can speak for many owners of this gorgeous laptop, please could you make a how-to dissemble the CS and a re-oiling the fan?

If we do this to our computer, will we lost our warranty?

Thank you so much from Spain.

 

Alright, here's a how-to. It seems lengthy but I tried to be very detailed. You will not void your warranty if you're careful! If you loose screws or damage anything, I AM NOT LIABLE FOR DAMAGES and your warranty may be void. Mine has been repaired several times by techs and my warranty's still valid.

You'll need a PHILLIPS computer screwdriver set with 1.6mm and 2.4mm bits (can be found at radio shack for ~7 bucks USD). Also, get some 3-in-1 or sewing machine oil.

Here's quick diagram of the internal screws and wires: http://pics.shoplister.net/vaio/fan_assembly_screws.jpg. You do not need to remove the keyboard, LCD, or anything on top. This takes me only about 10 minutes to take apart.

1. Remove the bottom case

a) Remove the two LCD hinge covers by using a small flat-head screwdriver and pulling them up gently. They are secured on the rear of the plastic so pull forward on them when loosening. You may want to use a screw driver to separate where they meet in the back.

b) Flip the lappy over and grab the larger screwdriver and remove the screw for the CD-ROM. Remove the CD-ROM.

c) Remove the two screws for the HDD cover, then the dark screw on the end and pull the drive out. Make note of the screw under where the HDD was.

d) Remove the battery.

e) Remove the two screws on the rear corners by the battery area. Now, get the smaller screwdriver and remove the remaining smaller screws around the edges and the few in the middle. You do not need to remove the memory compartment screw. Also, remove the 3 "wide" screws in the battery bay and the other 3 screws there. Don't forget about the screw in the HDD bay. YOU CAN KEEP THE SCREWS IN THE HOLES SO THAT YOU DON'T LOOSE THEM.

f) The screws should all be loose. BEFORE REMOVING THE COVER, LOOK AT THE DIAGRAM, and note there is a wire going from the LED lights to the board. CAREFULLY pull up on the case and then remove this wire from the board. Try to grab it from the base of the plug and not the wires.

g) Set the casing in a safe place and be careful not to loose the screws.

2. Removing the fan assembly

a) Locate the fan power wire and unplug it from the board (the other YELLOW circle).

b) Locate the 4 RED CIRCLED screws in the diagram. These 4 hold the assembly to the processor. Simply loosen these screws (they don't fully come out, but stay on the assembly) and pull straight up on the assembly. Don't worry about the thermal paste, just don't wipe any off!

c) Set the assembly on the table.

3. Removing the fan

a) Locate the 4 GREEN CIRCLED screws and remove them. This will separate the fan motor and black casing from the copper assembly. Don't loose these screws!

b) You should have just the black motor and the casing now.

4) Reoiling the fan

a) With the fan, simply pull the fan blades out. The fan is held in magnetically. You'll expose the motor internals and you'll see the shaft hole.

b) Grab your 3-in-1 oil and get a drop ready. Put a drop of oil in that hole. Let it seep in there. Don't worry if you get a little bit on the motor. Wipe it up if you like.

c) After a few seconds put the fan blade back in the shaft hole.

ASSEMBLE IN REVERSE ORDER!