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

Yes, please!

 

look up!

in other words, my caps lock LED has burnt out or something. lovely. i want a netbook. stupid vaio has been nothing but headache. fix something and another thing breaks.

 

rpeters83 do u still have creaking sound after reoiling?

 

Took me one week to get my laptop back from Sony, now it is quiet and no more weird noises. The new fan they put in is so much quieter, and totally worth the 5 days I was without it.

Seriously, I don't understand why anyone who has bought this computer in the last year wouldn't immediately send it in to Sony. Why torture yourself with all this "just something to get used to" attitude? It's truly masochistic to think that way when Sony has identified this as an issue and considers it well within warranty to fix (read: for free). I encourage anyone who hasn't done so to take it to a Sony style store (its quicker that way, as they will overnight it for you) or at the very least send it out from home.

The last thing I'll say about someone's caps locks key: send it in. Seriously. They'll fix it, and it'll come back, and you'll be that much happier. It's always worth the trouble to get something fixed while it's free. Don't buy Sony next time, if you really feel awful about this experience...but while you DO have this Sony you may as well take advantage of their warranty.

Hope everyone else has gotten theirs back! To those of you who had the guts to dig in to their laptops: good luck! Not sure why you would while you are under warranty but oh well.

Best,

Raid

 

Raid, I'm glad you have amazing luck your first time around but other people, including myself, who have sent it in once, twice, or more only to get it back in the same condition are kinda pissed about the situation. We've compared part #'s and everything. BTW, what are the part #'s that were on your work order?

I've gone through 3 fans all with the same problem. I've spoken with several techs and some acknowledged the issue and others didnt. Some people said there was a software update in the works and some didnt. Some people got the issue confused between the "whirring" and the "creaking"

I'm more tech savvy and had no problem taking it apart myself - it was quite easy once I saw how it was done. Reoiling the fan was even easier. My problem was fixed in a matter of minutes without having to send it out again, and again.

BTW, got your response in my other thread. I think I'll try that. I was worried about them complaining about it. I'll send it in later on when I don't have much need for it. Thanks.

 

the creaking is GONE. My hope is that the oil doesn't dry out. If it does, I'll send it in again only if I can confirm a new part # for the fan.

 

Sorry that this question is off topic, since most of the cs owner were gathered here, i would like to know whether does your cs screen flicker when you shut down your laptop?

 

Mine does not flicker.. Is your video driver updated? Try to check it..

 

mine works fine.

i have another off topic question... I have installed Windows 7... everything works perfectly other than the volume buttons and play buttons beside the speakers.. Does anyone here experience the same problem?

 

Nope, my forceware is 175.80. I went to nvidia website but it said please refer back sony for driver update, and when i checked vaio update, no update for graphic.

 

when you guys send in your computers, do you feel comfortable leaving all your documents and pictures and music on there? what do you do? i would want to send mine in if need be, but i have so much stuff on it already.

 

i removed all my documents (backed them up) and removed my accounts from my email client. Usually though, they use their own software (I believe a bootable CD) to do diagnostics.

 

i had the fan whirring and chirping problem, now all of a sudden the fan's making a horrible noise whenever it turns on. really loud, like a remote control car. has anyone else had this happen?

 

um, send it into sony. get it fixed. a "creak" is one thing, but that....send it in. the fan might just need oil. if you're handy with a screwdriver and need to keep your laptop, perhaps try adding oil yourself.

 

oh yeah, i'm planning on it. i just gotta get my other laptop situated and back up my files and then make the call. but this noise sounds bad. i'm pretty disgusted with this laptop.

i've seen quick deaths of 1 Toshiba and 3 HP notebooks, so due to my first experience with a Vaio (my other laptop that has been running strong for over 3 years) i have swore by this brand. i love all the features of the CS but this fan issue (and this other high pitched noise that sounds like something moving around when i type) just makes me irate.

 

An update from me. Looks like my fan creak is slowly coming back, though far from what it was before. To add to that, my caps lock light is dead. I don't feel like shipping this thing out yet again.

I'm selling this and buying an HP Mini 2140 :-D. Something I should've bought in the first place!

 

rpeters83 - I certainly understand your frustration. Mine is still at the Sony Repair Center, so the only real solace I can offer you at this point is that I will post the specifics - good, bad, and/or ugly! - when it comes back.

Keep in mind that Sony - as any manufacturer - is obligated to fix their product under warranty, and if they are unable to fix it Sony's warranty states it WILL be REPLACED with an equal or better model. Maybe the new CS series is okay. It would be a shame for you to lose money by selling it when the company is still fully liable. Have you tried going up the proverbial corporate ladder with your issues? Clearly you ( and I, along with countless others ) have a faulty machine. If mine isn't perfect when it comes back, I will immediately be calling a Sony Supervisor, and keep at it until this is resolved to my satisfaction - even if it means contacting the president of the company.

Overall I have found Sony to be much more helpful than their competitors, and I have had computers from many brands. But, I agree, it is very frustrating, but I hope that they come through with an acceptable fix for this, asap!

I'll post (hopefully good news) when the laptop returns.

thinkpink :wub:

 

I may have jumped to conclusions too quickly. I'll most likely still keep this laptop, but sell my macbook instead (I'll get more it used than what I paid for my sony, new). You are right, they should stand behind their product. I will probably send this out, again, and hopefully it will come back fixed.

Let me know if yours comes back with a different part # for the fan. Thanks!

 

hello,

I stopped following this thread after posting in page 4 (partially because I found a similar thread in VAIO's forums) but today I took some time to read every single post.

Shame rpeters83's "solution" didn't quite work, I had a call with a nice Sony Rep about one month ago and he told me he would keep an eye on this (because at that time they were not aware it was a mass spread issue) but I haven't heard back from him till now.

I'm a college student so I can't really hand my laptop over for two-weeks unless I'm absolutelly sure the problem is going to be fixed, so I've been sitting here waiting for Sony to do something about it.

And like everyone else I feel I've been let down, after paying for what should be a premium product..

 

I think my fan finally giving up on my cs. The noise suddenly gets louder and it sounds like a mini vacuum now, but after a while the noise is gone and it comes back again after sometime. I'm going to send in again after my classes are over, if they failed it yet again i'm going to asked for their supervisor. This is totally unacceptable, first noisy fan and it broke down after 2 months ?

 

yes, this is what mine sounds like. i kept thinking how to describe it but the best i could come up with is remote control car. or someone outside using a weedeater. lol

 

Its the FAN + the software driver being an issue. Not just the fan. I spoke to Sony again today. They are still pushing for me to send the computer to them so they can 'test' it, but wont acknowledge the problem is :

a) widespread
b) a common issue across CS models
c) a manufacturing defect
d) and/or a fan driver issue

but the best thing...

e) they cant tell me what the repair will consist of

I explained to the nice chap that people have reported getting their machines back with yet another dodgy CS model fan. He said the best he could offer is that before a tech repair guy actually does anything.. they will call me to discuss.

I guess this is the best it is going to get. Having had a mate who sent his Sony laptop into repair a whopping 4 times as they didnt fix it right each time, I have zero confidence in Sony on this issue.

I just dont get it.... why cant Sony come clean about this...

Ive now submitted a review for all versions of this laptop to the Amazon.co.uk website. It should be up in 48hrs, and Ive linked this forum to the review so that people who may be thinking of buying it dont waste their money.

 

I confirmed with a tech twice before it was sent back the first time, after he claimed the fan was replaced and the sound was gone. It came back in worse condition than before. Even a tech that was sent to my house replaced the fan, again, only to have it making the same noise.

They will only replace the fan. That's all they can do. My belief is it IS the fan at fault but a software fix, where it does not turn the fan off but keep it at its lowest RPM, will fix the issue for good and keep it cooler in general (which is what sony is allegedly working on according to two techs I spoke with). Normal fans don't make this noise when spinning up. The problem is the fan does not have enough oil to keep it lubricated. I know this because I re-oiled my fan several weeks ago and the noise was gone. The problem is, the noise is slowly coming back. The way the fan is mounted, allows oil to leak out and the fan blade spindle is held in magnetically. I know this because when I originally pulled the fan, I noticed some drops of oil along the area where the blades connect to the motor.

I believe if the fan was placed upside down, the oil will not leak out and the issue will not happen. Seeing as how the fan assembly is mounted, I don't see how they can fix this. I will send mine in for repair of another issue after I can confirm that a different part number is available for the fan.

FOR ANYONE WHO GOT THEIRS BACK FIXED, please post the part # for the fan assembly.

As for me, I'm selling my older macbook, giving my CS to my wife, and purchasing a HP mini 2140. My first experience with Sony has been nothing but headache.

 

BTW, does anyone know US policies for problems going unfixed by manufacturers? I'm curious to how many times a laptop can be sent for repair before a refund or exchange is made.

 

Its very disappointing. My wife read your post and has now decided not to send it back to Sony. Ive convinced her to let me take it apart and have a look .. even doing what you suggested about the re-oiling for temporary relief.

I personally think we should re-oil it and then sell it. Take a hit and then buy something else. Even if it means losing a bit of money. I guarantee one thing though.. Sony are never getting another penny of my money again... for any product.

With regards to the software fix..... I cant believe its taking this long so I am now assuming there is no software fix.. not that it isnt possible, just that nobody is actually working on it.

The tech guys I spoke to at Sony wont even acknowledge its a CS wide issue, and they know nothing of a software fix.

I also have to accept that personally I made a bad choice with the purchase of the CS model, and as a tech guy who builds his own PC's this is a shameful moment indeed to have been ripped off this way.

 

Just spoke to Sony yet again....


Arrrgh... they really are frustrating. Basically the tech guy said they would replace the fan with a new CS model fan (which is identical to the other ones). Typical..

What use is that ?

Having pointed that out to the guy he didnt really have an answer.

But here is the critical piece of info.. If your laptop fan is replaced 3 times and still has the same issue, then under policy and procedure they will consider sending you an alternative model. You will no doubt have to fight them hand over fist to get one however.

I personally told them I was disgusted with their approach to this problem. Once again the tech guy denied there even was a widespread problem with the CS laptop. Unbelievable.

PS- my review is up now on Amazon.co.uk. I would encourage you all to do the same.

 

I'm curious if that fan was a newer model which may fix the issue. I'm still keeping mine, though giving it to my wife. She's not as picky as I am so she'll be fine with it. Once I get my new netbook and am happy, I'll attempt again with sony to get a part # for the replacement fans and see if it's worth getting it replaced, again. thanks for updating us lewchenko.

 

Well, I took ours apart tonight following your instructions and did a few things to minimise the fan noise...

1) re-oiled its inner core-hole using WD40
2) re-applied proper Artic Thermal Silver 5 Paste to the heatsinks of the GPU and CPU.

Re-assembled it (with a screw left over from somewhere!) and it now works much better.
I can still hear the noise, but its much much less. It will not stay like that for sure, but I will probably re-oil it every month or so until there is a proper fix. I personally think that my thermal paste job was much better than the slop they originally put on it too.. which will help keep the heat down (and thus the fan doesnt come on as much).

PS - In order to remove the assembly unit (heatsinks) I had 2 additional screws to undo which were for the GPU section, but otherwise good instructions.

 

you should've used 3-in-1, as it's a slightly thicker oil. WD-40 is going to dry up or drip out, as it's too thin.

I guess you had those two screws because of your dedicated GPU? mine is integrated.

try the 3-in-1 though, it'll at least last longer and make the noise quieter.

 

I had the same problem so i updated the bios from http://esupport.sony.com/CA/perl/swu-download.pl?upd_id=2528&SMB=YES

one problem solved (at least i think).. then there's another problem!

Everytime i try to get my norton 360 virus scan to run... after a minute or so... the blue screen pops up... and restart my computer... i am getting frustrated! i have no way to get my virus scan running.. can anyone help?

 

The noise is a low quality fan too much play on the center bearing.
how to prove it, turn your laptop keyboard 90 degrees this puts pressure on the fan bearing listen "no noise"!

 

Bad Fan bearing flip your keyboard 90 degrees the noise stops.

 

if any of you are willing to write up your bad experiences with sony on this computer, Consumerist.com is a great site to submit to. you will reach a lot of people.

 

GOOD NEWS to all,:laugh:

(especially rpeters83 and lewchenko - who have both diligently tried to solve this problem)

I just got mine back from Sony and IT'S FIXED !!!

COOLING UNIT REPLACED :
Part # A1563411A GD2 COOLING ASSEMBLY - INT

I also happened to speak with Ulysses - Senior Tech - in California, and mentioned rpeters conversation with him a few weeks ago. So rpeters call Ulysses !!! He is aware of the issue with this model, and said that Sony overall is now aware of this problem and has a fix - as above.

Sony is replacing the Cooling Assembly - so folks, CALL SONY (again!). If you happen to speak to someone unaware ask for Senior Tech Support in California. They know that there is a problem - and fix - for the CS 1100 series .

My CS is finally quiet as a church mouse! Yay! :yes:

And thanks especially to rpeters83 who kept this thread moving forward with so much info, hard work and integrity ( and youtube evidence! ) I do believe I would have given up if not for your perseverence.

cheers!

thinkpink

 

Heyyy alll.
Goood news from me...
I took a ticket number from Vaio Link and i went to the repair center with my VGN-CS11S/Q
"There is a 'Gırrrr noise' (like on the youtube) while starting and stoping the fan" i said. And i clicked the youtube links. I showed them. They listened the voice.
Repair center said that: "We know the problem and we will change your fan with a new serie-new party fan to correct it."
Than they changed my fan. And there ise no "gırr" or "wırr" (like on the youtube) sound now.
Everything is fine and fan fixed... I am very happy. Because i liked my laptop very much.
I hope "gırr" sound won't come back.
Many thanks to Sony Vaio repair center in İstanbul.
I wish yours will be fixed as soon as possible.
New fan model number: A1563410A
But in your country it may be different number.

PS: Thanks to everyone in this topic...

 

Is there a way to know the P/N of the fan other than opening the back cover of the laptop?

 

I have the same problem as everyone else in this thread. Thanks to all for your detailed posts.

I called Sony 888-476-6972 and you can order the part listed above for $93.11

Pink - What Model Number is your laptop?

I'm thinking I will order this part but I'd like to verify that my VAIO is the same model number as yours.

Thank You!

 

BG,

My laptop is VGN CS 110DP ("P" is color code for Pink.)

Sony Senior Tech said the problem affects the CS 1100 Series.

You should be covered under Warranty - standard Sony Vaio is 1 year Parts & Labor, from date of purchase, and this model made its debut last October (08), I believe.

Good Luck!

thinkpink

 

Good to hear!


And yes, I agree that youtube video is/was invaluable! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMl9-VqQ1Ug
...for those who may have missed it.

Thanks to rpeters83 who put so much effort into it, and posts.

Still waiting to hear that he and others on this thread - and lurkers too! - are getting successful fixes.

regards!

thinkpink

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFdpRrRsAdc

On this link, noise is louder. So this link helped me to explain the problem.
Good luck to everyone...

 

thinkpink & sofokles2000,

CONGRATULATIONS for getting the fan fixed!!!! Thinkpink, did you send your laptop to the San Diego facility? It's been about 6 days since you posted, is the fan still quiet? What bothers me more than the "grrr" sound from the fan is the fan coming on and off every few seconds instead of a constant low fan noise. Thinkpink, is your fan still coming on and off intermittently? Thanks and I hope the fan stays quiet for you as long as the laptop lasts!

 

good to hear yours is fixed and thank you for the kind words, but the part # you have there is the same one that I have on my first work order. Are you SURE they have a different part #? Again, the # you mentioned is identical to the first repair I had, where the noise came back worse. Can you elaborate, because he mentioned to me weeks ago that the issue was in Sony's system but still never fixed. Thanks.

Ryan

 

After I posted, I reviewed the entire thread and noticed my replacement part # was in fact the same # that you had had replaced to no avail weeks ago. I was puzzled too. I can only surmise that that part # has been fixed/replaced with a new one but the part # has not changed. (?) Dunno. Did you speak with Ulysses this past week? I'm sure he could explain this. (I spoke with him before I posted, obviously.) He was assured me that there now is a Sony documented fix for this problem.

think pink

 

i have not talked with sony, i was on vacation for the past week :-D

i'll call this week. is there a way i can contact the tech facility or do i have to go through customer support first? thanks!

 

I couldn't have done it without this board and rpeters83.

I live in Toronto Canada, so my laptop was sent to MTC in Whitby, Ontario ( the main Sony Repair facility for my area) - but I made sure that I spoke with a Supervisor there and relayed the whole story - including this board, rpeters youtube video, Club Vaio Europe board, yada yada, - AND I INSISTED that there IS A PROBLEM AND A DOCUMENTED FIX AND that they could find the info through the San Diego facility - which they evidently did, since when they first received it they had no clue what I was talking about.

So I am strongly suggesting to all here , make sure the repair folks are aware of this problem - if not then TELL THEM where to find the much needed info - since it obviously hasn`t trickled down to all locations.

As to performance, yes, still quiet. Thanks!

think pink

 

Hope you had a great vacation - I was concerned that you pitched the whole thing out the window!

I asked Ulysses re contact - you have go through Customer Support (wherever you called last time), and once you`ved reached Tech Support ask for Senior Tech Support in California. (I don`t believe Senior Tech in Cali is 24 hours, though I did speak with Ulysses at about 9 pm EST.) He`s awaiting your call. Really. (check Private Messages )

keep us informed - as you always do,

think pink

 

Hi, got back my laptop from sony after the fan broke down. The fan was replaced
GD2 cooling assy - EXT (ASV/FOX)
A1563410A

Result? Before this i never experience any "grr" sound before/after the fan activate, but now i got it ! the sound came after the fan stops, it sound like "bbiikk". It was not loud, but noticeable in a quiet room (and need to pay some attention), sigh what should i do now? i'm totally lost ......

It has been 5 days since i got back the laptop, i will monitor the situation and see whether the noise gets any worst after few weeks..

 

thanks thinkpink! i'll call Ulysses on monday to see what he can do. right now my wife has taken over the CS and i'm looking for a netbook (i'm test driving an aspire one but may try the hp mini 2140). thanks for the updates.

 

... don't suppose you'd be interested in the new Vaio P - the Pocket PC. I bet you could wrangle a deal after all of this if you spoke with the right person. This model came out a month after I bought my CS, so it was a no-go for me.

thinkpink

 

finally good news - "there now is a Sony documented fix for this problem". PS: rpeters83 thanx, man, for your pictures of how to disassemble cs! it really helped me to re-oil my cs fan.