T410 CPU fan failures?

[JameZ]

@staylor,

I've dropped you a PM on this.

//JameZ

[Navck]

My T410 with 45M2722 is still going strong. However one year ago it did have a fan error but power cycling the machine again fixed the problem. (But seeing how far this topic has gone, I'm feeling less hesistant to get the unit replaced.)

For the guys with 45M2724s: Do you feel that the noise fan noise is any different(Less loud, louder) and have your typical operating temperatures have changed after the replacement? Seems the fan unit (Specifically the blade profile) and heatpipe layout got changed in the 45M2724.

Also just a random jab/guess here but could it be that the fan's motor comes to rest in a position where during startup the motor does not have enough torque to spin it up? (Like the poles of the motor just resting in a position where it'd decrease startup torque to nil. Just a theory, it seems very rare/almost impossible for that to happen but the "duster gas on the fan solves it" gives me suspicions.)

[Kicker774]

We just had 3 units in a row fail on us yesterday.

Made for a busy morning when you add 2 seperate T410 units with the keyboard issue to get to as well.

Has anyone with Lenovo engineering offered a reason for these fan failures?

[tofu]

I have the same problem. Just wonder how much does it cost? Warranty was just expired, will they still repair it for free since it is a common problem.

[tofu]

T410 - fan error
2516-cto
*-10/04
I only have these information on hand, since I cannot turn on the machine.

Moderator edit by bananaman: Masked serial number to prevent misuse.

[Kicker774]

After almost a year of replacing fans we actually found that a bios update released in August resolves the fan failure issues with the older frus.

I beleive it's ver 1.38 or 1.39
We have tested it 4 - 5 times now and it seems to do the trick.

I half blame myself for this for not being current on updates.
But this info was readily available to the lenovo staff as well and failed to update us to the solution.

In speaking with a frontline support rep lenovo the other day it's still not a "known issue" to them. (Even though a knowledge base artle was published on this sometime mid june I believe.

[Kicker774]

Here it is:

Version 1.39
BIOS: 1.39 / ECP: 1.17/1.17

• (Fix) Improvement of thermal control.

Version 1.39
BIOS: 1.39 / ECP: 1.16/1.16

• (Fix) Fixed an issue where rotation error of FAN might occur.

http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/downloads/detail.page?LegacyDocID=MIGR-74268

[marodrig21]

i had this same error and same problem i youtube it and here is a link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rc2rGryt2Fg&feature=fvsr
i was able to get to the fan and blow it out i also found a peice of tape in the fan area

[vpbranduk]

Coming to this thread for the obvious reason - googling to find help because my T410 is sulking and saying "Fan Error". Summing up, it appears be

a) a common but not universal fault

b) which Lenovo have initially fixed by issuing a new FRU

c) but also fixable on older FRUs by getting the right BIOS update in.

Great - a BIOS update will fix it for me.   Now how does one start the machine up in the first place so that you can load the new BIOS update . . . . . . ..    (Yes, I've tapped it, blown at it etc.)    Maybe I should try the "unscrew the RAM compartment" suggestion and see if that works.

Question - have people found the BIOS update works well?  

Or shall I rip the fan out of one of our other T410's to get myself going?  Now where's the thremal grease gone . . . . .

Paul

[Kicker774]

Paul, there should be a bootable iso to burn to cd or a thumbdrive