Fan not spinning after swap!

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Lenovo Thinkpad W520

This mobile workstation was released in March 2011. It sports up to a 1080p 15.6 inch display and a quad-core processor.

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buymorethinkpad @buymorethinkpad

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Publicado: 8 de ene. de 2025

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Fan not spinning after swap!

Recently, the fan on my thinkpad stopped working (I assume the bearings went out- it was making a horrible grinding noise for a bit before it died completely) I've ordered the exact same part and replaced it (image), as well as re-pasting for good measure. However, when I try and boot now, it still refuses to spin at all, and so I still get "fan error" which forces shutdown even if I'm trying to get into BIOS/press esc... I've tried resetting by unplugging the CMOS and fully depowering the motherboard a few times, but no cigar. I've also used a multi-meter to make sure that there wasn't a connection issue, and every wire going into the fan is connected to the correct motherboard out, with no overlap between them. The fan is the exact same model as far as I can tell, identical down to the wire colors/order and all the text on it. I haven't been able to really find any post be about this precise issue, though I know the fan error message in itself is common. Additionally- I got a strip of reflective/metal tape with the fan part, which seemed to match up with what the original had, so I applied it where I remember it being. Not sure if it's actually important but I assumed it was for grounding. Am I missing something obvious? Has anyone run into this before?

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do you have a DC supply? could rule out the fan being broken but running the voltage through it and see if it spins up.

8 de ene. de 2025 - de Logixal

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jayeff @jayeff

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Publicado: 9 de ene. de 2025

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Hi @buymorethinkpad

There is a fuse (F13 - model # 2A32V-9-GP) that is in the power supply to the fan. Perhaps it blew somehow after the power was reconnected, (accidentally knocked off board during repair?).

I don't know where it is located on the motherboard as I can't zoom in far enough on any images of the motherboard I have found online. Hopefully it is designated on the board.

Below is an image taken from p.66 of the schematics for the motherboard showing the fan control circuit that may help.

If the fuse is blown, unplug the fan from the motherboard and use a DMM (digital multimeter) to check if the replacement fan is OK i.e. correct resistance value between the fan's red and black wires (fan motor). Also that the red wire is not short circuit to earth (fan frame, or to other fan wires) as well

Also, and I don't see how it would prevent the fan from operating, but according to p.84 (92 of 176 pdf) of the hardware maintenance manual when installing a new thermal device/fan there are two pieces of film that need to be removed from the rubbers of the thermal device as well. Were they?

(click on image)

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Thank you so much for your response! I was finally able to get to it and take the motherboard out, and it does appear that f13 is blown :( This may not be your area of expertise, but how bad of an idea is it to just bridge it? I don't have a set-up for surface mount soldering so I don't think I can replace it outright...

22 de ene. de 2025 - de buymorethinkpad

@buymorethinkpad

Fuses are used to protect components from further damage, so bridging it is not really advisable.

There's always a reason why a fuse blows. Seldom if ever does it fail by itself.

When you were replacing the fan did you disconnect the main battery from the motherboard first?

If not this "may" have caused the fuse to blow.

There's always power somewhere on a laptop motherboard, even when it is turned off. The power button is not a power isolating button. Its function is to signal the BIOS chipset the intentions of the user i.e. turn on, wake, force stop etc.

You don't really need an smd soldering setup. An ordinary soldering iron should suffice.

Just solder the fuse onto the pads so that it stays and holds OK. Just don't apply too much heat perhaps tin (apply a bit of solder) to the pads and then quickly tack one side then the other of the fuse. Hold it down with a tool of some sort (screwdriver) and blow on it to cool it down faster.

Make sure that the battery is disconnected first

22 de ene. de 2025 - de jayeff

@jayeff I see, I do disconnect the battery whenever I take it apart, but not necessarily the CMOS battery, if that could also cause it? I'll try giving soldering it a shot then- can't hurt to try I suppose :D Thank you so much for your time and help, I do really appreciate it!

25 de ene. de 2025 - de buymorethinkpad

@buymorethinkpad

cmos battery won't be the cause. It's not in the backlight circuit and even if you accidentally bridged from its circuit to the backlight circuit, it couldn't supply enough current to blow the fuse.

25 de ene. de 2025 - de jayeff

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do you have a DC supply? could rule out the fan being broken but running the voltage through it and see if it spins up. — Logixal
Thank you so much for your response! I was finally able to get to it and take the motherboard out, and it does appear that f13 is blown :( This may not be your area of expertise, but how bad of an idea is it to just bridge it? I don't have a set-up for surface mount soldering so I don't think I can replace it outright... — buymorethinkpad
@buymorethinkpad

Fuses are used to protect components from further damage, so bridging it is not really advisable.

There's always a reason why a fuse blows. Seldom if ever does it fail by itself.

When you were replacing the fan did you disconnect the main battery from the motherboard first?

If not this "may" have caused the fuse to blow.

There's always power somewhere on a laptop motherboard, even when it is turned off. The power button is not a power isolating button. Its function is to signal the BIOS chipset the intentions of the user i.e. turn on, wake, force stop etc.

You don't really need an smd soldering setup. An ordinary soldering iron should suffice.

Just solder the fuse onto the pads so that it stays and holds OK. Just don't apply too much heat perhaps tin (apply a bit of solder) to the pads and then quickly tack one side then the other of the fuse. Hold it down with a tool of some sort (screwdriver) and blow on it to cool it down faster.

Make sure that the battery is disconnected first — jayeff
@jayeff I see, I do disconnect the battery whenever I take it apart, but not necessarily the CMOS battery, if that could also cause it? I'll try giving soldering it a shot then- can't hurt to try I suppose :D Thank you so much for your time and help, I do really appreciate it! — buymorethinkpad
@buymorethinkpad

cmos battery won't be the cause. It's not in the backlight circuit and even if you accidentally bridged from its circuit to the backlight circuit, it couldn't supply enough current to blow the fuse. — jayeff

Lenovo Thinkpad W520

Fan not spinning after swap!

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