2017 MacBook Pro running hot, fans going crazy, even while asleep

[Cricketman]

Hi all,

I haven't used this computer much while I have had it. However needs have changed recently and its getting more use - still light with just safari web browsing with up to 10-20 tabs, chrome for some websites that don't work well with safari, some flashcard applications (Anki), reading textbook pdfs on preview or acrobat reader, reading textbooks on Kindle app. The is just 1-2 hrs a day (use different computers at work for my actual job).

This computer has been running HOT. Fans sound like it is taking off like a jet plane. This happens even while asleep - I had my computer fully charged over night, took it out at lunchtime at work to get some additional work done to find it steaming hot inside my backpack with fans running, battery down to 20%.

Any tips? Out of apple care window. Do you think dust has accumulated inside the system and it's messing with heat management? Would rather avoid spending $1-1.5k to purchase a new laptop at this time, but I will need something reliable for sure for the next year at least.

 

[jav6454]

10-20 tabs isn't "light", it hogs down RAM and will do a number on your CPU. I suggest winding down the fans.

Also, have you checked the cleanliness of the fans? If fans are dirty, they may not move as much air as they once did and hence your Mac will also run hotter.

 

[HDFan]

Check activity monitor. Which processes are using the most cpu?

 

[Honza1]

If the fans run while closed, it is not sleeping. Something is wrong.
If you want to debug, start with what is using cpu and why is it not sleeping. There are whole web pages devoted to this question...
If you want to fix it quickly and do not care much about current setup, you can try to wipe it and install macOS new. There are web pages with instructions. If this is software problem, that should fix it. Then install what you need and copy important stuff from backup.
Alternative is first try to reinstall in place (same version of macOS over existing one) and see if that fixes it. Sometimes it does.
It could also be hardware issue and in that case wipe/install does not help.