Fan died, but didn't seem to matter...

[silverblack]

So today I noticed iStatPro is reporting a fan speed on 0 rpm on my MBA. After running the Apple hardware test, it returned error: error 4M0T/1/40000002-Exhaust-0. I also opened the back cover, confirming that fan hasn't been spinning.

My MBA is under warranty, so this hardware failure is definitely covered. But I am debating whether to send it in, because my MBA is actually not heating up. I performed a carbon copy cloning tonight. In the 2 hours, the CPU temp max out in the 70's degree C. Likewise, I steamed youtube video over 10 min, and temp stayed below 60 C. When I am surfing/emailing, it dropped to around 50 C - all without the fan.
(Some more info: I used to run coolbook, but uninstalled it during the last MBA firmware update. I also re-did the thermal paste a couple months ago, but I didn't think it made a difference back then).

So, really the only "symptom" I am getting from my dead fan is a quieter MBA!! What do you guys think, should I send it in for a repair or not? My MBA is my work computer and only computer. I kinda hate not having it during the repair.

 

[Mr. Giver '94]

I'd at least have the Genius Bar peeps check it out because the last thing you want is a fried system. From there you can make the final decision. I think it would be smart to at least have them evaluate the situation before you just dismiss it as a non-issue. That's what I'd do anyway.

 

[silverblack]

It's under warranty until March next year, so I don't really care if it fries. Besides, I don't see how it will when the temp max out below 80C.

The purpose of this post, is to make a point of my surprise of how cool the temp of my MBA runs without the fan. In contrary to others complaining their hot MBAs WITH working fans.

So, just maybe, after all the fan is very little to help with cooling ??

 

[sookainian]

From what i understand, once you redo the thermal paste, your warranty is gone...

 

[silverblack]

From what i understand, once you redo the thermal paste, your warranty is gone...

I plan to re-apply a thick layer of thermal paste before I send it in for a repair. Now, how can they prove that I ever did anything?

 

[sookainian]

I plan to re-apply a thick layer of thermal paste before I send it in for a repair. Now, how can they prove that I ever did anything?

Hahas

Later they taste it with their mouth and tell you the pasta paste taste different

 

[silverblack]

I wanted to give an update on my repair. There is no local Apple store, so I brought my MBA to an Apple authorized repair center.

As soon as I mentioned the 0 rpm from iStat Pro, the technician was sure that the fan died. He order the part, which is called the thermal module. I arrived in 1 day. The next morning, I drop off the computer for repair. It took him 45 minutes. Cost is $ 0, as covered by the warranty. Now the fan is back alive, and my MBA is back to a noisy MBA

Anyhow, I have been using my MBA for a good part of the day, reinstalling all my apps (I wiped the HDD before sending in for a repair). From what I can tell, the temp was no difference compared to what it was with the dead fan. It started at low 40's C at startup, usually stays in the 50-60 C range for most regular tasks. It rises to 70+ C under heavy task, like ripping movies, or repairing permission.

Once again, it makes you wonder how useful the fan really is, other than making noise.

By the way, I did not end up re-doing the thermal paste (to mimic the original thick layer) before the repair. However, I did take it apart after the repair to see what the tech did, he used what look like Arctic Silver to me, and used only a sensible amount like it was supposed to.

So there you go, re-doing the thermal paste does not void the warranty, at least in my case.

 

[Phil A.]

From what i understand, once you redo the thermal paste, your warranty is gone...

I don't think redoing the paste automatically voids your warranty, but if you damage anything whilst doing it you're SOL