MBP Model T...rattle bang bang screech bang rattle rattle bang bang screech bang.....

[mmmcheese]

So for the last little while the right fan on my MBP has been running off-center and rattling like crazy...but I figured that other than being annoying, it wasn't hurting anything. I plan on getting it fixed, but I'm hoping to get my thesis done before sending it in for repair (I can't manage without it for a couple of weeks).

Unfortunately, the other day while doing some simulations (CPU running at 100% for long periods of time), the fan died a dramatic screeching death.

So far the other fan seems to have been able to cope, but who knows for how long. Anyone else had this experience?

 

[CanadaRAM]

errr -- it's under warranty, what are you flippin' waiting for? Get it fixed.

When we repair machines and printers, the last thing we want to hear is "Oh the fan was noisy for a while, but then it got quiet, I guess it fixed itself, so we didn't bother calling it in". Followed closely by "I have no idea why the machine all of a sudden burnt out for no reason and needs $600 worth of repairs. I thought {Brand X} was a better quality brand than THIS!"

 

[maverick808]

I had the same problem, a slightly louder right fan. It was barely noticeable in most environments but drove me mad in a completely quiet environment. So I called up and arranged a return.

I've been using it in the meantime and last night the right fan made an odd noise and then OS X locked up. I restarted and now the MBP just beeps 3 times when I turn it on and refuses to boot. The right fan now makes a noise like it's stuck or completely broken.

As I've heard other people mention a slightly louder right fan on their new MBPs I can only assume there was a bad batch of right fans. I actually ordered two MBPs for my work and the other one has a completely smooth fan so I know not all new MBPs have this problem.

I guess if you do notice your right fan is slightly louder you should probably arrange a return now, as you might be stuck without a laptop if it suddenly dies later like mine did... luckily I had already arranged a return that should reach me by Tuesday.

 

[Silentwave]

Send it in.

My MBP had a grinding fan noise and they replaced both fans. Been absolutely fine ever since, and they turned it around in under 24 hours.

 

[mmmcheese]

errr -- it's under warranty, what are you flippin' waiting for? Get it fixed.

When we repair machines and printers, the last thing we want to hear is "Oh the fan was noisy for a while, but then it got quiet, I guess it fixed itself, so we didn't bother calling it in". Followed closely by "I have no idea why the machine all of a sudden burnt out for no reason and needs $600 worth of repairs. I thought {Brand X} was a better quality brand than THIS!"

Because I can't do without my machine for the next 3-5 months. Once my thesis is done, then they can take as long as they like. My experience with repairs in this city is 2 weeks minimum...usually closer to a month.

The thing could explode for all I care...if it's under warranty, they have to fix it either way.

I know that fans don't fix themselves....and I know this is an issue...but for the moment it isn't causing any issues, so it can wait until I get my work done...then I'll take it in to be fixed.

 

[mmmcheese]

I had the same problem, a slightly louder right fan. It was barely noticeable in most environments but drove me mad in a completely quiet environment. So I called up and arranged a return.

I've been using it in the meantime and last night the right fan made an odd noise and then OS X locked up. I restarted and now the MBP just beeps 3 times when I turn it on and refuses to boot. The right fan now makes a noise like it's stuck or completely broken.

As I've heard other people mention a slightly louder right fan on their new MBPs I can only assume there was a bad batch of right fans. I actually ordered two MBPs for my work and the other one has a completely smooth fan so I know not all new MBPs have this problem.

I guess if you do notice your right fan is slightly louder you should probably arrange a return now, as you might be stuck without a laptop if it suddenly dies later like mine did... luckily I had already arranged a return that should reach me by Tuesday.

This was by no means "slight"...lol

EDIT: although mine wasn't new when it started making bad noises....about 4 months old.

 

[Jiddick ExRex]

Using your machine for 3-5 months with only one fan will destroy it. If not while you're working and you're setback a couple of days, then in some years time when the warranty doesn't cover anymore. FIX IT I tell you! I don't like knowing there's a tortured mac out there!

 

[iBorg20181]

<snip>My experience with repairs in this city is 2 weeks minimum...usually closer to a month.
<snip>

Where are you located? I'm in Minnesota, the Apple notebook repair is in Texas, and each of the last 2 notebook repairs I needed took 2 days only - the day I sent it in, the repair was done the next day and sent back, and the next day I received it back, 2 days after it left my hands!

YMMV, if the parts needed are on backorder, of course.

iBorg

 

[mmmcheese]

Using your machine for 3-5 months with only one fan will destroy it. If not while you're working and you're setback a couple of days, then in some years time when the warranty doesn't cover anymore. FIX IT I tell you! I don't like knowing there's a tortured mac out there!

Actually, the temps are only a couple degrees C higher than before (when at 100% CPU utilization)...I was surprised...but I haven't been stressing the graphics at the same time. For now, the second fan seems to be able to compensate.

If someone wants to lend me a MBP, then I'll go get it fixed (lol), but otherwise I'll wait until next year when I'm done my work (or it blows up, whichever comes first).

(hehe, I don't expect anyone to lend me a machine...lol)

 

[mmmcheese]

Where are you located? I'm in Minnesota, the Apple notebook repair is in Texas, and each of the last 2 notebook repairs I needed took 2 days only - the day I sent it in, the repair was done the next day and sent back, and the next day I received it back, 2 days after it left my hands!

YMMV, if the parts needed are on backorder, of course.

iBorg

There are no Apple stores in my area of Canada...so they insist that they are repaired by local stores...and the ones where all seem to either be incompetent, or have their heads up their collective asses when it comes to administration (and therefore brutally slow).

 

[SiliconAddict]

Send it in, send it in, why don't you send it in. What are you waiting for send it in?

Gah I'm so sick of people automatically assuming that we can be without the data and tools that are on our systems for a week or more. Some of us depend on these things to do our jobs or in mmmcheese's case our schoolwork. Cut us some fracking slack why don't yah. I personally had to take a few days off of work while my MBP was in for repairs because I literally couldn't do my job without it. The only reason I was able to get ANYTHING done the second time my MBP went in was because I setup my old, reliable, thinkpad as a stopgap measure. It didn't replace the MBP that had everything on it but it was better then nothing. Of course I'm the fortunate one. Not everyone has access to a spare system. So cut the guy some slack.

 

[NJuul]

I'm in the exact same situation here, an mbp with a noisy fan, yet I can't be without it until my thesis is done. In two months or so. So far mine has survived for about three months with the noisy fan, so hopefully it'll live a little longer. And hopefully yours will too! I've noticed that the temps are a bit higher, up from ~50 to ~65, but I believe it's still within specs. I suggest simply that you monitor your temps, and avoid running it hard. Make sure to backup often, and get that thesis done as soon as possible, and then send it in for the big overhaul.
Good luck with keeping it alive!

 

[RedTomato]

Some actual practical advice (!)

- Go to System Preferences/ Energy Saver and change all the settings to Longest Battery Life (apart from things like screen dim). Make sure that also includes when you are plugged in, as well as when using the battery.

This will help your laptop run as cool as possible, and reduce stress on the fan / risk of burning something out.

If you're writing your thesis, then I expect most of the time you're in your word processor anyway.

Laptops have overheat sensors, but you don't want the sensors shutting down your laptop when you're in the middle of a heavy session, with lots of unsaved work.

Hope that helps.

xoxo Tomato

 

[mmmcheese]

Some actual practical advice (!)

- Go to System Preferences/ Energy Saver and change all the settings to Longest Battery Life (apart from things like screen dim). Make sure that also includes when you are plugged in, as well as when using the battery.

This will help your laptop run as cool as possible, and reduce stress on the fan / risk of burning something out.

If you're writing your thesis, then I expect most of the time you're in your word processor anyway.

Laptops have overheat sensors, but you don't want the sensors shutting down your laptop when you're in the middle of a heavy session, with lots of unsaved work.

Hope that helps.

xoxo Tomato

Yeah, unfortunately I'm not doing much writing yet because I'm still doing experiments and calculations which means hours and hours of 100% CPU usage. So far it's holding up well though.

When both fans were running fine, my typical temps during full load were 79C....when the fan was noisy, they were the same.....now that the fan has died, the other fan has been able to keep the whole system at 83C.

I think maybe if I was using the GPU as well, then maybe I'd have some trouble with only one fan, but for the moment things seem to be ok.

We'll see I guess.

 

[jacg]

These posts make me nervous. I'm just about to have my MBP with virtually silent (at 2000 rpm) fans replaced due to a resonating hard drive (much louder than the fans!). Everything else is perfect about this machine. At least Apple seem keen for me to be happy with my purchase.

 

[mmmcheese]

These posts make me nervous. I'm just about to have my MBP with virtually silent (at 2000 rpm) fans replaced due to a resonating hard drive (much louder than the fans!). Everything else is perfect about this machine. At least Apple seem keen for me to be happy with my purchase.

You'll have lots of warning before they die. Mine went for 4 months while noisy and rattly before it died all together. Normally I would have had it fixed long ago, but considering the circumstances, I've been holding off.

Your fans are likely fine unless they were previously loud...although it'd be nice to know what speeds they were running at. Anyone have any utilities?

 

[jacg]

You'll have lots of warning before they die. Mine went for 4 months while noisy and rattly before it died all together. Normally I would have had it fixed long ago, but considering the circumstances, I've been holding off.

Your fans are likely fine unless they were previously loud...although it'd be nice to know what speeds they were running at. Anyone have any utilities?

Search macupdate.com for smcFancontrol

 

[mmmcheese]

Search macupdate.com for smcFancontrol

Cool. Thanks


EDIT: And it also confirms what I already knew...the right hand fan is dead (although there was very little doubt about that).

 

[jacg]

These posts make me nervous. I'm just about to have my MBP with virtually silent (at 2000 rpm) fans replaced due to a resonating hard drive (much louder than the fans!). Everything else is perfect about this machine. At least Apple seem keen for me to be happy with my purchase.

Just so anyone searching knows the end of my story, the replacement was fine. What a great computer.

 

[shokasan]

Hi, my MBP's right fan has also started to make a rattling noise. It just started yesterday. When it's sitting flat on a desk like it is now, I have to put my ear to my computer to hear it, but if it's on my lap or something, it gets much louder. Yesterday I shut down the whole computer in a rush because the sound became so loud that I was afraid that my computer might be frying before my eyes. This is kind of frustrating, because I've already had to have my battery replaced for this laptop, and it's not that old. I understand that I will ned to have this problem fixed, but I happen to be living in Japan right now, and my laptop is not only my work computer, but also my lifeline to home and family. Of course, if the computer crashes because the problem continues, it won't do me much good either. If I were to have the computer fixed, would it have to be sent back to the states for repairs? This could not have happened at a more inopportune time, since I am planning on travelling back home for the holiday season in 15 days. Would it be better to have it sent in after I reach home? Can the issue last 15 days? Or could I have the computer sent in shortly before I leave Japan and then have it returned to me at my permanent residence in the States? Any help would be so wonderful! Thanks so much!

 

[mmmcheese]

Hi, my MBP's right fan has also started to make a rattling noise. It just started yesterday. When it's sitting flat on a desk like it is now, I have to put my ear to my computer to hear it, but if it's on my lap or something, it gets much louder. Yesterday I shut down the whole computer in a rush because the sound became so loud that I was afraid that my computer might be frying before my eyes. This is kind of frustrating, because I've already had to have my battery replaced for this laptop, and it's not that old. I understand that I will ned to have this problem fixed, but I happen to be living in Japan right now, and my laptop is not only my work computer, but also my lifeline to home and family. Of course, if the computer crashes because the problem continues, it won't do me much good either. If I were to have the computer fixed, would it have to be sent back to the states for repairs? This could not have happened at a more inopportune time, since I am planning on travelling back home for the holiday season in 15 days. Would it be better to have it sent in after I reach home? Can the issue last 15 days? Or could I have the computer sent in shortly before I leave Japan and then have it returned to me at my permanent residence in the States? Any help would be so wonderful! Thanks so much!

Mine lasted 4 months before the fan died completely. And even then, I can run it at 100% CPU usage for hours without it crashing...so I think you'll be ok. Make sure to do backups though....

Fans die...it's a fact of life...even the best fans are only rated to last about a year...

On the plus side, I called the service place and they said I could keep my machine while the fan is being ordered...I just have to take it in for them to troubleshoot first (they won't take my word for it)....and then a day to replace it once the fan has arrived...

I wish I didn't have to make 2 trips though...what a pain in the ass...

 

[tjcampbell]

I had my MBP for a couple weeks before the fan started making the exact same noises, which to me was both terrifying and embarassing (check out my awesome new MBP "crunch whine crunch ca-dunk ca-dunk). Anyhow, took it to the genius bar. He certified that it was f'd and I got another one (wasn't that simple because mine was a refurb. I had to buy a new one then set up the courier to send in the other one etc... pain are the...)
Anyhow, all smiles here.
I have a brand new MBP and it's AWESOME. It's silent and deadly like a frickin' ninja. I love it. x Tom

 

[mmmcheese]

I had my MBP for a couple weeks before the fan started making the exact same noises, which to me was both terrifying and embarassing (check out my awesome new MBP "crunch whine crunch ca-dunk ca-dunk). Anyhow, took it to the genius bar. He certified that it was f'd and I got another one (wasn't that simple because mine was a refurb. I had to buy a new one then set up the courier to send in the other one etc... pain are the...)
Anyhow, all smiles here.
I have a brand new MBP and it's AWESOME. It's silent and deadly like a frickin' ninja. I love it. x Tom

I suspect fans will become more of an issue as time goes on...now that we have machines that run fans non-stop....it wasn't that long ago that fans would only come on once in a while. In fact, my iBook would only come on a handful of times during the summer...so it never got any wear.

 

[mmmcheese]

Sigh...

So I haven't gotten around to getting the fan fixed yet, but I think I'll soon have to because the left hand fan is now making sounds like it is on its way out...not a good sign. On the plus side, I can get them both fixed at one.

I must have gotten one that was made when they got a bad batch of fans. doh!

 

[eluk]

It is just lining up the most inopportune moment to die.