Right Fan Noisy and issue with warranty coverage

[sherpa78]

Hey all,
I bought a 1.83Ghz 15" macbook pro, used, from ebay last September. Everything has been working well. The seller had informed me that he had transferred the ownership from his name to mine. It was a local pickup, and he was a really friendly guy, even giving me an additional gig of RAM for free.

Well, a few days ago, the right fan (above the delete key) started making a sound that can best be described as the sound one gets when sticking a card over moving bike spokes. I guess the fan is dying... maybe the bearings are wearing out? Anyways, I called Apple Support, they took my name and my MBP serial number, but informed me that my name did not come up on their computer. Argh! I told them my situation, and the operator suggested I contact the seller to transfer my information. I called the seller, but the phone goes directly to his voice mail and has so for the past couple of days.

So, my questions are thus: a) Are there any other recourses I can take to get my MBP serviced by Apple? Or, am I SOL in that department? b) Has anyone personally done "surgery" on their machines? How difficult was it? c) Any other ideas on how I can remedy this fan issue?

BTW, I've looked at this website (very nice guides!), http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Mac/MacBook-Pro/Fans, but not sure how gutsy I am to do this. I'm handy tinkering around desktops, but portables are different beasts altogether.

I'm hoping that the seller is just on vacation, and I will be able to reach him before the complimentary full-year warranty is over (on April 11th). If I don't get anywhere with him after that date, I guess I'll have to get my scrubs on.

Any advice, sage or otherwise, would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks,
Sherpa78


PS I have the original box... can't remember if i have the receipt as well... don't think so. But, just wanted to say I had the original shipping box, if that might help.

 

[Boognoss]

That's a pain, I hope you're right about the seller being on vacation!

If you can't obtain warranty support, why couldn't you take it to an authorised service centre and pay for the repair? Just a thought.

 

[sherpa78]

Hmmm... ha ha ha.... That IS a thought. I'm such an Apple newb. I thought that authorized Apple service centers checked with Apple to verify the owner. I guess not, huh? I hope there's something like that where I live (central Arkansas). I know we've got a CompUSA, but I don't know if they can actually service my MBP in-store.

Anyways, thanks for the FYI.

-Sherpa78

 

[whateverandever]

Hmmm... ha ha ha.... That IS a thought. I'm such an Apple newb. I thought that authorized Apple service centers checked with Apple to verify the owner. I guess not, huh? I hope there's something like that where I live (central Arkansas). I know we've got a CompUSA, but I don't know if they can actually service my MBP in-store.

Anyways, thanks for the FYI.

-Sherpa78

Well, they'll charge you an arm and a leg for repair. I believe it's $80/hour, and though it's really a ten minute job, I'm sure they'll charge you for more than that.

My right-side fan died as well and I bought one from iFixIt and replaced it myself. It's a very simple repair, you really just need to take out all the case screws and then pull up the top case and unscrew the bolts on the right side fan.

I guess it may seem daunting, but I've replaced my LCD, hard drive, and thermal paste, so this is comparatively cake

 

[sherpa78]

So, computer repair is not unlike car repair. Ugh.

I bow down to your gutsiness! I can't believe how many things you've had to fix onyour own. Very impressive. Did you simply follow the steps in the ifixit website? I noticed there that to replace the fans, it asks you to take out the super drive AND the hard drive. Is this really necessary to replace the fans?? I think I'd be comfortable to remove the screws and lift the top, but the less I have to fiddle around on the logic board, the better!

Thanks for your advice and words of encouragement. I'm feeling a mixture of excitement and fear at the prospect of opening up my MBP. ;-)

-Sherpa78

 

[whateverandever]

So, computer repair is not unlike car repair. Ugh.

I bow down to your gutsiness! I can't believe how many things you've had to fix onyour own. Very impressive. Did you simply follow the steps in the ifixit website? I noticed there that to replace the fans, it asks you to take out the super drive AND the hard drive. Is this really necessary to replace the fans?? I think I'd be comfortable to remove the screws and lift the top, but the less I have to fiddle around on the logic board, the better!

Thanks for your advice and words of encouragement. I'm feeling a mixture of excitement and fear at the prospect of opening up my MBP. ;-)

-Sherpa78

No, you don't need to take out the super drive or the hard drive. The iFixIt guides are decent, but not perfect by any means. They don't offer any help at all in replacing the LCD Haha.

You don't need to mess with anything on the logic board except unplugging the fan (which is a simple, strong cable).

Just pull out the bajillion screws that are in the side and bottom of the case and pull off the top-case and you're just about done.

 

[sherpa78]

Most excellent! I'm glad I don't have to mess with either of the drives. BTW, I went to CompUSA and I got an estimate of a flat $160 for labor, and if the fan does need to be replaced, an additional cost for the replacement fan. I'm sure CompUSA will charge more than the $50 that iFixit charges.

So, I think I'm going to try to fix it myself! I just need to have some system of keeping those bajiliion Phillips and T6 Torx screws in order. I'll probably look at doing it next weekend, depening on when I get the fan from iFixit.

-Sherpa78

 

[Cattywampus_]

I have a question regarding fixing stuff inside your Macbook/Pro yourself.

Does opening it up, and replacing parts not void your warrenty? I just bought extended Applecare for my Macbook Pro so it doesn't really affect me. But lets say I wanted to upgrade the hard drive - if I open it up, take the current drive out and slap a new one in, and while im in there I decide to upgrade the wireless card to the latest N cards - does that void my Applecare cover?

 

[sherpa78]

I have a question regarding fixing stuff inside your Macbook/Pro yourself.

Does opening it up, and replacing parts not void your warrenty? I just bought extended Applecare for my Macbook Pro so it doesn't really affect me. But lets say I wanted to upgrade the hard drive - if I open it up, take the current drive out and slap a new one in, and while im in there I decide to upgrade the wireless card to the latest N cards - does that void my Applecare cover?

Usually, opening up electronics for anything other than what is sanctioned (e.g. upgrading RAM on MBP) will most likely void the warranty. You've got AppleCare, so I wouldn't mess around with it, considering how pricey AppleCare (and the MBP) is. I'm going to operate on my Apple because it's the last resort.

As for the Wireless N, don't know if you've got the supported models, but couldn't you just do this? http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore?productLearnMore=D4141ZM/A

-Sherpa78

 

[whateverandever]

I have a question regarding fixing stuff inside your Macbook/Pro yourself.

Does opening it up, and replacing parts not void your warrenty? I just bought extended Applecare for my Macbook Pro so it doesn't really affect me. But lets say I wanted to upgrade the hard drive - if I open it up, take the current drive out and slap a new one in, and while im in there I decide to upgrade the wireless card to the latest N cards - does that void my Applecare cover?

If they can detect that you've opened up the case, then they have an excuse to void your warranty. They voided mine simply because their top-case was coming apart and wouldn't sit flat on the bottom case anymore, hah.

Replacing the hard drive yourself can technically void your warranty. So add on at least $100 to the price of a hard drive you plan on buying if you want an "Apple Certified" idiot to do what you can do in ten minutes.

 

[e12a]

As for the Wireless N, don't know if you've got the supported models, but couldn't you just do this? http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore?productLearnMore=D4141ZM/A

-Sherpa78

thats just for the C2D MBPs that were sold before the new Airport Extreme. They were shipped with "disabled" Draft-N chips. It cannot be installed on CD MBPs, because they dont have the N Airport Card, though one can probably be obtained via Ebay.

Opening your computer in any normally non-user accessible manner is probably grounds for voiding your warranty. If you have AppleCare, i suggest you use it.

 

[sherpa78]

UPDATE: Well, I got a hold of the guy who sold me the MBP, and he has transferred my info to Apple. Checked with Apple and everything is kosher.

Now, I have until April 11 to decide whether or not to buy AppleCare Extended Warranty. On one hand, it greatly helps resell value. On another hand, buying extended warranty pretty much guarantees that I won't ever need to exercise it.

 

[whateverandever]

UPDATE: Well, I got a hold of the guy who sold me the MBP, and he has transferred my info to Apple. Checked with Apple and everything is kosher.

Now, I have until April 11 to decide whether or not to buy AppleCare Extended Warranty. On one hand, it greatly helps resell value. On another hand, buying extended warranty pretty much guarantees that I won't ever need to exercise it.

Good to hear :]