Fan and CPU problem

Hi there.

My computer illiterate father has asked me to try and help him out with his Macbook. I think it's a 2008 model (2ghz intel core 2 duo, 1.5bg ram running 10.58). Unfortunately, when it comes to the troubleshooting side, I'm not a lot better than he is.

Basically the CPU is constantly above 60 and often above 70 degrees C. As a result the fan is never below 5rpm and sounds like a small plane trying to take off. Even when just turning on and not running anything.

The mac itself doesn't feel slow at all, programs aren't lagging at all or anything.

What i've done so far:

-Tried hoovering out the fan via the back vents
-Run disk utility repair
-Checked activity monitor - initially thought i'd solved it on locating installerdb but then realised it was just disk utility running
- looked into printer queues as someone else suggested, but not the problem

Any other ideas?

Or could it just be case of the fan being old and dying? The laptop hardly moves from my father's desk so hasn't been bashed around in bags a lot, so this would surprise me.

thanks

 

I did yes. Looking at it again now, there's still nothing in there that shouldn't be.

 

OK, I've finally managed to get my Dad off the computer long enough to do an SMC reset, but it still doesn't seem to have solved anything.

Any other ideas anyone?

Thanks