Well I was recently blowing out the cooling fins on my laptop when I heard a loud "sdaklfhdslkfaj" noise inside, and undoubtedly it was my fan... Has anyone ever heard of this issue before and does the apple store normally have these in stock?
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MBP Fan Exploded?
- Thread starter ryannazaretian
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I Googled but didn't find anything on "sdaklfhdslkfaj". 
What exactly does that sound like??? What do you mean, you were "blowing out the cooling fins"? If your fan is damaged, I'd be surprised if the Apple stores would have them in stock. You'll probably need to send it for repair. A little more detail would be helpful.
What exactly does that sound like??? What do you mean, you were "blowing out the cooling fins"? If your fan is damaged, I'd be surprised if the Apple stores would have them in stock. You'll probably need to send it for repair. A little more detail would be helpful.
I Googled but didn't find anything on "sdaklfhdslkfaj".
Well... here's the story. My Macbook Pro was running a little warmer than usual and the fans were both running 3000+RPM constantly, so I figured that it needed to be cleaned out. I took out my "Can-o-Air" to blow it out. Of course, dust flew everywhere, so I kept on blowing it out until the dust disappeared. Before I finished, I heard a loud noise that could only be the fan. The fan on the left side completely exploded. iStatPro even shows 0RPM, and the remains rattle inside.
Your assumption about Apple stores not having them in stock is correct... They don't... Unfortunately, I need the laptop for my computer programming lab tomorrow night. I think it is stupid that "authorized repair centers" do not have any parts to repair my computer. Well... they may, but I do know they don't carry hard drives, fans, or logic boards.
I'm really mad at the customer service I received at the store. Of course I didn't have an appointment setup since it just happened this afternoon, but they wouldn't even look at it after waiting a long time. They treated me as a kid rather than an adult (I'm 18 BTW.) I told them exactly the problem and they said that they would have someone with "experience" tell me what was wrong and that they couldn't even open it up tonight. I've already spent a week without it last month when the hard drive failed. They basically replaced everything except the RAM, screen, and Super Drive, and bottom case. Ever since then I've had a lot of issues with my trackpad as well. Now the fan exploded. So that is 3+ problems that I've had since I bought it in June, all 3 problems that I have experienced in this last month or so. I had plans on shipping the laptop back for the trackpad problem around Christmas time while I didn't need it.
I may call the Apple Store tomorrow and ask them about fixing my trackpad as well. I have been in contact with a product specialist on my trackpad issue and gave her a video of it not working. I thought the issue was only under OSX, but as the issue became worse, it not affects Windows as well. So my laptop has basically been a lemon since I bought it (not to mention the bomb known as the Nvidia 9600GT lurking inside.)
I don't necessarily want one of the new models either. I'm not a fan of the trackpad or the glossy screen. I want exactly what I purchased. Nothing more, nothing less. Do you think it would have been only right for them to give me a new laptop today? I'm a college student that has to have a laptop every day. I use it in almost every class, and there are no loaners at the school. By Apple's defective product, my grades are now being affected. I did not pay $3000 for problems. I paid $3000 for a reliable, high performing machine that I expected to last 4 years.
P.S. I never even did get an answer from the guy today whether or not he will ship my laptop out, or if I have to pick it back up. It's about a 5 hour drive to get it from that store. I'm not happy about this situation at all and I plan on calling customer relations tomorrow before attempting to call or talk to the store.
I have found the Quality Control of Apple today to really suck. My friend's MagSafe adapter burned the cable the other day, which could have easily started a fire. My laptop going into the shop for the second time in the last month doesn't seem very good either.
Please leave your thoughts below. I'm always willing to take some advice.
I have been quite unfortunate with results from Apple. I took it to their Apple store in Metairie, LA. I can recommend anyone going there to get their laptop repair to not go to this store. They are very dumb, closed minded ******s.
First, I went there around 5PM last night without an appointment because they didn't have any left for the day. I was (un)fortunate enough to meet the manager and her clown friend called a "Genius." The woman their told me she couldn't do anything for me without an appointment, but did call the Genius, Will, I believe is his name, to help me out. He said that I couldn't even drop it off at the store to get it fixed and he would not look at it. I left the store, infuriated inside. I went outside and called Apple Support. They basically said they could not do anything for me, but recommended that I make a scene in the store. I basically went back in, complained to the manager loudly that I purchased this $3000 laptop back in June this year, and it has already developed 3 major problems, 2 of which need immediate replacement. She finally gave in and took the machine in for repair. I tried to show Will Genius that the fan was not running on iStat and that my temperature was quickly rising. He totally ignored me and told me that he would handle it.
The next day, I get a call back that says that nothing was wrong with the laptop. I go to the store again (70 mile drive by the way) and pick up my machine. Will Genius tells me again that there are no issues with my machine and that they ran a diagnostic on the machine for 2 hours. When I got it back, it was hot, but iStat did show it was indeed running. I felt a little better until I felt behind the computer at the air vent. I felt one side blowing, but the other was not. I told Will Genius this, but he said that it is running because it says so on iStat. I leave the store undecided about what to believe, and felt my gut instinct to be correct.
Anyway, about 6 hours later when I get back to college, I turn it on in class and hear a WHIRR WHIRR SCREECH WHIRR WHIRR WHIRR SCREECH noise. It was loud enough for the teacher to even ask me if that was my laptop. The fan is trying to spin, but finally gives up and goes back to the 0RPM.
So that is what I'm mostly pissed about.
Now I have spent the last hour and a half talking to Technical Support, Product Specialist, and Customer Relations. All of them tell me what I was dreading. "The Apple Store did a diagnostics on your machine and said everything was good. We cannot help you further." I'm going to give them a call back tomorrow morning and try to prove my point that Will Genius is a dummy and that my machine is broken. I wonder if the fact that some of the fan blades fell out tonight while I shook the machine trying to get the loose debris that still remained in the machine after the Apple Store supposedly inspected it would make any effect... Or a screen shot of my fan sitting at 0RPM?
I already missed one day of classes because they took so long last night just go get me to sign a piece of paper, and it is still broken. I'm hoping this thing catches on fire or lets out the magic smoke. I'm very upset with Apple Support right now. I paid for Apple Care, this very expensive laptop, and all I have now is a $3000 heating pad.
Here are those pictures... The large one is the picture they showed me at the store... Look at the temp too...
First, I went there around 5PM last night without an appointment because they didn't have any left for the day. I was (un)fortunate enough to meet the manager and her clown friend called a "Genius." The woman their told me she couldn't do anything for me without an appointment, but did call the Genius, Will, I believe is his name, to help me out. He said that I couldn't even drop it off at the store to get it fixed and he would not look at it. I left the store, infuriated inside. I went outside and called Apple Support. They basically said they could not do anything for me, but recommended that I make a scene in the store. I basically went back in, complained to the manager loudly that I purchased this $3000 laptop back in June this year, and it has already developed 3 major problems, 2 of which need immediate replacement. She finally gave in and took the machine in for repair. I tried to show Will Genius that the fan was not running on iStat and that my temperature was quickly rising. He totally ignored me and told me that he would handle it.
The next day, I get a call back that says that nothing was wrong with the laptop. I go to the store again (70 mile drive by the way) and pick up my machine. Will Genius tells me again that there are no issues with my machine and that they ran a diagnostic on the machine for 2 hours. When I got it back, it was hot, but iStat did show it was indeed running. I felt a little better until I felt behind the computer at the air vent. I felt one side blowing, but the other was not. I told Will Genius this, but he said that it is running because it says so on iStat. I leave the store undecided about what to believe, and felt my gut instinct to be correct.
Anyway, about 6 hours later when I get back to college, I turn it on in class and hear a WHIRR WHIRR SCREECH WHIRR WHIRR WHIRR SCREECH noise. It was loud enough for the teacher to even ask me if that was my laptop. The fan is trying to spin, but finally gives up and goes back to the 0RPM.
So that is what I'm mostly pissed about.
Now I have spent the last hour and a half talking to Technical Support, Product Specialist, and Customer Relations. All of them tell me what I was dreading. "The Apple Store did a diagnostics on your machine and said everything was good. We cannot help you further." I'm going to give them a call back tomorrow morning and try to prove my point that Will Genius is a dummy and that my machine is broken. I wonder if the fact that some of the fan blades fell out tonight while I shook the machine trying to get the loose debris that still remained in the machine after the Apple Store supposedly inspected it would make any effect... Or a screen shot of my fan sitting at 0RPM?
I already missed one day of classes because they took so long last night just go get me to sign a piece of paper, and it is still broken. I'm hoping this thing catches on fire or lets out the magic smoke. I'm very upset with Apple Support right now. I paid for Apple Care, this very expensive laptop, and all I have now is a $3000 heating pad.
Here are those pictures... The large one is the picture they showed me at the store... Look at the temp too...
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1) Attempting to "blow out" the case while it was on and in the wrong direction was probably not a bright move. If the unit is malfunctioning you should call AppleCare first, an Apple store if possible and then maybe the can-o-air if you get the ok.
2) I have gotten the brush off at the store as well. It's important to stay cool and professional, don't let them get off with the "Diagnostic disk" spiel ( it's the OSX install disk hold down command-D to get into diagnostic mode ).
Please think twice before you try another "repair" on a device like this. You should be glad that all you did was break a few fan blades and did not end up cracking one of the chips with that compressed, and very cold, burst of air.
2) I have gotten the brush off at the store as well. It's important to stay cool and professional, don't let them get off with the "Diagnostic disk" spiel ( it's the OSX install disk hold down command-D to get into diagnostic mode ).
Please think twice before you try another "repair" on a device like this. You should be glad that all you did was break a few fan blades and did not end up cracking one of the chips with that compressed, and very cold, burst of air.
I would never blow air onto small parts like that, just short bursts. Don't put the nozzle of the can right on the fan, keep it a distance.
The force coming out of the can is possibly the reason why the blades have snapped.
The force coming out of the can is possibly the reason why the blades have snapped.
You broke this machine yourself... How is this an issue of Apple quality control? The previous problems with the logic board and such may have been, but I don't understand how you can blame Apple for your decisions. This shouldn't be covered under the warranty at all.
OP, you realize that compressed air tends to come out VERY cold and that heating and cooling quickly could have possibly caused HUGE problems with cracking of your internal components right?
I think you got lucky that just a fan was physically damaged.
I think you got lucky that just a fan was physically damaged.
The machine was completely off and pretty cool. It had been sitting off for a good 5 minutes or so while I was packing other stuff for my trip back to college. I directed the air across the heat sinks. This is something I have done with my *cough cough* Dell laptop for 4 years now without any issues.
No one can blame me for trying to maintain my machine either. Canned air is used for dusting off components, and therefore, is why I used it. I followed the directions and it happened that one of the fans was weak (it is a really small piece that broke off). I only handled the situation "maturely" because that is what tech support suggested to me. Haha... I laughed when he told me to do it too...
Does no one else every dust out their laptop? Mine was constantly running at 4000+RPM when it was on. And there was plenty of dust too.
I know it was partly my problem, but bringing it to the store, then being told that there is not an issue, is not acceptable.
Well At least you took precautions.
To anyone that uses such a method, use only short <1 second blasts to make sure you dont freeze your components.
Your earlier post could easily be interpreted as the unit being on ( checking iStatPro ). It's still unwise to attempt any internal cleaning on a system like this without knowing what you are doing.
First of all, if you just bought your MBP in June of this year, unless you work in a VERY dusty environment, there's no need to blow dust out of it at all. It's apparent that you blasted your fan with sufficient force to break fan blades. My guess is one of these blades was blocking the fan from spinning. You broke your MBP. It's not a result of a defect. Apple is not responsible for user damage. You then showed up at a store without an appointment, and you're upset that they didn't give you preferential treatment? In my opinion, your handling of the whole situation was irresponsible and immature.
And for future reference, 3,000 rpm is well within the normal operating range for MBP fans.
And for future reference, 3,000 rpm is well within the normal operating range for MBP fans.
I work in many different environments as a college student, from carpet, beds, desks, workshops, etc... So yes, it did seem to get very dusty very quickly. I only did what Apple Tech Support told me to do, and they told me they couldn't guarantee anything. They told me to go to the store to see if they could help me. They warned that I would probably have to wait. Still, the people at the Apple Store should not have been as rude and uncaring as they were. I waited there for about an hour for a Genius to even talk to me. They wouldn't listen to me at all or let me show them what is wrong. They opened it up and said there was nothing wrong and were able to get the motor for the fan to spin. After driving for 5 hours back to school, I turned the machine on and within a minute of me using it, the fan grinded to a halt. I shut the machine off and shook it around and pieces of the fan fell out. The machine was never under 3,000RPM, and it became very warm very quickly. There was a lot of dust in the machine for only being a few months old. The fans used seem to be of very cheap quality plastic. The plastic snapped off because it is very brittle. I don't believe I have done anything wrong to have the fan break. I was using a tool designed to clear dust out of computers, and the fan broke. The other fan was fine... I see stories about fans going bad in Mac laptops all the time. I've seen youtube videos. It's like I pay so much for a very delicate machine that has to have any service done on it by professionals. Anything I do or touch can break it. I mean... my touchpad and keyboard are not working properly... I touch those all the time. That must mean it is my fault that they don't work correctly.
Personally, I think I handled the situation very professionally. I did exactly what Apple Care told me to do. The Apple Store was not professional. Why would they tell me my machine is perfectly fine, give it back, when it does have a problem. They also left the whole right side of my laptop loose.
Your story keeps changing... this is the first time you talk about Apple Tech Support recommending this procedure. Honestly I find it difficult to believe they would have any authority or experience with such a procedure and I highly doubt they would recommend you do so.
I can only encourage you to keep talking to Apple about the problem. However, I think that you broke the fan by using the canned air and I would omit that from my story if you expect them to do anything about it. I bought the cleaning kit that the Apple Store sells and see no reason to subject your machine to canned air. If you dropped it, would you be screaming that the floor broke it? The little rubber blower is fine but the canned air is probably too much pressure to use and it blows cold air if used long enough.
Okay... so this is the timeline of events... and the machine was OFF when I blew it out...
Sunday afternoon around 2PM - Blew out the heatsinks to make it run cooler when the fan broke.
Sunday afternoon around 2:05PM - Called Apple, they said that there were no appointments available that day, but some where open Monday; however, I had to be back to class Monday morning. They told me I can try to go to the store to see if an appointment was canceled for someone else.
Sunday afternoon around 5PM - Finally make it to the Apple Store. I talk to someone at the front of the store and she refers me to the manager in the back. I explain my situation to the manager and she calls the Genius out of the back. The Genius explains that he cannot do anything for me and basically tells me to leave. I was still quiet and kind at this point.
Sunday evening around 5:30PM - I call Apple again and tell them that the store is refusing to even look at my machine. The Apple tells me to make a small scene. Explain how I paid so much for a machine that has broken twice this month loudly for anyone within 5 feet or so to hear.
Sunday evening at 6PM - Closing - I walk back into the store, make my small scene. They finally agreed to let me to the drop off and that a diagnostic would be done tomorrow.
Sunday at 7PM - I finally leave. It is too late to drive back to school 5 hours away, so I decided to go home and miss my classes Monday.
Monday at 8AM - I call Customer Relations and talk to a woman named Christine that has been very nice and polite to try to get some type of resolution for me. She told me that she will call the store when they open at 10AM.
Monday at 11AM - Christine calls back and tells me that they are doing diagnostics on my machine and that everything is running well. I setup an appointment for 1:40PM to get my machine.
Monday at 1:20PM - I arrive at the store and wait for 30 minutes or so. They tell me they found nothing wrong with my laptop. I asked if they opened the machine and checked the fans. They said they have and show me it running. Skeptical, I take my machine and leave for campus.
Monday at 2:30PM - I leave the mall and head back to campus.
Monday at 4-5PM - Christine calls me back to follow up. I explain to her how I'm driving back to campus and that I have not had a chance to really test my machine.
Monday at 7PM - I go into my lab, an hour late, and start up my machine. It does not boot the first time (No Apple logo). I restart and it boots up, and my fan motor is running. I pick up my machine to see if I can hear or feel the fan running, and the left fan starts grinding real bad.
Monday at 7:30PM - I get back to my dorm and call Apple and explain how nothing has been resolved yet. The people at the Apple store did not fix or even find that the fan was broken. I also explain by mildly shaking the laptop, that pieces of the fan were falling out of my laptop. I was talking to Customer Relations, so they could not do anything for me, even though it was an obvious problem...
Tuesday at 9:30AM - I call Apple again, get in contact with Apple Tech Support again, and they are now sending me a box to get it fixed/replaced.
Problems with it right now: Fan is destroyed, intermittent keyboard and trackpad issues which warranted a top case and logic board replacement last month when this happened.