Mysterious noise - is it HD or fan?

[demsteelers1]

This just started up yesterday morning. It's been constant since then. I have a 2011 MBP with an i5 processor and a 320 GB Toshiba HD. Any idea what this noise is?

Here is the audio: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IplWXHVeOPI&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

[Macman45]

Sounds like the fan bearing is on it's way out to me. Might be worth taking it in if it's still under warranty. One of the fans in my imac does this and I've heard the sound enough to know what it is.

Usually goes away as the machine warms up.

 

[demsteelers1]

Thanks

Thanks for your insight! If it is the fan, how much would it cost to replace off warranty?

 

[dusk007]

I don't know but a the fan costs them maybe 5 bucks the work for dismantling the whole thing and putting it back together is anyones guess.
Shouldn't be too expensive.

To me it sounds like there is something in the fan that gets in contact with the fan blades. You could take it apart yourself and have a look if it is out of warranty anyway.

You can also buy a fan from ifixit.com for some 50 bucks and do it yourself.

 

[bozz2006]

It almost sounds like a disc spinning full speed in the optical drive. Stupid question but, do you have a disc in the ODD?

 

[demsteelers1]

Optical drive

No disk in the optical drive.

 

[bozz2006]

Probably the fan, then. Dead easy to replace it. If its no longer under warranty, there's no way I'd pay someone to do such an easy job.

HERE is a walkthrough on how to do it.

HERE is the part.

I'm assuming it's the left one. If it's the right, still just as easy. Pull the back off your machine and have a look.