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New MBP (Late 2008), fan? sound coming from left speaker?

I

iBunny

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Apr 15, 2004
1,254
0
As soon as my MBP starts up, I get a sound, sounds like a fan spinning... maybe clicking a little coming from the left side of the computer, and I can hear it when I put my ear up to the left speaker. I cant hear it when im sitting here typing, but if im completely silent, and im close to the computer... its noticeable...

When the computer heats up and the fan goes faster, the noise goes away. I hear the fan speed up, but the light clicking like noise goes away.

Can I take this to the Apple store to get fixed? If I do, about how long will they have my computer?

Thanks all
 
Since no one here works at the specific Apple retail store you're speaking of, it would be nearly impossible for us to properly answer your question. Your best bet is to give them a call, explain the situation, and then book an appointment. Given the new models, the influx of problems and confused customers should be quite high - expect long wait times. Hope that helps...
 
nope7308 said:
Since no one here works at the specific Apple retail store you're speaking of, it would be nearly impossible for us to properly answer your question. Your best bet is to give them a call, explain the situation, and then book an appointment. Given the new models, the influx of problems and confused customers should be quite high - expect long wait times. Hope that helps...
Click to expand...

THanks for the help.. not

Listen. What Im asking is do they fix this problem generally? My MBP is loud and there is obviously something wrong with the fan. Its either off balance or somethings interfearing with the blade.

I am in the Military and the closest apple store is many many hours away, it would be a whole day adventure just to get there for them to say sorry and turn around.

SO Im asking the people here who have had smiliar problems their expirances about getting it fixed or not.

THanks
 
I'm also experiencing the same issue with my new base MBP. It sounds to me like the fan is hitting a wire or something when rotating. In a completely quiet environment, I can definitely hear it. When there is other noise, I can only hear it when I put my head up against it. I've never heard of another laptop fan sounding like this before, but then again this noise we are hearing may be the reason my fans have yet to go above 2000rpm. I'd like to hear from other people with the new MBP before I take it back up to the Apple store.
 
Hey guys,

Exact same problem. Left side fan, definitely sounds like its tapping something. Can't really describe it.

Let me know if you find out more.
 
I'm getting it too, but I wouldn't say it sounds like the fan's being obstructed - just spinning at a particular resonant frequency. It's definitely the fan though, because when you close the lid, you can hear it spin down. Anyone gonna take theirs in? Mine doesn't actually sound like a problem, even if it is annoying - I don't think it's a manufacturing defect. The fan should be visible by removing the underside of the machine, which doesn't void warranty, as the RAM is under there! I'm not gonna bother though, unless anyone finds anything suspicious.
 
I thought i had this same issue, turns out it is my power brick making the noise, i leave it next to the left side of the comp

hold your ear to the brick, is that the noise you hear, or do you hear it when on battery power also?, if so i'd take it back
 
hard disk is bottom right, this noise is top left..so yeah, I'm pretty sure!

I really don't think it was making the noise before though, and I'm in the library now, so I can't hear it, but I don't THINK it's happening.

It's definitely something spinning, although the PSU transformer noise is kinda similar. Next time it happens, I'll see if the mic picks it up, seeing as it is in the same place. It doesn't bother me at all really - just sounds like a general computer noise if I'm honest! And the machine is generally quieter than most, so I'm happy! I rarely just sit in a totally silent room with no music! :p
 
I have a similar noise, top left of new mbp. It's a clicking noise, but i get it when i move the mouse pointer around more than anything. Normally when im using the speakers. Could be interference with the audio device n trackpad? No idea. Going to nip to the apple store tomorrow / next week before my 14 days is up in case i want to send it back.
 
It is the top left fan for sure. I heard it spin down when I turned off my computer.
 
Playing with it some today revealed that it sounds like a secondary fan. If you have SMCfancontrol installed, crank up the left fans to 6000rpm. You will hear a bigger fan spin up as well as the smaller one at the same time. When they spin down, the larger fans stops spinning while the smaller one keeps going. Might end up taking it apart just to make sure.

If we can get other people to chime in with opinions to whether or not the noise can be heard we can decide if we have defects or if the sound is normal.

By the way, the MBP is loud as crap when the fans are maxed out, hopefully I'll never have to hear that again.
 
I recorded it, but garageband made it very loud, and over compressed it, so this is what it sounds like, but turn it down alot :p

Yeah SMCfancontrol kinda indicates that it isn't the left fan, though both come from the same area...any thoughts people?

oops, it didn't attach! :eek:

sorry, I had to usemegaupload as my ftp isn't working!
 
I called customer service, they told me to go to my local authorized repair shop to get it checked out.. going tomorrow when I have some free time.
 
Hey guys, I got my Macbook Pro (late 2008), on Oct. 21 too and have encountered the exact same problem... this looks like a repeating problem.

I called Apple Tech Support, they had me bring my MBP to my nearest Apple Store for evaluation.
The Apple Store Genius ran a few programs to warm my MBP up then leaned very close to the left side of my MBP. He was able to hear the noise and filed a work authorization report.
The Genius asks me to call Apple Tech Support over the phone again to process it as DOA. The call later transferred me to an Apple Specialist, he files the RMA, and later sends me FedEx return labels and new order number via email.

Shipped my MBP on 22nd, Apple (Cupertino) received it overnight. I'm still waiting on the replacement (should be in my hands next week), hope this helped. :)

Hope my new one won't be doing the same clicking sound... :confused:

My Spec: MacBook Pro (Late 2008), 2.53GHz, 4GB RAM, 320GB@7200rpm
 
so it is a problem?! I don't really want to send mine back and be without a computer for a couple of days :( did you buy in store, or online?
 
ok, so as I bought it in store, they could just swap over my HDD into a new machine then? Might call tech support later, although it's not that annoying tbh...if it was a problem across the board, then I wouldn't be fussed, but if I can get a quiet one then I will! :p Did they talk about the cause of the problem or not?

Also, I noticed that it didn't happen straight away - I've had mine for a week, and it's only started the noises now.
 
They did not talk about the cause of the problem, and I am not sure if they could swap your HDD to a new machine in store.

I am not sure about Apple's policy for a new replacement, since you've had yours for a week now. But I'm guessing they'll at least offer repair as an option. You should call to find out. :confused:

I'm guessing this is really a ongoing problem, I've found another thread on Apple's Support site: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=8337662
 
yeah, I will give them a ring later. Seeing as the returns policy is 14 days, surely they should swap it for me anyway - and it's not like it's anything I could've caused...I guess you haven't got yours back yet? I wonder if it is an issue across the board, but only a few of us are actually bothered enough or work in a quiet enough environment to bother with it...tbh the more I talk/read about it, the more it bothers me!
 
Same problem here. Very loud noise coming from fans area no matter what I'm doing, phoned AppleCare yesterday and let the guy listen to it, he said it's a hardware fault and highly unacceptable. He transferred me to Customer Relations and the woman said she would get in touch on Monday.
 
iBunny said:
THanks for the help.. not

Listen. What Im asking is do they fix this problem generally? My MBP is loud and there is obviously something wrong with the fan. Its either off balance or somethings interfearing with the blade.

I am in the Military and the closest apple store is many many hours away, it would be a whole day adventure just to get there for them to say sorry and turn around.

SO Im asking the people here who have had smiliar problems their expirances about getting it fixed or not.

THanks
Click to expand...

You're an idiot. What does it even mean to fix something "generally"?

What do you think people are going to say? People are going to ask you to be more specific, to call Apple, and to bring the machine in for repair. If it's a faulty/defective part (as you're pretty adamant about), then you're going to have to replace it. If you had called Apple in the first place, then you could have taken your machine to a local reseller and it would have been repaired by now.

I hope you can shoot a gun better than you can spell.
 
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