How to fix a noisy MacBook Pro fan

Hey there, I just opened the macbook to clean my fans..however I seemed unable to open the fan itself to oil it..I’m able to get the fan itself to open (so I could blow out a load of dust) but then there are no screws to open the fan further (to actually oil the point on which the fan itself rotates) could anybody help? thanks!

Fantastic post. Followed the steps and got my MacBook Pro’s noisy fan to pipe down. The computer even runs better now. Sweet.

I went through the steps necessary to disassemble and reassemble my macbook pro but I did run into a few snags. I didnt end up using WD-40, instead went with Dupont’s teflon non-stick dry film lubricant (which leaves no oily film). I applied it to both fans, since both were making a noise. Once I closed everything up and put back all the screws, I couldnt get 2 of the 4 screws for the bottom of the laptop to go completely back in their holes. I might have stripped it in the process of removing it or putting it back in. Starting the computer back up, I ran that program to test out the fans, and the right fan was making a loud buzzing noise. Almost like I used too much lubricant and its spinning like crazy. It tends to make that noise when I close my laptop and pick it up to walk away with. Not sure if that problem will fix itself in the near future or if I just need to replace the fans all together.

Thanks for very useful solution. In my case, MacBookPro early 2008 model generated terrible noise on right side fan and your cleaning method completely solved problem.

Just open up my MBP 4.1 and fixed my fan noise problem. Disaster struck when I snapped one part of the fan (Got big and powerful fingers lol) but thank God, no noise and the MBP temperature stabilized to 50 degrees, instead of 70-80 degrees previously when re-assembled.

Great post, followed the steps, works great

Fantastic…. You would not believe the noise my 2008 MBP has been making… It’s been getting worse for months now, always there but will have bouts of silly loud… Followed these instructions and ‘WOW’ no more noise… I used 3 in 1 oil and will wait and see if it stays noise free but for now totally brilliant, Thanks. Ps. before oiling I downloaded smc fan control and the noisy fan was running at half speed of the other one.. Now both running the same speed… This really works, Thanks again…

Thanks! The clean-up worked and now I can hear myself breathing again.

The only doubt I have is that when I checked before he cleanup, SMCFanControl showed me two readings. Now it shows me just one. I hope the fan has not just stopped working.

I checked using Apple Hardware Diagnostics (the quick test) and it said All OK. My temp readings are going up to 92C and the fan spins up to 4600rpm, but it’s stable around there and the noise of the 6200rpm storm is not there.

great stuff! my fan had stopped working altogether shortly after it had started to make some strange noise. followed the instructions and had it fixed in no time. thanx!

Argh! Got all the way to the fan connectors and on my MBP 2008, they are so small I have no idea how to pry them out. Needle nose plyers to pull directly out? Anyone? Please. :)

Thanks for the great information. Just got my mac book pro back together and it’s running quiet again.
One precaution I would add is to be careful while removing the plastic fan. I broke one blade off of one fan from squeezing too hard while pulling it out.

genius. i broke a fan blade, tried to stick it back together then mounted back. it just hung on for a few moments before giving up the ghost, twice. but now the fan doesn’t make any noise. thanks alot!

Awesome. I was floored when I saw a replacement was $50. No sir, not for a 2006 MBP. Lube worked a treat. Quiet now.

Ryan you are the freaking man, thank you for posting this fix. I was getting ready to take a hammer to my MBP with the jet engine fan noise, and came across this site. For lubricant I could not find any WD-40 in my house, so I used “Weapon Shield”, a new lubricant for firearms among other things. Found a lot of dust bunnies in the heat sink area and cleaned them out as best that I could, and now my MBP is as quiet as can be. Thanks for saving me about $150 which is what the local mac geek squad was going to charge me.

One question, did anyone rip the heat sink tape when removing the fan? I ripped mine twice but was able to put it back almost in the same exact spots and all seems well. Just wondering.

It worked great on my MBP, many thanks for this article !

Thanks for the info – I may end up doing this eventually but found that I could avoid it by setting the fans to max speed using smcFanControl and it has been quiet for 3 days as long as I don’t try to pick up the laptop (as to hold it in my lap) while it is running. When I did and it started again, I simply closed it, let it power down, then opened it again. A decent workaround until I get the tools & some time.

Hi Ryan,
Thank you! I first cleaned the fans according to instructions I found before I came across your post (not to mention that the screws that hold the fan assembly in place were stuck [*]). Anyways, cleaning alone didn’t work. I opened the machine again and did the WD 40. It worked.

Thanks again.

[*] — if anybody has a problem with stuck screws you should get a pair of 18 or 20 AWG sheer cutters or some call it flush cutters (http://bit.ly/HiclDE), grab the screw head by its sides and twist. Be careful so pliers don’t slip and damage something on the logic board. Takes some time and patience but it works.

I love this fixit. Worked great for left fan noise on 2006 MBP. A few suggestions:

Re lubricant: Advise against any oil as it will go everywhere and not stay in the bearing (it evidently works). Advise against WD-40 as this is not really a lubricant, but kerosene and works by dissolving old grease. I used white lithium grease. I like the suggestions of silicone-based grease. The dry lubricants are tempting, but they will not be taken into the pores of what looks to be a brass or bronze fan bearing. Wheel bearing grease would do.

Re disassembly: The case top lifts straight up. The 2 tabs at left front are not bent, but are straight up. The 4 plastic “clips” over the CD drive have a straight-up-and-down action. So even tho the top tends to tip up because the back lifts easier than the front, work the front free before tipping too far. If the tabs bend, straighten to a straight up position before reassembly.

Re wiring connectors: All of these slide to the left except the connector for the ambient light sensor. For the latter, the brown flap lifts from the left edge to release the ribbon cable. It is not really a connector at all. Best tool to slide the connectors with is something small and bluntly tipped, wood or plastic. Not having the classic “Spudger”, I cut a strip from plastic spray paint can lid and shaped it with a pocket knife. Also the exact wiring configuration varies with the model of MBP, as my wiring looks like the above, but there is a Fixit in ifixit.com for other models and the wiring is slightly different.

Re screws: 2 of the tiny little Philips head screws are shorter than all the others. Make sure you know where these go. I had to guess.

Thanks again for a great Fixit.

Awesome! Thanks so much. I’ve had it apart before to upgrade the HD, so I wasn’t too worried. I did have the thought when I had it apart though to go ahead and give the right fan some attention too. The left is now so whisper quite even at max rpm compared to the right, that I wish I would have. So for those of you who have the foresight to read the comments ahead of time, go ahead and do both!

Super! Worked like a charm! (I am on a Macbook from 2008)

Greetings from Germany

I have a MBP ’06 which i take with me to my computer programming class everyday..
but then a lilttle by little.. my left fan started making clicking(?) noises..
at first, it wasn’t all that loud
then..
over the course of a little over a month
it just got louder and louder to the point where i couldn’t take my laptop to class anymore..

but this worked for me and now my fan is quite once again!

Thanks!

Brilliant!
Would have spent a small forture n too much time without me MBP if I had gone to a repair shop.
Whisper quiet now.
Thanks Heaps!

Awesome post. The noise was driving me crazy and the Geniuses at the Apple Store told me it would take days to get the fans in.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

I’m not sure if anyone else has mentioned it, but PLEASE don’t use WD-40 on your fans! Use 3-in-1 oil instead. WD-40 was not meant for parts that run at high-speed and fairly constantly.

Great stuff, thanks.
I was in the middle of writing a paper for school when this happened. You safed me a lot of trouble, time and money. Thank you very very much.