Fan not working

[Lumify]

When I turn my Gateway M-1625 on, the fan doesn't work. Right after the BIOS screen I get the message "Main fan error" and it won't start. Sometimes the fan moves just a bit right as I'm turning the laptop on. Sometimes I turn it on, the fan does work normally, and I can boot normally. This is completely random though.

I've tried running the laptop without RAM. I've tried running it without a battery, on AC power. I've tried running it with JUST a battery. I've tried pulling the battery, unplugging it, holding the power button for 30 seconds, plugging it back in, and turning it on. I've tried doing that without RAM as well. I've tried unplugging the fan, turning it on, turning it off, plugging it back in, and turning it on. I've tried all combinations of everything above, and nothing works.

What do I do now?

 

[aatje92]

How old is it? How long has it been turned on? Could be that the fan is just worn out.

 

[Lumify]

It's about 4 years old, and it's been on for a while over its lifetime. Sometimes it works just fine though.

 

[aatje92]

In that case i would guess the fan's bearing is just worn out, does it also make more noise than it used to?

 

[Lumify]

It's been really noisy for a long time. When fans stop running, do they usually stop suddenly after running fine just before, or do they slow down gradually until they stop? I was thinking it might be the latter, which is why I was questioning this.

 

[aatje92]

It's been really noisy for a long time. When fans stop running, do they usually stop suddenly after running fine just before, or do they slow down gradually until they stop? I was thinking it might be the latter, which is why I was questioning this.

The latter indeed, sounds like that fan is worn, you should try to get a new one.

 

[Lumify]

The latter scenario "slow down gradually until they stop" is what would have happened if it was the fan's fault, but latter didn't happen. It was running just fine and suddenly stopped (then started working again, then stopped again). This is why I was thinking it's something else.

 

[Lumify]

Any other ideas about what this might be? Or do you think it has worn out and stopped suddenly?

 

[aatje92]

You did say it made a lot of noise right? That indicates a worn bearing in the fan.

 

[Lumify]

Right, but it was working just fine earlier. It stopped. Then it was working fine again. And now it's stopped. If it was a dying fan, it would have gradually slowed down to a halt, and it didn't do that.