asking about fan cleaning acer aspire 5 (a515-56g)

martinDylna

so i have an acer aspire 5 (a515-56g) and i am in a very dusty environment

i want to only clean the fans but not repast the thermal paste

is it possible at the moment to do it or do i have to repast again

i think the fan is not connected to the pipes so if i take it off and dust it out

would it be ok ?

Puraw

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/692342/asking-about-fan-cleaning-acer-aspire-5-a515-56g

I replaced my fan last year, a515-54G, took me 10 minutes, very easy, not connected to the heatsink (my model has 1 heatsink same as the picture you show). That black box between the copper sink and the fan acts like a dust trap (with a grill inside) and I had to peel off a thick layer of hardened lint and dirt completely blocking off the heat sink duct. There is no thermal paste under the fan, and it just slides into that "dust trap". You first disconnect the battery ribbon cable connector at the MOBO with you finger nails, it may be very tight but don't use pliers or a screwdriver as that will damage the delicate socket and ribbon connector. Then unplug the short fan cable plug and unscrew the 2 fan screws. Remove the fan and clean the blades carefully with a very soft brush and ball blower you can get at any DIY PC shop. Don't use fluids, compressed air or vacuum cleaner, never lubricate the bearings of a cooling fan even not with a technical lubricant. Peel of the lint from the grill inside the black box (heat sink duct). I don't recommend to remove the heatsink as then you will have a thermal paste job to do. If you see a lot of dirt on the MOBO don't use isopropyl alcohol to clean, just a damp soft cloth is the best unless you need to remove old thermal paste. Caution: the 11 back cover screws are tricky and very easy to strip, get a professional laptop screwdriver set preferably with a torque gauge/stop and better not tighten too much as the tiny brass screw inserts break loose easily.

Puraw

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/692342/asking-about-fan-cleaning-acer-aspire-5-a515-56g

I replaced my fan last year, a515-54G, took me 10 minutes, very easy, not connected to the heatsink (my model has 1 heatsink same as the picture you show). That black box between the copper sink and the fan acts like a dust trap (with a grill inside) and I had to peel off a thick layer of hardened lint and dirt completely blocking off the heat sink duct. There is no thermal paste under the fan, and it just slides into that "dust trap". You first disconnect the battery ribbon cable connector at the MOBO with you finger nails, it may be very tight but don't use pliers or a screwdriver as that will damage the delicate socket and ribbon connector. Then unplug the short fan cable plug and unscrew the 2 fan screws. Remove the fan and clean the blades carefully with a very soft brush and ball blower you can get at any DIY PC shop. Don't use fluids, compressed air or vacuum cleaner, never lubricate the bearings of a cooling fan even not with a technical lubricant. Peel of the lint from the grill inside the black box (heat sink duct). I don't recommend to remove the heatsink as then you will have a thermal paste job to do. If you see a lot of dirt on the MOBO don't use isopropyl alcohol to clean, just a damp soft cloth is the best unless you need to remove old thermal paste. Caution: the 11 back cover screws are tricky and very easy to strip, get a professional laptop screwdriver set preferably with a torque gauge/stop and better not tighten too much as the tiny brass screw inserts break loose easily.