Acer Predator (PHN 16-71 CPU fan grinding noise, should I replace it or fix?

This computer, an Acer Predator (PHN 16-71), has 2 fans and the CPU fan is making these awful grinding sounds. (See video, never mind I guess it won't let me add my video of the grinding noise. 🙄 😡) it's also lagging. Any ideas? Anything I can do about it? Maybe a little lubricant on the fan? I already carefully removed the back and completely cleaned out that fan and it was dirty from my cat shedding and crumbs but that's cleaned out. I can replace the fan myself. I know how to and it's no longer under warranty so I won't void anything. If I do mess it up it won't cost extra cause the fan probably needs to be replaced. But idk for sure. Anyone know what the heck this is? I spent a lot of $ this computer only 2 years ago!!

Since I can't post video it's a loud grinding. The closest thing that comes to describing the noise is like when you get a piece of a plastic bag or piece of paper caught in your fan and you can't quite grab it. It's that kind of noise and just as loud and irritating.

[Edited the thread to add model name to the title]

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Jack22

@Mellee

The fan might not be properly secured to the heatsink, causing it to vibrate and make noise.

The fan might be running at high speeds due to overheating, which can exacerbate the grinding noise.

asimkhan

Hello Acer Community,

I purchased my Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 (PHN16-71, i7-13700HX, RTX 4050) about 2 years ago, and I am very disappointed that I am already facing a hardware failure with the cooling system.

The left fan (most likely GPU fan) started making strange noises and eventually stopped working unless I tilt or lift the laptop. I tried cleaning it with a no-residue contact cleaner, which helped temporarily, but the issue persists and the fan clearly isn’t reliable anymore.

For a premium gaming laptop that’s only 2 years old, I didn’t expect such problems so soon. Cooling is one of the most critical components in a gaming machine, and this is really frustrating.

My Questions:

Can Acer confirm if the left fan is indeed the GPU fan in this model?
What is the official part number for the replacement fan (or fan pair), so I can order the correct one?
Does Acer provide these parts directly, or should I look for third-party sellers (AliExpress, eBay, etc.)?