Safety of Using Four-year-old Specter 13-ae011dx with only one fan working

[Rock721]

Spectre 13-ae011dx is 4 years old. Three weeks ago, received screen message "fan not working effectively; shut down."   I have used laptop several times/week on a table for 3 hours each since and haven't received message again.  Yesterday, library technology instructor, applied compressed air to laptop that didn't seem very dusty, removed cover, ran BIOS, and other programs for 2 hours to see if left fan would start like the right one did. It did not. www.newegg sells 2 fans for $55. Instructor suggested I keep using laptop and not replace the fans if message doesn't reappear.  Please advise if this is a wise course or what would be a good course. I also plan to put it on a tilted cooling pad. Thank you!

[pbroussard]

So the second fan is to help you cool the discreet graphics card. Not sure which is which, as the heatsink works for both the cpu and gpu. Your Service manual- http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c05811755.pdf  calls for HP part 942843-001 for the left fan and HP 942842-001 for the right fan. You may be able to find the single fan for half that price. I'm assuming money is an issue not wanting to replace the fan? If so, most of the problems with cooling fans result from the bearings running dry of oil.

I could not find a new fan for my wife's envy all in one, so I opened the fan, blade came right off, ran the fan part under water got it squeaky clean, put a drop of 3 in one oil it, reassembled it and it's lasted a year so far. There are videos on youtube showing how to do it

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[Rock721]

Thanks so much for your how-to reply.  So helpful!  When sitting in front of computer is my reference for left, would left side be called left fan?

Or, should I look at back to reference left fan?

Do u think left or right fan is more risky to not have working? And is having only 1 fan working a no-no?

Thanks, Rock721

[pbroussard · Accepted solution]

If you look on page 16 of the Service Guide I linked to you will see that as you normally sit with laptop open, the left fan is to your left. Replacing it, the laptop will be upside down, so the left fan will be on the right.

While you may be able to run the laptop under light load with low ambient temperatures, it would be very easy to over heat once load or ambient temps rise. If it were mine, I would have both fans in optimum conditions always.

[Rock721]

Thank you again for your kindness in reassuring me in my actions!  Last: New Egg charges $55 for package of fans, left and right. HP charges $45 for left only. Would you go for New Egg or not? I plan to try your empowering oil remedy first. Love to recycle!  I wonder what life of fans are under average use?  When I check temperature of laptop, what would be a safe range? Could shut down if excessive.

Smile, Rock721

[pbroussard]

Newegg is just a reseller, it's the same fan as the one HP sells. HP doesn't make the fans, a supplier does. Fans typically dry up about that age, a little oil will prolong the life indefinitely.

Your laptop should throttle down after reaching 90C or so, depending on the model.