Lenovo ThinkPad X260 Cooling Fan Replacement

ID: 162939

Description: This is a simple guide designed to help extend...

Steps:

1. Make sure that the device is unplugged and turned off.
2. Flip the laptop from the front to the back.

3. Start by pinching the switches on either side of the battery outwards.
4. At the same time push the external battery, located in the back, upwards.
5. Remove the external battery from the laptop.

6. Loosen the eight 4.2 mm screws holding the back cover on using a Phillips #1 screwdriver.
7. These screws should be held in place by a small plastic washer which secures them to the cover and should not be loosened. This is illustrated in the third image.

8. Gently pull the cover off and set aside.
9. An iFixit opening tool may make it easier to gently remove the cover.

10. Remove the four 2.9 mm screws that hold the cooling fan in order of 4, 3, 2, 1 using a Phillips #1 screwdriver.
11. Gently lift the plastic retaining flap to disconnect the ribbon cable.
12. The plastic that holds the ribbon wire in place is a black lever on a tan block.

13. Gently remove the wires which run along the fan.
14. Remove the old cooling fan.

15. Clean the old thermal paste off of the CPU.
16. The CPU, when clean, should have a glossy black finish.

17. Apply new thermal paste to the CPU.
18. Place the new fan in position and secure by reatching the screws in the order of 1, 2, 3, 4.