Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 Fans and Heatsink Assembly Replacement

ID: 173509

Description: Follow this guide to replace the fans and...

Steps:

1. Shut down your laptop (don't just put it in sleep mode) and disconnect all cables.
2. Flip the laptop upside-down, and rotate it so the screen hinge faces towards you.

3. Use a Phillips screwdriver to loosen the six captive screws securing the base cover.

4. Press the tip of an opening pick into the seam between the base cover and the bottom-left corner of the frame (near the screen hinge).
5. It can be tricky to get the pick into the seam for the first time. Angle the pick vertically and press down with firm pressure.
6. Pivot the pick down and slide it around the corner to release the clips.

7. Slide the opening pick along the left edge to release the clips securing the cover.

8. Press the tip of an opening pick into the seam between the base cover and the bottom-right corner of the frame (near the screen hinge).
9. Pivot the pick down and slide it around the corner to release the clips.

10. Slide the opening pick along the right edge to release the clips securing the cover.

11. Grasp the base cover along the screen hinge edge and pull up to loosen the cover.

12. Lift and remove the base cover.

13. Because of the battery connector's design, the only way to disconnect the battery is by physically removing it.
14. Use a Phillips screwdriver to loosen the six captive screws securing the battery.

15. Grasp the top edge of the battery and lift to disconnect it.
16. You may feel a little resistance from the battery connector as it disconnects—that's normal.

17. Lift and remove the battery.

18. The fans and heatsink assembly may look slightly different depending on the model. The procedure is nearly identical for both models—any differences will be noted in the relevant steps.

19. Use the point of a spudger to push on alternating sides of the fan connector near the right edge and "walk" it out of its socket.

20. Use a spudger to walk the fan connector near the left edge out of its socket.

21. Use a spudger or your fingers to gently guide the two thinner cables (black and yellow) out of their clips on the edge of the left fan.
22. During reassembly, route the two thinner cables and the thicker screen cable into their clips.

23. Use a Phillips screwdriver to loosen all captive screws securing the heatsink.
24. Depending on the model, your heatsink will have either three or five screws.
25. During reassembly, tighten the heatsink screws in ascending order based on the number stamped next to each screw.

26. Insert the flat end of a spudger under the top edge of the heatsink and pry up to separate it.
27. Be very careful not to damage any surface-mounted components on the motherboard.
28. Continue prying up along the top edge to fully separate the heatsink.

29. Grab the outer edges of the fans and remove the assembly.

30. Reference our thermal paste guide for cleaning and application during the next two steps.
31. Remove all the old thermal paste and its residue from the motherboard:
32. The CPU and GPU have gray thermal paste on them.
33. Depending on the model, your laptop may only have a CPU.
34. The components around the CPU and GPU have a yellow, viscous thermal compound.
35. If you're reusing the heatsink and fan assembly, remove all the old thermal paste and compound from the corresponding spots on its underside.
36. Don't remove the small blue pads from the top edge.

37. Apply new thermal paste to the CPU and GPU.
38. Apply some thermal putty or a viscous thermal compound to the components around the CPU and GPU.

39. If you're reusing the assembly, you can skip this step.
40. If any of the small blue thermal pads stuck to the top edge of the heatsink, carefully remove and transfer them to their corresponding spots on the motherboard.