Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Fan Assembly/Heatsink Replacement

Written By: Sarah Westberg

Comments: 6

Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Fan Assembly/Heatsink Replacement

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

25 - 40 minutes

Introduction

The fan assembly and heatsink’s job is to keep the CPU cool and prevent it from overheating. If your laptop is starting to run hot, your fan may be failing and might need to be replaced.

A common sign that this is happening is the fan is loud and constantly running. It could be that it just needs a good cleaning and you can access the heatsink and fan assembly to clean the fan as well.

If you need to access the fan or heatsink of your Lenovo ThinkPad T480, follow this step by step guide. Be sure to disable the internal battery, turn off the computer prior to starting the repair, and unplug the laptop from the power adapter.

Another note, when replacing your fan assembly/heat sink, it is important to reapply thermal paste first. This will keep your CPU cool by dissipating heat more efficiently.

Tools

Parts

Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Fan and Heat Sink Assembly - 01ER498

Step 1

Disable the battery, power down, and unplug your device before you begin.
Flip the laptop over so the bottom of the device is showing.

Step 2

Using your fingers, slide the lock on each side of the battery to the unlocked position.
Remove the battery from the slot.

Step 3

Using the Phillips #1 screwdriver, loosen the six captive screws.

Step 4

Insert the blue plastic opening tool into the space between the lower case and the chassis.
Slide the opening tool around the perimeter of the case to release the clips holding the case and the chassis together.
If it feels like the battery well portion of the back cover isn't loose, these clips may be holding the cover to the laptop. Use your opening tool to pry the clips loose and try removing the cover again.
Remove the back case.

I found a tough spudger (or even better a plectrum) is best here as the clips, although easy to separate, hold the case firmly leaving a tight gap which a soft spudger may fail to enter.

Benjamin Kinsey -

Hi Benjamin, thanks for the tip!

Sarah Westberg -

You also have to pry the near the battery. I experienced that you can't pry the front side.

Minko Kelko -

I used a credit card to pry the clips loose, it worked great. Added 2nd RAM stick easily.

NFR Computers -

Step 5

Use a Phillips #1 screwdriver to remove the two 4.6 mm screws that secure the internal battery to the frame.

Step 6

Use the spudger to slide the battery socket connector parallel to the motherboard and out of its socket on the motherboard.

Step 7

Lift the battery straight out of its recess and remove it.
If the battery is difficult to remove from the recess, use a nylon spudger to gently lift it on one edge, making it easier to grasp and remove by hand.
To prevent damage or potential fire, do not bend or flex the battery. Only use a plastic spudger and avoid any sharp tools that could puncture the battery.

DO NOT wedge out the battery - T480 has two screws that hold down a plastic battery tray which easily lifts out after the two frame screws are removed. Wedging out will ruin the battery and could damage the cell and cause a fire.

Poseidon219 -

The guide says to remove those two screws. They are "lifting" with the wedge. Probably more of a way to promote their tools than out of necessity, but idk

Lorenzo Serrano -