Cooling Fan not working on Panasonic laptop

This is a Panasonic CF-51 toughbook with XP installed. Computer works fine for about an hour to an hour and a half, although you NEVER hear the fan, even when you put your ear next to it. I can't see it running either. I have a program that tracks the temperature of the hard drive and cpu. When the cpu got up to 56c I shut it down. I never did hear the fan run. Biggest question is how do I get this thing apart? I removed every screw on the back (12) and it still won't come apart--any help out there?
Keith

 

I figured out how to get the computer apart (it comes apart from the top, not the bottom) and yes indeed, the fan doesn't run. Unfortunately I can't get the fan out since there is a small circuit board above it (which contains the on/off switch) that isn't screwed down but won't come out.
http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd82/kjhansen57/computer%20pics/CF-51fan.jpg
Anybody know if this just tugs out of there?
Keith

 

Hi Kjhan,

Good for you. Laptops can be a real problem to open up. Check the maker's web site for a service manual. It should tell you how to remove the board.

Good luck, Jim

 

Well, this got moot in a hurry. The computer will no longer boot. When I push the power light, it comes on (the light, nothing else), then the MP light (two lights to the left) lights up and nothing else happens. Screen stays black, no hard drive noises, no hard-drive light flashing, nada. I fear that the owner operated it too long at high temps and irretrievably damaged the CPU or the motherboard. He doesn't want to put money into it since he already replaced the mobo himself, which is probably the source of all the problems. He isn't a computer guy--just pulled the old one out and put the new one in. If anybody has seen a Panasonic laptop lock up like this, and has any idea how to fix it short of a new CPU or mobo, please let me know!
Thanks.
Keith

 

Just out of curiosity, in the photo it appears the power supply to the fan is unplugged. Did you unplug it, or did the other person forget to plug it in when reassembling?

 

I unplugged it in order to make sure the fan was getting power. It was. Just wasn't turning.
Keith

 

Well, this problem has reared it's head once again. Only weirder and weirder. I let the computer sit for a few days and then, just to see what would happen, pushed the power button. It not only came up, but the fan started working (I have no idea why). But it's not consistent. Sometimes it starts and then goes right into the blue screen of death (which disappears so fast you can't read it...), sometimes it seems to run OK... when I try to run Spybot SD160 on it, it crashes to a black screen and no response. But not right away--it gets about halfway done. And it still seems to run hot. So...
1. How hot is too hot? It's gotten up to 60C with the fan working.
2. At what temperature should the fan kick in? It comes on at about 39C (CPU temp).
3. Is there a diagnostic I can run to see what's causing the crashes?
4. Could this be a power supply problem? The reason I ask is because it seems to run better on battery than it does when plugged into 120.
Thanks.
Keith

 

Hello Keith. I am having the identical problem with my CF 51 and was thinking of replacing the thermal paste. Have you had any success with any solutions?
Thanks
Ron