Surface Pro 2 fan started making odd noise.

[raxy21]

I have a Surface pro 2, which I bought when I visited US, all of a sudden this evening my SP2 fan started making noise like buzzz and it was louder then normal, I don't know how to solve this problem, please help me I have exams nearing, is it some kind of hardware problem as my device is out of warranty too please help me out thanks in advance.

 

[PiggyMiddle]

Sounds like a bug, (a real live one) may have gotten inside and died. Or maybe a kid/friend dropped something in through a vent hole and it got sucked into one of the fans. You could try using a vacuum cleaner and go around the vent ports all around the casing.

Many years ago as a Service Tech I got called out to a VCR that would not unload the tape. Took the covers off and found a toasted jam sandwich neatly positioned over the drive spindles and read-head. The two year old had seen the tapes going in and the VCR seemed happy to suck in his sandwich too, just the once though.

 

[Link Kadeshi]

This could be multiple things, including PiggyMiddle's suggestion. It could also be a defect with the fan. (Edit for accuracy). Depending on your situation, it could easily be small debris, or (As I found on a call to fix a PC) animal fur. Happened twice to me actually. Once was a lot of fur, and another time, it got wound up into the fan, and kinda ruined the fan. Without hearing it, it's hard to say, but lets work under the hope that it's debris for now.

 

[PiggyMiddle]

I'd rather suggest using a can of air, and try spraying the vent, towards the fan

Seriously? You want to push stuff in harder than it is already? The OP needs to get stuff out, not make sure it needs a $120 service call to clean out debris !

 

[Link Kadeshi]

Good point, PiggyMiddle. A can of air would likely make a debris situation worse, if that's what it is. I don't have a Surface (One on the way), so I can't really judge the vent situation. I opened up iFixit, to view a teardown, and see that it's a squirrelcage, though I'm not sure why I thought it was something other than that. I'll edit my previous post to update, thanks for pointing that out. I've been working on something recently that -while portable- uses an axial fan, and I think I've got that on the mind.

I'm a bit concerned though, the buzzing, is it rhythmic, or steady? While it's doing it, if you tilt the device, does the pitch change? Is it getting hotter than normal?

 

[raxy21]

I didn't try the vaccum cleaner till now, I will try it when I get back to home from my hospital work and it is still making the same noise, I think it might be hair as you suggested and please help me fix it.
The device is out of warranty I texted the Surface support they told me they will make out warranty exchange but it will cost like 500$ + taxes, so I am not ready to shed that much money on this old device.

 

[raxy21]

Good point, PiggyMiddle. A can of air would likely make a debris situation worse, if that's what it is. I don't have a Surface (One on the way), so I can't really judge the vent situation. I opened up iFixit, to view a teardown, and see that it's a squirrelcage, though I'm not sure why I thought it was something other than that. I'll edit my previous post to update, thanks for pointing that out. I've been working on something recently that -while portable- uses an axial fan, and I think I've got that on the mind.

I'm a bit concerned though, the buzzing, is it rhythmic, or steady? While it's doing it, if you tilt the device, does the pitch change? Is it getting hotter than normal?

It is steady and only kicks in when my surface pro 2 starts heating up otherwise it is silent.

 

[onlysublime]

It is steady and only kicks in when my surface pro 2 starts heating up otherwise it is silent.

well, that's because the fan only runs when you start running intensive tasks and the CPU heats up. most of the time, the fan is off.

 

[raxy21]

It got fixed with the vacuum cleaner, I think it was some debris. Thanks for the heads up guys.

 

[Link Kadeshi]

It got fixed with the vacuum cleaner, I think it was some debris. Thanks for the heads up guys.

Very glad PiggyMiddle's suggestion worked. I hope it was just a little fur or hair in the wrong spot. It might seem dumb, but the small stuff can have huge effects sometimes. Keep an eye... er... ear on it, but it sounds like you've tested it with the fans going, so, cool (Pun intended).