[SOLVED] Broken pieces near fan

[joenobodyyet]

I started to hear what sounded like rattling and broken pieces near my fan on the left side near the vent holes. When I lift up my laptop and tilt it, I can hear pieces falling inside near my fan. Sometimes when the fan turns on, the pieces move and make noise too. But they move and make noise and then stop, the noise does not continue while the fan is on. Basically, it sounds like little pieces of plastic move around and then stop unless i tilt it back and forth. But it's not a continuous noise. I looked in the vent holes on the left side and could see some of the grill (I think there is a metal grill inside the vent holes) has been pushed inward. The pushed in grill pieces don't seem to be moving, so it must be something inside that I can't see. The computer runs fine and the fan seems to be working. I am very careful with my computer and I have no idea how this could have happened.

I saw a video on how to take the computer apart so I could take a look, but I figured I would ask before I go that route. Should I take it apart and check out the fan and see what's moving around in there? I purchased my computer 2 years ago, so I'm not sure if this is something HP would fix for free. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks

HP Notebook
Model # hp 15-ay196nr
Windows 10 Home
7th Gen Intel Core i7-7500U
1 TB Hard Drive
8192 MB DDR4 SDRAM
15.6 HD LED Display

 

[ThatVietGuy]

You will definitely have to open the computer to figure out what's wrong.

However, you should check to see if it's still under warranty - https://support.hp.com/us-en/checkwarranty

 

[joenobodyyet]

I finally got a chance to remove the bottom cover. The plastic screw anchor mount for the top fan screw (between the fan and hinge) has broken. The shiny gold anchor piece has fallen out of the black broken plastic, leaving that screw almost ineffective. Also, there is another broken plastic screw anchor mount on that hinge. That screw is also now ineffective. So it appears 2 plastic screw anchor mounts have broken and black plastic pieces were moving around.

When I put my computer back together, there is bulging around the power button/left hinge.

How did these plastic pieces break? I have never opened the computer and I am extremely careful anytime I handle my laptop. It mainly just sits on my desk!


Is there any way to have this fixed? I have photos but I am not sure how to attach them.

 

[doolittle]

you can also check the model-specific warranty status here just need your region and serial #.

If you need a replacement fan, they go about $15~$20 usd, available here.

Good luck!