Vostro 1400 possible fan going bad question

I have Vostro 1400 and it has been a rock for last 2 years I have had it. Recently it developed a rattling type of noise coming from the fan.
It is almost continous but sometimes stops for a second or two. Fan seems to be working OK for now. Also I noticed if I put me ear next to the fan while the laptop is flat I can clearly hear the noise but I turn the laptop vertical to the ground the fan rattling almost goes away.

So can I be sure it is the fan? If yes then possibly the bearing?

Anyone who has change the fan on Vostro1400 I will appreciate your feedback and guidance.

Thanks

 

It's possible that the fan bearing is going bad, It'a also possible that you've got an excessive amount of dust in the system.If you haven't done so already, I'd try to blow some compressed air into your vents and see if that solves the problem. Otherwise, you can try replacing the fan itself.

The fan is probably a fairly cheap part by itself, and you can buy one for the Vostro 1400 or the Inspiron 1420.

http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_tr...nkw=vostro+1400+fan&_sacat=See-All-Categories

Dell also gives you instructions on how to change the fan:

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins1420/en/SM/fan.htm#wp1106486

 

thanks, it seems it is the fan as I had cleaned the dust off a few months back as the laptop was becoming hot. It became cool but now the fan is making quite a bit of sound. I tried to clean again but I do not see much dust.

Btw, I see 2 different fans at Dell for Vostro, YY529 and NR432, does either of them work?

From the procedure it seems clear the only way to get to the fan is to completely take this laptop apart and take the mother board out and then replace the fan. Seems very painful.