Fan not spinning at all.

Hi,

Do you have a DMM (digital multimeter) and know how to use it?

If not then try replacing the fan and check if it now works OK. Replacements are available online. Just search for 60.4ES18.012 to get results for suppliers that suit you. The fans are not that expensive to buy. Here’s the ifixit Dell Vostro 3500 Fan Cleaning and Replacement guide that will help with this.

If so use the DMM’s Ohmmeter function and check the resistance of the fan motor winding by disconnecting the fan and placing the meter’s test probes across the red and black wires of the fan cable plug. I don’t know what the resistance is but given that the images of the fan show that its specs are 5V DC @ 0.4A the resistance will be aprox 12.5 Ohms.

If the fan is open circuit i.e. infinite resistance or OL on the meter then replace the fan. See above for how to find suppliers

If the fan tests OK then use the DMM’s voltmeter function and check if there is 5V being applied to the red wire when the laptop is on (before the CPU overheats and the laptop is turned off).

If there is no 5V being applied to the fan, there is a motherboard problem. What is the motherboard’s board number, which is printed on the motherboard? Sometimes if you’re lucky, the schematics for motherboards can be found online by searching for (insert board number) schematics. The schematics will help to find out why there is no power being supplied to the fan.

Hopefully this is of some help.