Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 13 5 Heatsink And Fan Replacement Repair Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

                          45 minutes - 2 hours

Sections

Feet
6 steps
Upper Case
5 steps
SSD
2 steps
Heatsink and Fan
11 steps

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BackMicrosoft Surface Laptop 3 (13.5-inch)
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Introduction

Some photos in this guide are from a different model and may contain slight visual discrepancies, but they won’t affect the guide procedure.

What you need

Step 1

              Flip the device over

Flip the laptop over and place it on your work surface, feet facing up.

Flip the laptop over and place it on your work surface, feet facing up.

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Step 2

              Removal tip

The feet on the bottom of the laptop are meant to be removed with the pointed end of a spudger.
Each foot has a hidden indent that will simplify removal.
To make sure the spudger is in the indent, insert it at the nearest long edge, pushing parallel to the short edges of the laptop, as shown.
Note that the two feet near the rear (screen) edge are different than the two front feet.

The feet on the bottom of the laptop are meant to be removed with the pointed end of a spudger.

Each foot has a hidden indent that will simplify removal.

To make sure the spudger is in the indent, insert it at the nearest long edge, pushing parallel to the short edges of the laptop, as shown.

Note that the two feet near the rear (screen) edge are different than the two front feet.

Step 3

              Remove the rear feet

Insert the pointed end of a spudger underneath one of the two rear feet, at its rear edge.
Push the spudger underneath the foot and pry up to release it.
The two rear feet are secured with some light adhesive.
Repeat to remove the second rear foot.

Insert the pointed end of a spudger underneath one of the two rear feet, at its rear edge.

Push the spudger underneath the foot and pry up to release it.

The two rear feet are secured with some light adhesive.

Repeat to remove the second rear foot.

Step 4

              Remove the front feet

Insert the pointed end of a spudger underneath one of the two front feet, at its front edge.
Push the spudger underneath the foot and pry up to release it.
The two front feet are secured with plastic clips as well as light adhesive.
Repeat to remove the second front foot.

Insert the pointed end of a spudger underneath one of the two front feet, at its front edge.

The two front feet are secured with plastic clips as well as light adhesive.

Repeat to remove the second front foot.

Step 5

              Reassembly tip

During reassembly:
Note that the front and rear feet are different.
Note that the front feet are directional and only clip in one way.

During reassembly:

Note that the front and rear feet are different.

Note that the front feet are directional and only clip in one way.

Step 6

              Reassembly tip

In place of reusing old, worn out feet on your device, 8 mm rubber furniture pads can be a good substitute.
Peel a pad away from its backing, align it over a foot cavity, and press to secure.

In place of reusing old, worn out feet on your device, 8 mm rubber furniture pads can be a good substitute.

Peel a pad away from its backing, align it over a foot cavity, and press to secure.

Step 7

              Remove the upper case screws

Use a T5 Torx driver to remove the four 3 mm screws in the foot cavities securing the upper case to the device.
Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from to avoid damaging your laptop.
During reassembly, don’t over-tighten these screws—they strip easily.

Use a T5 Torx driver to remove the four 3 mm screws in the foot cavities securing the upper case to the device.

Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from to avoid damaging your laptop.

During reassembly, don’t over-tighten these screws—they strip easily.

Step 8

              Open the display

Flip the device over.
Open the display as far as it will go.

Flip the device over.

Open the display as far as it will go.

Step 9

              Lift up the upper case

The upper case is secured in place by magnets.
Grip the top edge of upper case above the keyboard and lift straight up to release it.
Don’t try to completely remove the upper case just yet, as it’s still connected to the rest of the laptop.
Lift the front edge of the upper case up and away from the laptop, taking care to not strain the keyboard and touchpad ribbon cable underneath.
During reassembly, lower the upper case onto the lower case until the magnets snap into place and it lays flat.
Check that the upper case sits flush around the entire perimeter. Any gaps between the upper and lower case near the display could cause damage to the display as it closes.

The upper case is secured in place by magnets.

Grip the top edge of upper case above the keyboard and lift straight up to release it.

Don’t try to completely remove the upper case just yet, as it’s still connected to the rest of the laptop.

Lift the front edge of the upper case up and away from the laptop, taking care to not strain the keyboard and touchpad ribbon cable underneath.

During reassembly, lower the upper case onto the lower case until the magnets snap into place and it lays flat.

Check that the upper case sits flush around the entire perimeter. Any gaps between the upper and lower case near the display could cause damage to the display as it closes.

Step 10

              Disconnect the ribbon cable

The keyboard and touchpad ribbon cable is secured in place by a magnet connector.
On some models, this connector is surrounded by black tape.
Insert the flat end of a spudger underneath one edge of the ribbon cable connector, and pry up to release it.
Remove the ribbon cable from the motherboard.

The keyboard and touchpad ribbon cable is secured in place by a magnet connector.

On some models, this connector is surrounded by black tape.

Insert the flat end of a spudger underneath one edge of the ribbon cable connector, and pry up to release it.

Remove the ribbon cable from the motherboard.

Step 11

              Remove the upper case

Remove the upper case.
Set the upper case onto a clean surface, keyboard-side down.
Ensure the ribbon cable lays flat, and isn’t twisted or stressed.

Remove the upper case.

Set the upper case onto a clean surface, keyboard-side down.

Ensure the ribbon cable lays flat, and isn’t twisted or stressed.

Step 12

              Remove the SSD screw

Use a T5 Torx driver to remove the 2.7 mm screw securing the SSD.
Removing the SSD also functions as a battery disconnect and should be performed before all major repairs.

Use a T5 Torx driver to remove the 2.7 mm screw securing the SSD.

Removing the SSD also functions as a battery disconnect and should be performed before all major repairs.

Step 13

              Remove the SSD

With the SSD screw removed, the SSD will pop up at a shallow angle.
Grip the end of the SSD and pull it away from its board connector to remove it.
During reassembly, insert the SSD at a shallow angle into its board connector, and secure it back into its horizontal position with the SSD screw.

With the SSD screw removed, the SSD will pop up at a shallow angle.

Grip the end of the SSD and pull it away from its board connector to remove it.

During reassembly, insert the SSD at a shallow angle into its board connector, and secure it back into its horizontal position with the SSD screw.

Step 14

              Remove the tape

Use a pair of tweezers to remove the two pieces of black tape covering the bottom left and bottom right corners of the motherboard.
During reassembly, reapply the tape if it’s sticky enough to be reused.

Use a pair of tweezers to remove the two pieces of black tape covering the bottom left and bottom right corners of the motherboard.

During reassembly, reapply the tape if it’s sticky enough to be reused.

Step 15

              Remove the heatsink shield

Insert the tip of one arm of a sharp pair of tweezers into one of the holes near the top left corner of the heatsink shield.
Pull upwards to release the top left corner of the shield.
This may require a considerable amount of force, but try not to deform the shield too much—you’ll need to reinstall it during reassembly.

Insert the tip of one arm of a sharp pair of tweezers into one of the holes near the top left corner of the heatsink shield.

Pull upwards to release the top left corner of the shield.

This may require a considerable amount of force, but try not to deform the shield too much—you’ll need to reinstall it during reassembly.

Step 16

Repeat the previous step’s procedure to release the top right corner of the heatsink shield.

Repeat the previous step’s procedure to release the top right corner of the heatsink shield.

Step 17

Continue along the heatsink’s top edge, inserting a tweezer arm into the shield holes and prying upwards on each one as you go.

Continue along the heatsink’s top edge, inserting a tweezer arm into the shield holes and prying upwards on each one as you go.

Step 18

Once the top edge is loose, use your fingers to grip the top of the shield and pull it up and away from the heatsink to release the remainder of the shield.
Try not to deform the shield too much—you’ll need to reinstall it during reassembly.
Completely remove the heatsink shield.

Once the top edge is loose, use your fingers to grip the top of the shield and pull it up and away from the heatsink to release the remainder of the shield.

Try not to deform the shield too much—you’ll need to reinstall it during reassembly.

Completely remove the heatsink shield.

Step 19

              Disconnect the cooling fan

Use the pointed end of a spudger to flip up the locking flap on the fan cable’s ZIF connector.
Use a pair of tweezers to pull the fan cable straight out of the connector.

Use the pointed end of a spudger to flip up the locking flap on the fan cable’s ZIF connector.

Use a pair of tweezers to pull the fan cable straight out of the connector.

Step 20

              Remove the heatsink screws

Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the nine screws securing the heatsink:
One 2.5 mm screw
Three 2.0 mm screws
One 3.0 mm screw
Two 4.1 mm screws
Two 3.4 mm screws

Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the nine screws securing the heatsink:

One 2.5 mm screw

Three 2.0 mm screws

One 3.0 mm screw

Two 4.1 mm screws

Two 3.4 mm screws

Step 21

              Reassembly tip

During reassembly:
Align the heatsink with the centering peg on the motherboard.
Tighten the four CPU tension screws in an “X” pattern.

Align the heatsink with the centering peg on the motherboard.

Tighten the four CPU tension screws in an “X” pattern.

Step 22

              Clear the alignment peg

Use the tip of your finger to lift the far right edge of the heatsink up and off of the small alignment peg near the right side of the fan on the lower case.
Once the heatsink has cleared the peg, lightly pull the right edge towards the front of the device.

Use the tip of your finger to lift the far right edge of the heatsink up and off of the small alignment peg near the right side of the fan on the lower case.

Once the heatsink has cleared the peg, lightly pull the right edge towards the front of the device.

Step 23

              Remove the heatsink

Remove the heatsink.
If the heatsink feels stuck to the CPU, gently wiggle it side-to-side to separate it from the thermal paste holding it down.
Don’t pull on the heatsink too hard; the heat pipes are susceptible to creasing.

Remove the heatsink.

If the heatsink feels stuck to the CPU, gently wiggle it side-to-side to separate it from the thermal paste holding it down.

Don’t pull on the heatsink too hard; the heat pipes are susceptible to creasing.

Step 24

              Reapply thermal paste

Before reinstalling the heatsink, follow this guide to clean the heatsink and CPU and reapply thermal paste.

Before reinstalling the heatsink, follow this guide to clean the heatsink and CPU and reapply thermal paste.

Compare your new replacement part to the original part—you may need to transfer remaining components or remove adhesive backings from the new part before installing.

To reassemble your device, follow the above steps in reverse order.

Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.

Repair didn’t go as planned? Try some basic troubleshooting or search our Answers community for help.

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Author

                    Carsten Frauenheim

Member since: 03/10/2020

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