Difficulty
Moderate
Steps
10
Time Required
15 - 30 minutes
Sections
1
- Fan
- 10 steps
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Member-Contributed Guide
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BackNintendo Wii U
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Introduction
What you need
Step 1
Remove Stickers Covering Screws
- Using a flathead screwdriver, spudger, or tweezers, remove the stickers covering the screws on the bottom of the Wii U and on the side of the Wii U.
- Do not try to use your fingernails. It would only hurt.
Using a flathead screwdriver, spudger, or tweezers, remove the stickers covering the screws on the bottom of the Wii U and on the side of the Wii U.
Do not try to use your fingernails. It would only hurt.
1024
Step 2
Unscrew All of the Screws on the Back of the Wii U
- Remove three Phillips screws with a Phillips #00 screwdriver.
- Remove three Tri-Wing screws with a Y1 Tri-Wing screwdriver.
Remove three Phillips screws with a Phillips #00 screwdriver.
Remove three Tri-Wing screws with a Y1 Tri-Wing screwdriver.
Step 3
Remove the Battery
- To remove the battery, unscrew the screw holding it in place with a Phillips #00 screwdriver.
- Then pull the battery free.
- Once you reassemble the Wii U, you might need to set the date and time.
To remove the battery, unscrew the screw holding it in place with a Phillips #00 screwdriver.
Then pull the battery free.
Once you reassemble the Wii U, you might need to set the date and time.
Step 4
Unscrew the Screws on the Side of the Wii U
- Unscrew the two screws on the side of the Wii U near the air vents with a Phillips #00 screwdriver.
- EDIT 9/26/16: There are stickers covering these screws too. Remove them.
Unscrew the two screws on the side of the Wii U near the air vents with a Phillips #00 screwdriver.
EDIT 9/26/16: There are stickers covering these screws too. Remove them.
Step 5
Pull off the Side Cover
- Slide the side cover to your right.
- Lift the side cover off.
Slide the side cover to your right.
Lift the side cover off.
Step 6
Unscrew the Screws Under the Side Cover
- Remove three Tri-Wing screws with a Y1 Tri-Wing screwdriver.
Step 7
Removing the Top Cover
- Lift the top cover.
- Pull the top cover towards you.
- Do not lift the top cover up all the way at first! Make sure to pull it towards you (shown in picture #2 and the video on the next step), then lift it up all the way. If you don’t remove the top cover this way, U may damage your U. ):
Lift the top cover.
Pull the top cover towards you.
Do not lift the top cover up all the way at first! Make sure to pull it towards you (shown in picture #2 and the video on the next step), then lift it up all the way. If you don’t remove the top cover this way, U may damage your U. ):
Step 8
Removing the Top Cover (continued)
- Video of removing the top cover.
Video of removing the top cover.
Step 9
Removing the Fan
- Remove the two Phillips screws securing the fan in place with a Phillips #00 screwdriver.
- Use a magnet or a magnetic screwdriver to lift up the screws once they’re fully loosened, as seen in the second picture.
- Screwdrivers with a black tip usually mean that they’re magnetic, as shown with the black arrow in the second picture.
- Remove the fan from its socket.
- Set the fan’s wires free from under the clamp (see the yellow box on picture #3).
Remove the two Phillips screws securing the fan in place with a Phillips #00 screwdriver.
Use a magnet or a magnetic screwdriver to lift up the screws once they’re fully loosened, as seen in the second picture.
Screwdrivers with a black tip usually mean that they’re magnetic, as shown with the black arrow in the second picture.
Remove the fan from its socket.
Set the fan’s wires free from under the clamp (see the yellow box on picture #3).
Step 10
Removing the Fan (continued)
- Unplug the fan’s power cable by tugging on its wires.
- Do not tug the fan.
- Do not tug the wires from too far or else the wires/power connector may break.
Unplug the fan’s power cable by tugging on its wires.
Do not tug the fan.
Do not tug the wires from too far or else the wires/power connector may break.
Congrats if you’ve made it this far! Click the button below if you successfully replaced your fan! To reassemble your Wii U, follow these instructions in reverse order. Note that you will not be able to put the stickers back on that were covering the screws on the bottom cover of the Wii U — well, who really cares about a sticker covering a screw!?
Thank you all for viewing this guide. Keep on fixing!
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Reid Fleishman
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facebook - Mar 27, 2017
Reply
Is it red = +5V, black = GND, grey = ¿PWM? - can’t find original fan to buy [don’t want to order from overseas] so trying to go with a 40mm 5V replacement, reusing the original connector.
facebook - Mar 30, 2017
No that doesn’t seem right. If someone knows the pinout with some certainty, please do tell.
Yevgney Sliosarenko - May 11, 2018
Reply
Here’s the fan pinout if someone’s going to splice in a new 40mm fan while reusing the original connector:
Black - Ground
Red - RPM signal
Grey - +5V
Ran across the pinout while splicing in a new 40mm fan because the original broke
Joshua Bishell - Mar 10, 2020
Reply
so, has anyone had any luck with replacing the stock fan with a noctua fan? I’m gonna try it myself and see if its any quieter since the stock fan is really loud
facebook - Mar 26, 2020
No luck for me with Noctua fan unfortunately. But I suspect some defect with the WiiU itself. All fans always run at full blast for me. Tried Noctua, and Aliexpress replacement part which looks like original also same color wires.
