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Replacing the fan on the AirPort Extreme A1521 requires a fair amount of disassembly; note that there are many small screws to keep track of. The fan keeps the device from overheating while in use.
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Using a metal spudger, gently pry the cover off the bottom of the device.
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To detach the small clips from the connectors, place the flat end of the plastic spudger underneath the clip and gently lever it away from the center of the device.
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To detach the large clip from its connector, place the flat end of the spudger on the clip and lever it upward out of the connector.
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Using two fingers, pinch the power supply wire and gently lift it upward. Move it away from the metal plate.
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Next, unscrew the four 3.3mm T8 Torx screws and remove the metal plate.
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Remove the T8 Torx screwdriver head and replace it with the 60 mm extension; then, add the T9 Torx head.
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Loosen, but do not remove the two screws at the bottom of the 1.2-inch wide gap in the middle of the internal structure.
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Using only your fingers, gently compress the internal structure and pull evenly upward to remove it from the white case.
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Rotate the internal structure so that the white ports are facing away from you.
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Three 8.2mm T8 Torx screws connect the fan to the internal structure. Unscrew all three.
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To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
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Thanks for the guide. My 4-year old A1521 gave me a flash warning light. I fired up the utility app and it said the device was overheating. I put my ear against it and couldn’t hear any noise. I opened it up as shown here, removed the outer casing and powered it up, confirming the cooling fan was not spinning. I found quite a bit of resistance when I turned the fan by my finger. I had some 0W-40 fully synthetic motor oil laying around. I opened the fan up just by pulling the fan blade unit up and lubricated the shaft with the motor oil. And it worked out beautifully. The fan spins quietly and I get my green light back.
I should say the most tricky part was the step 1. I used a dinner table knife to open the base. Later in the process I did break a fan shroud clip. But the fan was hold tightly together with the screws in the end so it didn’t do any actual damage. It wasn’t a particular hot day, but without the fan the device did become warm and the internet speed was noticeably slowed down.
does anyone know of a good place to get a replacement fan (AirPort Extreme A1521 Fan Replacement)? Any insight is greatly appreciated.
Yes I`m also interested in a replacement fan
You can find replacement fan on ebay. The part is labeled as BSB0712HC-HM01 and it costs about 24 USD. Before replacing try oiling the shaft of the fan (pull it up straight! - oil the shaft, not the mechanism!) - it worked for me.
The manufacturer of the original OEM fan in my Airport Extreme is SUNON. It can be found on eBay. MG60121V1-CO1U-S9A is the part number on the one I extracted from my Airport. SUNON MagLev, DV12V, 4.20W.
