My Optoma Projector Fan Locked: How To Fix This Issue?

Optoma is a company that makes high quality projectors, designed specifically to create a great fit for most projects that require a projector.

However, their unique design, as with any other piece of equipment or technology, can occasionally run into errors.

A common error is the fan getting locked.

But how does the owner fix this?

Potential Issues With Optoma Projector Fans

A projector needs a fan in order to stay cool. Without one, a projector risks overheating, which can damage the parts and cause the projector to stop working.

Having a fan to help create circulation throughout the projector is necessary for the health of the machine.

Optoma Projectors come in various models.

The first thing necessary is to disable the projector, enough to where you can visually see the fan(s).

Quickly test to see which fan is or isn’t working by powering the projector on. Projectors often come with multiple fans, however, one of the fans could be working fine while the other is broken. If a fan isn’t broken, you can save a lot of time and hassle by not touching it and only working on the fan with the issue.

Once you have determined which fan is having the issue, checking the surrounding wires around the fan to make sure none are loose or damaged. Oftentimes, unplugging and plugging back in wires will fix the issue. You wouldn’t have to completely take the projector apart for this – just enough to where the fan and wires are exposed and you can quickly check in on them.

Other issues could stem from something physically blocking the fan.

However, if the fan itself and the wiring seems to be in shape, then it could be an error with the board itself, or with the controller you’re using to control the fan.

Other solutions could be setting the projector to “High Altitude,” which users have reported can sometimes fix the issue of a fan lock.

Whenever trying to fix issues with your projector, it’s recommended to do what is called a “factory reset,” which resets the projector back to the original settings. Doing this along with a cleaning will make the projector as good as new again, with it being just how it was when it left the factory.

How do I reset my Optoma projector?

Resetting an Optoma projector can fix various issues.

Occasionally, a projector will run into an error through a myriad of ways, in which case, factory-resetting your projector could give it the restart that it needs. Depending on the projector, there can be multiple ways to do this.

The simplest way to do this is just by hitting the menu button, either on your controller or on the projector itself.

After going to the Advanced Settings, there is an option to restore the factory default settings. However, another way to do this is by entering Service Mode.

To enter Service Mode, first, turn on your projector, and when the logo fades, hit the left source button twice, then hit menu. Once in Service Mode, simply choose the “Factory Reset” option, hit “Yes,” and your projector will reset itself.

While factory resetting can’t fix any problem, it can sometimes resolve issues where the projector settings are causing malfunction.

Factory resetting can always assist you by knowing that the problem is most likely an external issue of something being broken or loose, or an internal issue where a piece or several pieces aren’t working correctly.

In any case, when running into an issue, it is always worth it to consider the possibility of resetting your projector to the factory defaults.

So, after cleaning up the fans and factory resetting, there’s still a final step to completely cleaning a projector. There is still that pesky dust that can cause a lot of problems.

How do I clean the dust from my Optoma projector?

Earlier, we mentioned the possibility of disassembling and reassembling your projector. While many people may be wary about this, as long as you are careful, it can be easy to do and very beneficial.

You may be asking yourself why disassembling your projector would be beneficial. Cleaning the inside of your machine can help it run smoother and eliminate the risks of a part getting damaged.

Dust inside a projector, and especially on a fan, acts as an insulator. This will lead to the projector heating up more frequently, which can damage parts and could lead to a projector no longer working properly.

Before taking apart your projector, be sure to have a screwdriver, pliers, as well as a clean work environment. Taking screws off of anything leads to the risk of a screw getting lost, so a flat surface to remove them can lower this risk.

Finding a guide that is straightforward and simple is essential to making a risk-free disassembly. For example, here is a step-by-step guide to disassembling an Optoma HD70 projector.

First, remove the lamp by loosening the screws on the lamp door, then pulling straight up. While doing this, be sure not to damage the lamp.

Next, take out the screws connecting the faceplate to the projector, then carefully lift up. There should be a cable that connects the faceplate to the board – pulling too fast causes this cable to bring the rest of the projector with it. Angling the board so you can see the cable, remove the cable.

Afterwards, rotate the projector to the other side and remove the screws for the backplate. Then, use the pliers to remove the bolts from the VGA port. Flipping the projector back to its regular state, remove the lid by pulling straight up. While doing this, be sure to do it gently!

There will be a ribbon cable that attaches the controls on the lid to the board. You’ll want to gently pull it apart. With the ribbon out of way, set the lid to the side and prepare for the last piece you’ll have to remove.

With the backplate screws already gone, taking out the backplate will be easy. Once again, simply pull up gently, making sure not to damage anything. Remove the screws that attach the board to the casing, and pull the board straight up.

With everything taken apart, it’s time to begin cleaning. Using compressed air to remove dust and any other harmful dirt, quickly clean up your projector parts.

Last update on 2023-05-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API.

Afterwards, it is just the process of following these steps in reverse order to put the projector back together. Once it’s reassembled, check to make sure everything is working by powering it on.

In the event that it doesn’t power back on, there was most likely a small error when putting everything back together. Repeating these steps to ensure you did it properly may take time, but putting a projector together can become easier with practice.

Cleaning a projector isn’t needed after every use, however, knowing how to do it makes for a routine cleaning very easy. A clean should be done every few months or so, just to make sure there isn’t any possible dust.