How to Fix a Loud Nintendo Wii

When a friend of mine popped in a copy of Super Smash Brothers for a quick round last week, I was somewhat surprised. The game ran great, but his Nintendo Wii was running loud--it sounded louder than my first generation Xbox 360, and that's really saying something.

I've had a lot of frustrating problems with video game systems, and this didn't really rank high on the list, but over time I became curious as to why a Wii would be so loud and whether the noise could be damaging the system. One day, I headed over to my friend's house armed with a can of compressed air and a screwdriver. Here's a quick guide to making your Wii run quieter with the same tools.

The Problem. A Wii becomes loud when something's obstructing the unit's fan or when the fan is working harder than normal to cool the system. This can be bad news in the long-term, because when a video game system can't cool itself down to the proper temperature, components overheat, melting solder and causing all sorts of electrical issues. My friend's Wii had already displayed a few video problems, and I'd venture a guess that if his Wii kept running in an overheated state, it'd eventually break.

Luckily, fixing the problem is as simple as clearing up the fans. You can take a can of compressed air and spray it through the system's fans, located on the back of the device. Make sure to hold the can upright, as compressed air cans release a harmful cooling substance when held upside down.

That's not always enough, because sometimes dust and other contaminants have really gotten deep into a system. Sometimes, you'll need to take the Wii apart at least partially, but this voids your warranty and it's a bit of a complex process, so don't attempt this unless you're the adventurous sort. A guide to taking a Wii apart is located here.

Other issues. After the Wii's fan is has been blown out with compressed air, it should run much more quietly. If it doesn't, there could be a problem with the fan itself. Replacing a fan is complex and should be handled by Nintendo support or by a third party repair service unless you're comfortable with soldering. It's a pretty easy process to figure out (one fan's removed and the next is installed with the same wiring), but I haven't actually attempted it, so I can't help you if you've decided to go that route.

The Wii's disc player can also be fairly loud. This happens due to contaminants, again, but a complete fix would involve replacing the disc drive--a process that's about as expensive as getting a professional repair. Don't consider this unless your Wii's disc drive isn't working properly, and don't try the compressed air trick with the disc drive. You could throw off the drive's calibration, which will lead to operational issues.

Blowing out a Wii's fan should fix most noise problems and allow the Wii to function properly for years. If you have any questions about the process or if you have more tips for keeping a Wii quiet, post in the comments section below.