Tivo Series 2 - Cause of high pitched buzzing?

Does it sound like an "electronic" noise? A very high pitched whine kind of like a camera flash charging or an old CRT TV set?
I suspect you could be hearing something from the power supply. A faulty component could be making "electronic" noise.
Can you distinguish where the noise is coming from in the Tivo (left or right side, near the front or back)?

One thing you can do without opening the box is to use a wooden toothpick to carefully stop the fan from spinning. If you still hear the noise, you've eliminated the fan as the cause.

To investigate further, you would need to be willing to open the box. If you decide to do this, BE CAREFUL.
* THE POWER SUPPLY HAS EXPOSED LIVE PARTS *

Pull the plug to power down the Tivo before you open it. You will need a Torx T-10 screwdriver.

To eliminate the hard drive as to the cause of the noise, unplug the power connection to the hard drive. Power up the Tivo. Do you still hear the noise? If so, you have eliminated the hard drive as the cause.

Edit: My money is on the hard drive. Your description of high-pitched "buzzing" makes me think *bad bearings* in the hard drive motor.

cjorgens said:

Hi unitron,

My old Humax DRT400 has a fan that has been driving me crazy with its noise. Could you please post or PM instructions on how to re-lube the fan.

Thanks for the help!

Click to expand...

Get a little tube of light grease like fishing reel grease from a sporting goods store or ignition lube from an auto parts store and some light oil like 3-in-1 or sewing machine oil.

Remove the fan from the TiVo.

The fan blows out the back of the Tivo toward the non-blade side of the fan.

That's the side you want.

There's a round sticker.

(there may be one on the blade hub as well, but ignore that side)

Use maybe an X-acto knife or similar and lift one side of the sticker.

Underneath is a hole into which the axle of the blade assembly sticks through the bearing.

There may be a rubber plug in the hole as well.

Remove the plug if necessary, put a drop of oil in the hole, spin the blades, and then use a Q-tip to get out most of the old gunk.

Then put some of the grease in the hole, push down on the hole with your thumb to create some air pressure to force the grease in while turning or spinning the blades, then add a little more oil and then pack in a little more grease while spinning the blades.

Put the plug back in if there is one, and wipe all of the excess off of the top, maybe even use some rubbing alcohol, so that you've got a clean surface for the sticker to re-adhere to.

The oil is too thin by itself, but it helps make the grease slipperier and to flow between axle and bearing better.

If the sticker won't stay down, use a teeny drop of glue.