Hi, 

I have an approved RMA due to my card overheating (I believe due to the pump failure, or coagulated fluid around the heat sink fins in the loop) but i didnt ship yet due to the high cost of shipping where I moved. Its around 110-130usd to ship not including insurance.

I hear grinding type sounds, and my temp in games goes to around 88-90 and it throttles. One line is hot, other is cold. When I shake the rad lightly you can hear the fluid move a bit, gush, and then temps move, but they go back to 88-90. Im thinking its either the fluid has coagulated around the fins on the heat sink in the loop.
 
I am weighing my options,
1. add the line to an older large CPU water cooling unit from antec,
2. cleaning the fins that I think are stuck (similar happened to another AIO cooler), this involves opening the cooler and will likely void the 1 year warranty I have left.
3. or just sending the RMA and getting the same card or the 2080 xc like other ppl (im on a 3440x1440p alienware so I appreciate the extra vram in the 1080ti for hires mods). 

What are your thoughts? Just rma? Clean the fins? Or is the pump broken and this AIO wont work even if I fix it - thus id have to attack to another loop at least that has a pump.
Had the card ~2 years without issue.
Thanks
Alan

Yes ive removed the dust to ensure the airflow, however as both of us mentioned, with one line hot, one cold and the rad generally cold, the pump messed or gunk in heatsink is not letting the heat be removed.

I would not buy a new solution, simply clean the AIO and if the pump was broken join to my other larger antek cooler with 2 pumps, an older AIO cooler. Would take me around 4 hours id guess (plus would have to get proper fittings for the cutting the lines). That way the heatsink stays on the gpu, same with memory coolers and fan, Im just slicing the lines to join to a larger pump assembly. Question is, is the risk worth it at this point. Without any other videos/info on the forums about opening up the asatek coolers the oem (from their site I assume the pump is directly on the heatsink mounted on the gpu) I am pausing to think and thought to post on the forums for some feedback. 

Generally if I was adding in coolant I would likely add car rad fluid + tap water and not be concerned in general except after ~1 year. However, without more details of repair from others I will likely pack it up and check a few places to find the best shipping. 

One other thing. On the RMA info for the package it mentioned 2" of spacing around the card... however, in the original box with styrofoam, there isnt even 2" of spacing when they shipped it to me. Was a bit confused on that.

Upon checking the links you both posted, tomorrow I may spend an hour re tightening the screws which hold the pump fixture to the card. I read some of the youtube comments on some who had heat issues. I dont think mine is the same but it is possible. I have a hot line and hear vibration noises which started with my card overheating a couple months back.... maybe the screws came loose holding the sink to chip on the card. Ill report back after checking.

me id RMA it .. i wouldnt take a chance of opening it up and trying to clean it and it never work at all ..

Took off the cooler shroud, manipulated the pump/rad, didnt matter, seems the water not flowing, overheating after the line heats up. Other line and rad cool, though the pump unit is vibrating, seems as mentioned by sajin, the impeller is bad. 

Noticed in another thread ppl getting back 2080xc in place of the 1080ti, with my monitor (3440x1440 120hz) it seems I will ask for the 1080ti to be shipped back and not the 2080xc (theres a thread in warranty on the performance comparison at higher resolution - tldr vram limited at higher res in 2080xc cant keep up with the 1080ti).

With my new location I have to send to taiwan. Now its pack up time and find the cheapest courier.
 
Thanks for the help guys

FlyingFish73
Without hijacking the thread, does anyone know what pump the hybrid kit uses and if spares parts are available?

My 1080Ti FTW3 is fitted with the hybrid kit and is close to coming out of warranty, with no sign of the kit being stocked anywhere nowadays. If my pump fails I'm a bit screwed 🙁

I think it is the Asetek gen 5

Sajin
Sounds like a faulty pump impeller.

I thought about this but am leaning more towards build up of gunk. One line remains generally cold while the other is very hot, so I think there is some small suction/push, but debris has built so much the flow is too little to remove heat. No way to know unless opened.

For the warranty you can change coolers/thermal paste but I guess you cannot open an AIO to inspect otherwise warranty void?

Alan1080ti
For the warranty you can change coolers/thermal paste but I guess you cannot open an AIO to inspect otherwise warranty void?

Correct.