A/C outside fan not running

[Kamal]

When we switch on the A/C (or just the fan), the unit inside the house
comes on but the outside fan does not run. Importantly when the A/C
unit is switched on or off, we can hear the "clicking" sound in the
outside unit. Also power seems to be coming to the outside unit (this
was checked by a handyman) but fan does not turn on.

Air being blown through the vents in the house can hardly be felt and
it is not cool.

Any ideas what could be wrong. The handyman who came to check the unit
didn't have all the diagnostic tools but he felt that maybe either the
capacitor or the compressor is defective. He says he cannot say for
certain yet and is going to bring more diagnostic tools day after
tomorrow.

From the description I have given above, can someone suggest the
reasons for the problem ? Also, I think the handyman guy may be trying
to fleece me. Is there something I can look over his shoulder or are
there any questions I can ask him that can help figure out the real
problem (and prevent him from unnecessarily replacing the part that
doesn't need replacement) ?

 

[Ken Weitzel]

Kamal wrote:

When we switch on the A/C (or just the fan), the unit inside the house
comes on but the outside fan does not run. Importantly when the A/C
unit is switched on or off, we can hear the "clicking" sound in the
outside unit. Also power seems to be coming to the outside unit (this
was checked by a handyman) but fan does not turn on.

Air being blown through the vents in the house can hardly be felt and
it is not cool.

Any ideas what could be wrong. The handyman who came to check the unit
didn't have all the diagnostic tools but he felt that maybe either the
capacitor or the compressor is defective. He says he cannot say for
certain yet and is going to bring more diagnostic tools day after
tomorrow.

From the description I have given above, can someone suggest the
reasons for the problem ? Also, I think the handyman guy may be trying
to fleece me. Is there something I can look over his shoulder or are
there any questions I can ask him that can help figure out the real
problem (and prevent him from unnecessarily replacing the part that
doesn't need replacement) ?

Hi...

Almost certainly the cap. Was my turn year before last

Ken

 

[LASERandDVDfan]

When we switch on the A/C (or just the fan), the unit inside the house
comes on but the outside fan does not run. Importantly when the A/C
unit is switched on or off, we can hear the "clicking" sound in the
outside unit. Also power seems to be coming to the outside unit (this
was checked by a handyman) but fan does not turn on.

If this is for the compressor unit and not the furnace/fan, then there are two
possibilities that come to mind. One was mentioned as being a capacitor.

However, I think it is more likely that your A/C unit's fan motor is worn out.
What can happen is that the motor can begin to overheat and its onboard thermal
protection breaker may trip, cutting power to the fan motor.

Do not operate the A/C unit until this problem is fixed. Operating the A/C
unit without the fan to cool the compressor unit can damage it. It is advised
that only a trained and certified A/C technician should perform the diagnostic
and repairs. Your unit might also require a recharge after the repair to
account for any refrigerant loss due to possible venting from overheating. -
Reinhart

 

[Rheilly Phoull]

"LASERandDVDfan" <laseranddvdfan@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20040424231602.13628.00000332@mb-m21.aol.com...

When we switch on the A/C (or just the fan), the unit inside the house
comes on but the outside fan does not run. Importantly when the A/C
unit is switched on or off, we can hear the "clicking" sound in the
outside unit. Also power seems to be coming to the outside unit (this
was checked by a handyman) but fan does not turn on.

If this is for the compressor unit and not the furnace/fan, then there are
two
possibilities that come to mind. One was mentioned as being a capacitor.

However, I think it is more likely that your A/C unit's fan motor is worn
out.
What can happen is that the motor can begin to overheat and its onboard
thermal
protection breaker may trip, cutting power to the fan motor.

Do not operate the A/C unit until this problem is fixed. Operating the
A/C
unit without the fan to cool the compressor unit can damage it. It is
advised
that only a trained and certified A/C technician should perform the
diagnostic
and repairs. Your unit might also require a recharge after the repair to
account for any refrigerant loss due to possible venting from
verheating. -
Reinhart

Hmmm, where does the gas "Vent" from ??

--
Regards ........... Rheilly Phoull

 

[James Del Mul]

The handyman who came to check the unit didn't have all the diagnostic
tools but he felt that >maybe either the capacitor or the compressor is

defective. He says he cannot say for

certain yet and is going to bring more diagnostic tools day after
tomorrow.

That is a a big possibility. I work in apartment service and have had more
caps blow then fan motors. You can look at the cap and see if it is swollen
at all. That is a good sign that it is dead. But it could still be dead even
if it looks great.

When the contactor clicks on outside does the compressor start? If it does
not start at all then the cap is probably going to be the problem. Most AC
units have a dual cap that starts the fan and compressor.

If the compressor does come on then the problem is probably with the fan
motor.

 

[James Del Mul]

Hmmm, where does the gas "Vent" from ??

--
Regards ........... Rheilly Phoull

The compressor has a high pressure relief valve.

 

[kofi Mpengya]

"Rheilly Phoull" <Rheilly@bigpong.com> wrote in message news:<c6g06r$bjo7q$1@ID-151145.news.uni-berlin.de>...

"LASERandDVDfan" <laseranddvdfan@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20040424231602.13628.00000332@mb-m21.aol.com...
When we switch on the A/C (or just the fan), the unit inside the house
comes on but the outside fan does not run. Importantly when the A/C
unit is switched on or off, we can hear the "clicking" sound in the
outside unit. Also power seems to be coming to the outside unit (this
was checked by a handyman) but fan does not turn on.

If this is for the compressor unit and not the furnace/fan, then there are
two
possibilities that come to mind. One was mentioned as being a capacitor.

However, I think it is more likely that your A/C unit's fan motor is worn
out.
What can happen is that the motor can begin to overheat and its onboard
thermal
protection breaker may trip, cutting power to the fan motor.

In addition to the above you can also try this: First disconnect
the fan from the mains (don't forget to mark the wires for
identification when fixing back).Check the continuity of the leads to
know which is start and run l suppose the fan is a single speed. After
this identification get a new AC mains test line from say a socket
outlet and connect as was on the old board using a new capacitor of
similar rating.If this work, remove the new cap. use the old cap to
see if the problem is coming from the cap.If both does not work then
ya motor may need servicing. Best of luck

Do not operate the A/C unit until this problem is fixed. Operating the
A/C
unit without the fan to cool the compressor unit can damage it. It is
advised
that only a trained and certified A/C technician should perform the
diagnostic
and repairs. Your unit might also require a recharge after the repair to
account for any refrigerant loss due to possible venting from
verheating. -
Reinhart

Hmmm, where does the gas "Vent" from ??

 

[Joe Smith]

Also had fan to go out.
joe.

Ken Weitzel wrote:

Kamal wrote:

When we switch on the A/C (or just the fan), the unit inside the house
comes on but the outside fan does not run. Importantly when the A/C
unit is switched on or off, we can hear the "clicking" sound in the
outside unit. Also power seems to be coming to the outside unit (this
was checked by a handyman) but fan does not turn on.

Air being blown through the vents in the house can hardly be felt and
it is not cool.

Any ideas what could be wrong. The handyman who came to check the unit
didn't have all the diagnostic tools but he felt that maybe either the
capacitor or the compressor is defective. He says he cannot say for
certain yet and is going to bring more diagnostic tools day after
tomorrow.

From the description I have given above, can someone suggest the
reasons for the problem ? Also, I think the handyman guy may be trying
to fleece me. Is there something I can look over his shoulder or are
there any questions I can ask him that can help figure out the real
problem (and prevent him from unnecessarily replacing the part that
doesn't need replacement) ?


Hi...

Almost certainly the cap. Was my turn year before last

Ken

 

[No Spam Please]

When we switch on the A/C (or just the fan), the unit inside the house
comes on but the outside fan does not run. Importantly when the A/C
unit is switched on or off, we can hear the "clicking" sound in the
outside unit. Also power seems to be coming to the outside unit (this
was checked by a handyman) but fan does not turn on.

Air being blown through the vents in the house can hardly be felt and
it is not cool.

Any ideas what could be wrong. The handyman who came to check the unit
didn't have all the diagnostic tools but he felt that maybe either the
capacitor or the compressor is defective. He says he cannot say for
certain yet and is going to bring more diagnostic tools day after
tomorrow.

From the description I have given above, can someone suggest the
reasons for the problem ? Also, I think the handyman guy may be trying
to fleece me. Is there something I can look over his shoulder or are
there any questions I can ask him that can help figure out the real
problem (and prevent him from unnecessarily replacing the part that
doesn't need replacement) ?

Could be any number of things gone wrong in there. Could have had a fuse open
in if it is an older install. Could be a breaker in a disconnect you have
overlooked. Might be wiring connectors gone bad. Could be some sort of safety
lockout in the A/C unit's circuitry due to low freon. Could be a bad
compressor, but the fan would probably power up even if the herm didn't.
Appears to be common problem to two different ac motors. So, what do they have
in common? Could have lost the power to the unit. Could be the contactor (A/C
speak for a big power relay) or the thermostat or it's LV transformer that
powers the contactor. But it is probably the cap. Probably the most fragile and
hardest used component in the cabinet. Sometimes the cap for the herm and fan
are separate devices. But, usually the cap is a dual value with 3 terminals.
One is the common (com) one is the fan (fan) the other would be the compressor
(herm). Easy enough to check that out if you have a DMM with cap function. BUT,
to a person that does not know enough about mains powered devices to know the
basic failure points of an A/C unit, poking around inside the cabinet,
especially outside, on the damp ground, is a recipe for an untimely funeral.
Get yourself a real AC service person, not a "handyman". If you are unsure
about the diagnosis. Ask the service person to leave the "bad" parts for you.
Check them out with a third party or wait until you develop the skills
yourself. A misfortunate connection between the power in the box and an
electrical ground, through you, will be a very unpleasant experience that you
probably will not live through.

Marc
Not an A/C tech and wouldn't want to be one.