I have a five year old 2500 square foot house in the desert of California.Where it’s over 100 everyday. The A/C units warranty is expired already, and it has probs….. When the thermostat tells it to turn on ,it ‘clicks’ on…The A/C unit buzzes but it doesn’t start. If you spin the propeller manually ( a little flick with a stick or screwdriver ) It spins up to speed -no problem,and cools the house, but , it does start this whistling noise that sounds a little scary. I thought the prob . was the motor so I replaced that.But it does the same thing….. I’m a carpenter NOT an A/C guy.I’m on a very, very tight budget with this economy and a 40 gallon tank to fill on my truck. Wondering if it’s something I could do myself or if I have to call a pro. Any suggestions from you all out there would be appreciated.
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
Skim-coating with joint compound covers texture, renews old drywall and plaster, and leaves smooth surfaces ready to paint.
Featured Video
Highlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
you need a new capcitor for the fan motor,cost less than 10. at your local motor repair plac.larry
if a man speaks in the forest,and there's not a woman to hear him,is he still wrong?
Hire someone to flick the stick?
Sounds like a bad start cap. or a bearing freezeing up from lack of oil.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
"We strive for conversion,we get lost in conversation, and wallow in consternation. "
Me.
Yeah, a bad start capacitor for the fan motor, assuming the fan motor isn't sticky from lack of lube.
Like everyone said--- you got a bad capacitor.
You replaced the motor, but not the capacitor???
You need to go back to your supply house and get the correct capacitor for that motor.
The old capacitor probably has a different voltage and MFD rating.
If you have a dual run capacitor--- one with 3 terminals (no problem)
The top of it will be labeled
Fan
C or Common
Herm
Hook your fan wire to the new capacitor. Then install a jumper from the C terminal to the new capacitor.
Save your old motor for a spare.... it probaly still works.
Check these sites: repairclinic.com, inspect-ny.com, hvac-for-beginners.com. Repairclinic is well organized. Hope this helps.
Thanks to all you , I 'm going down to get a new start capasitor.........Thank God, cause I thought it was the "Flux capasitor" ,But then again .." What the hell is a jigowatt?"
need a new capcitor for the fan motor
Or a new current relay (disconnects the cap after the motor has started to run), buy the cap first (the internal leds corrode open more often than the current relay fails) and if it still does not run, replace the relay.
PS: a jigowatt is your wife's scottish boyfriend???
Gigawatt = 10^9 watts.
Edited 6/24/2008 5:13 pm ET by junkhound