A/C condenser fan issue

[Roscoe]

Got to the farm late last night and it was hotter in the house than outside. AC set to 82, actual was 88. Inside fan running. Outside compressor running but fan was not and of course outside unit was pretty hot. I cut everything off for about 10 minutes while I got flashlight and tools. Turned system back on and went outside. Compressor running, fan was not. I thought run capacitor so I used screwdriver to turn the fan and get it going and off it went, but it did not sound "right" or seem like it was running at full rpm. After less than a minute the sound of the fan motor began to change and loose rpm's. With my hand I wrapped on top of the fan motor and it picked back up for 15-20 secs and then started to slow again. I did this several more times and each time the fan was getting slower. It was clear that it was not going to keep running. I went inside and cut the system off and headed home. It was late and was dog tired.

So, have I got a fan motor burning out or something else? Thanks!

[SB09]

Yea, the fan motor is going out in my opinion.

Edit: Guess I was wrong!

[Larry]

I just went through this. It was the capacitor. I was fearing the fan motor was out, as well. At first I could spin the fan to get it going, but it was much slower than the unit next to it. Eventually the fan wouldn't spin at all with a jumpstart. Service guy replaced the capacitor and that was all it took. We had to cool the compressor back down, though, before it would come back on. Thermal override saved my hide on replacing the compressor.

Looking back on it, I could have fixed it myself. Replacing the capacitor is easy if you do your research and get the right one. I gladly gave up the $75 home warranty deductible though knowing it was fixed right.

[treestand]

You can set a box fan on top of the condenser as a temporary way to get some cooling until you replace the fan.

[elhefe]

It sounds like a capacitor to me as well. The fact that you could spin the blades to engage the motor is what leans me towards capacitor issue.

[Roscoe]

You can set a box fan on top of the condenser as a temporary way to get some cooling until you replace the fan.

Ha! Never thought of that.

[Roscoe]

It sounds like a capacitor to me as well. The fact that you could spin the blades to engage the motor is what leans me towards capacitor issue.

I thought so to until it slowed back down. I dang sure rather it be capacitor than motor. :-)

[Jethro]

We had this happen about two weeks ago. On ours it was the actual fan motor and not the capacitor. But I did have another unit this spring that the problem was the capacitor. So, either way. On the one where it was the fan, if you tried to turn it by hand the fan was stiff, and wouldn't spin free like they normally do. If it is fan motor bearings they may be getting hot then it slows down and quits.

[Niko]

You are going to have to replace the capacitor and the fan motor. I tried to skimp on a fix like this and just replace the capacitor. Well within a month the motor fried and blew out the month old capacitor as well.

[Roscoe]

We had this happen about two weeks ago. On ours it was the actual fan motor and not the capacitor. But I did have another unit this spring that the problem was the capacitor. So, either way. On the one where it was the fan, if you tried to turn it by hand the fan was stiff, and wouldn't spin free like they normally do. If it is fan motor bearings they may be getting hot then it slows down and quits.

Fan spins very easily by hand. I just barely flicked it with screwdriver to get it going.

I'm going to replace capacitor and go from there.

[FLASH_OUTDOORS]

Fan spins very easily by hand. I just barely flicked it with screwdriver to get it going.

I'm going to replace capacitor and go from there.

This will fix it

[txoutdoorsman24]

Yep sounds like the fan is goin/gone out. Winding are probably bad. Replace it and the capacitor and you'll be good to go.

[Roscoe]

I have a capacitor in hand. That's all that's getting replaced this go round and I'll go from there. I appreciate all the advice.

[txoutdoorsman24]

Any good news

[Roscoe]

Any good news

Gonna head back up there after work tomorrow.