Air Conditioning - Running out of DIY ideas; help, please? (A/C Fan Stops)

Ok ... a couple days ago the A/C contactor quit closing/making contact. So, I strung it up and let it run for the night. That morning, with thermostat set to 76 and thermostat fan seeting at "on" (not auto to prevent freezing over) interior temp as 79.

I went outside and outside fan not running. I released the contactor. Since then: I have indoor fan running and temp set low on thermostat. I go outside and turn on unit (contactors) and it'll run for about 15 minutes and then the outdoor fan stops and I turn it off.

I have replaced the contactor switch and the capacitor. contatcor switch still not operational by itself. Local parts store says it is likely 24v issue and broken wire to contactor switch BUT this doesn't explain the fan stopping every 15 minutes and being really hot (it'll burn you hand hot). And compressor/condener is pertty hot too.

it produces the cold air so long as it is running outside but once that fan quits so does cold air. If I let it cool for about 10 minutes it'l;l start right but up like all well (but for the contactor being "manual")

Help? Do I actually have two problems?

It is Rheem, 03/1995 unit.

Bad fan or capacitor and high pressure switch needs to be reset? Look for a red grommet near the copper pipes or a switch inside the condensor on high pressure line with a button on it. Rest button and see if contactor works. Fix fan problem and away you go.

Bad fan capacitor? I know you said it is new but I just replaced a new one today that was bad.

Ill go with the store. When you try to go into things like this it pays to have a meter and a amprobe .
First did you have 24V at the contactor or not?
Could be tstat, wires, high head reset then the contactor.
"I go outside and turn on unit (contactors) and it'll run for about 15 minutes and then the outdoor fan stops and I turn it off."

Id say amp out the fan . Sure sounds like you need a new motor. I take it that the compressor was running from what you say.

ED

ED

And the final key to the equation, once all was said and done, is that the parts store sold me a 120v contactor instead of 24v so there was no way it was goign to click on .. once it did it was very apparent the fan motor was bad ....

cool house now!

thanks

Thats why I like to say to a DIY .Take the part with you to the store to get a new one .

ED