Air Conditioning - Bad capacitor or fan motor?

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chronicman420
08-14-08, 07:32 PM
When i turn on my ac, the handler comes on, but the outside condenser does not. It makes a buzzing sound and the fan does not move, if i push the fan, it will start up and run, but not at full strength. after 10-20 mins. it will stop again. Is my problem a capcitor or the fan motor. the motor did seem pretty hot. please help i live in S.FLA at my house feels like a furnace. thanks

Jarredsdad
08-15-08, 05:38 PM
Capacitor is shot, don't run it.

How are you with electricity?
k1rod
08-20-08, 11:54 AM
Actually, it might be the motor. If it runs for a few minutes then kicks off, it's likely the thermal cutoff in the motor is tripping. When it cools down again, you can then get it going again for a few minutes. The thermal cut off can trip for lots of reasons but bad bearings in the motor is a common one. I would spin the blade by hand and see if it really spins freely. If it feels even a little bound, the motor is shot.

Gunguy45
08-20-08, 12:17 PM
k1rod
Already fixed, had the same post in another thread. The clue was the condenser didn't start and the fan would run with a push. Thats an almost sure sign of a bad cap.