Re: [A/S] Air Conditioner on Fritz

Hunter,
If you can hear the rumble sound like when the heat pump is in defrost, that is a VERY good thing. That means that the compressor, which is the most expensive thing to replace, is actually working.

As you are NOT getting any air movement that indicates that the fan motor (there is ONLY one) is NOT running. That can be caused by several things.

The first is that dirt daubers may have built a nest between the squirrel cage and housing. You can check this by removing the shroud and reaching into the squirrel cage and attempting to spin it. If it resists and then breaks loose suddenly, look for the evidence of the dried dirt clods.

It could also be caused by bearing running dry and seizing. If you can get the squirrel cage to turn but it seems stiff, then get some oil down to the points where the motor shaft exits (both ends). I have had excellent results using Penzoil Ultra pure synthetic (5w-30) as its lubricating molecules actually bond to the metal. I have recovered small motors that were totally seized down and are still running two years later with no issues. I use a long bamboo skewer that I dip into the oil and then lower down to the motor shaft location. You will have to do this many times hand spinning the motor each time.

It could also be the starter capacitor on the fan motor. These things do fail and when the do, the motor will not start.

It could be that the fan motor windings have failed. This is unlikely, but a possibility

Lastly, it could be the relay on the control board.

Bottomline, every last one of these issues IS fixable and for way less than a whole new air conditioner. If you so go with a complete replacement, be aware that if your thermostat is a 4 button model you will have to replace it with the newer 5 button digital comfort control as the 4 button model is NOT compatible with the newer versions of the Heat Pump/AC. If you do decide to replace the AC unit, seriously consider the 15K model. It uses virtually the same power, but delivers 1500BTU more heating and cooling.

David T.
On May 8, 2012, at 7:38 AM, Tony Turner wrote:

>
> On May 8, 2012, at 7:14 AM, Hunter Hampton wrote:
>
> The fan doesn't run....... all I hear is that its on... no fan. When I
> turn it back off it makes the same noise that it does when the heat pump
> has to defrost and I turn it off instead.
>
> Hunter
>
> ——————————————————
> I think you should get a good A/C guy to look at it. Sounds like the motor isn't able to start… could be a bad starting capacitor? Could a stick or something have blown in and jammed it?
>
> Good luck!
> Tony
> 2000 Airstream Classic 28'
> 2009 Chevy Duramax / Allison
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