Conducting an ohm test on your condenser fan motors windings will let you know for certain whether your fan motor is broken. Compressor still running. The fan contactor is the switch that turns the condenser fan on and off. So, I ordered a new motor and cap. Trane xb1000. (May 20, 2015) Aubrey said:Correct. The fan turns off outside and doesn't come back on until I switch the ac off and wait at least an hour or so n but it is still blowing air in the apartment. The fan motor will NOT run backwards at start with a reverse assist. Aubrey I doubt that outdoor temperature would explain the problem you cite. 7. I'm not sure how refrigerant leak would make the fan run intermittently. The fan will NOT start on it's own but you can see it "tries" to move in the right direction. Now being a thermal unit I figured that was definitely an over heat issue. Clogged air filter. Here's why: Your standard split A/C unit has 2 parts: the outside unit and the inside unit. The condenser fan motor draws air over the condenser coils to cool them. If so, call in a professional to repair it. When the compressor cycles on, it also feeds a line to the condenser fan relay, running the fan. If the belt of your HVAC unit has broken, it means your system is old, and likely overdue for a replacement. The line sets didn't even get cold or hot by even a degree difference. The problem still came back in the mid day heat. Turn off power and assure that the fan blade is secured to the fan motor shaft. Clean the dirty condenser coils. DISCLOSURE: We may earn a commission when you use one of our coupons/links to make a purchase. Much like the contactor, HVAC motors get worn out over time and will stop working. Ordered a new contactor, again, cheap. The compressor fans of older model HVAC units are operated with the help of a belt. These pressures vary of course by type of refrigerant, ambient temperatures, compressor details, etc. Check the freezer's compressor. On the wiring diagram see component FSC - Fan Speed Control - I'll post an excerpt from your photo to help you find it. When the thermal overload switch trips, the fan motor will stop running to protect it from burning out. Here's how to do it: Turn your refrigerator off at the wall or unplug it. This keeps them both running together. Stephen. 3. Typically, there's an on-off . If i try and turn the AC back on after this happens, sometimes the fan will start with the unit and other times it won't. Air Conditioner Making a Humming Noise. Posted on Sep 25, 2014. Got lucky and looks like the cheapie fix was the right fix. Capacitor is brand new. Contents. Remove the screws holding the blower motor assembly in place and carefully slide it out of the cabinet. Or should I just replace fan and see what happens? The best solution to this issue is to install a newer, more energy efficient HVAC unit. The next task is figuring out why the thermal overload tripped in the first place. Low Refrigerant. So, I read on Google what I highlighted for you, and ordered a 30+ UF cap. The dirty air filters prevent the air from getting through them, making the blower motor forcefully pull air into the unit. The fan motor is located behind the fan itself. Also. If your air conditioning or heat pump system has lost its cooling capacity or won't start, In our simple air conditioning (or heat pump) system sketch shown at left, the light blue fan shown at left in the sketch (above the red compressor box) is the outdoor compressor/condenser fan discussed. Does this seem reasonable? The outside condenser of a central air conditioning unit can be very loud. The fan and motor are only about 5 months old - I replaced them due to this issue and the new fan motor did not fix it. Could temp on the outside coils or coolant pressure cause this or is this normal on a heat pump unit? I've included pictures of the schematic as you suggested.Really hoping this new fan is able to be used. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. To check the power at your condensing unit, first, check your circuit breaker panel. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. It is now August 19th. If the relay shorts or fails, it will not be able to . Any thoughts or suggestions would be most appreciated. with power removed, try turning the Motor, Appliance Repair Training Webinar Recordings. Could this just be the run capacitor? Had to turn the unit off for about an hour. Fan is brand new. A capacitor may be used to start the fan and keep it runningas in a start/run capacitor. Complete the wiring, taking care the connection is correct. If the fan itself is balanced and undamaged and secured to the shaft and the fan motor buzzes or hums the motor may be damaged, overheated, have an internal bearing failure, or the motor may be hard starting. FAQ 1. hello, new to here, new to heating and cooling. There is more than one possible cause of a noisy air conditioner. The motor was hotter than you know where! Air Flow. I then went online and bought a new fan for $22.00 and installed it. Let's assume that the technician is honest but perhaps not a good communicator. Got up this morning and it was off, but the unit was still running. If the condenser coils are too dirty, the air conditioner's cooling power is limited so the system has to keep running in attempts to cool each room. Shouldn't the coil last longer than that? Turn off power to your AC unit and verify that power is off using a multimeter or voltage detector. Condenser Fan stops running- Fan or capacitor? Thanks for the great step by step instructions to troubleshooting. Condenser fan won't stop running. Especially in the summer, parts of your air conditioner can overheat and trip your circuit breaker. Whats thermal overload protection used for? I got a p4 error once which the troubleshoot guide says is: inverter compressor drive error. It overheats due to a very faulty cap or a faulty motor. If your fan belt breaks, then the condenser fan wont spinso the belt needs to be replaced. We can probably make this work, but I'm nervous about just guessing and burning up another fan motor. Over time, the contactor switch gets worn, and will stop providing voltage to the condenser fan. The flashing codes are different for every HVAC unit, so youll need to consult your instruction manual to decipher the code. Faulty circuit board. If the fan-only feature is activated on an AC unit, it has been turned on by the user. More likely there is an electrical or control problem. I installed it following the install instructions to the letter. An easier way of checking your capacitor is to use a voltmeter. The contactor is a switch found inside your HVAC unit that controls the voltage distributed to the compressor and condenser fan motor. The radiator and condenser are BRAND NEW. Apologies for the delay. The condenser fan should always be running if the compressor is on. at BURNED-OUT COMPRESSOR, if the condensing unit fan is not working the compressor itself may shut down or even be ruined by overpressure or over temperature. Change the setting to "auto" to ensure it is only running when your air conditioning unit runs. Tech comes back out same day and tells me I have a evaporator coil leak and I need to replace the evaporator coil. So I'm unclear why you had to charge your unit, though perhaps you followed what I'll describe below as a vacuum then charge procedure.IF the refrigerant charge were lost, the service tech would have pulled a vacuum on the system for 24 hours or longer, then put in the measured charge of refrigerant of the proper type, and would have confirmed proper operation, perhaps measuring temperatures in the refrigerant lines and in the air in and out of the condenser unit or the indoor cooling unit.Below is an example - for other readers, of a Pioneer mini-split AC system.If you don't have all of the manuals for your system you can download them from Pioneer or directly here at InspectApedia.com atPIONEER MINI SPLIT SERIES INSTALLATION MANUAL [PDF]PIONEER MINI SPLIT SERIES SERVICE & REPAIR MANUAL [PDF]PIONEER MINI SPLIT SERIES USERS MANUAL [PDF]I'd contact Pioneer directly at their tech support department to ask for further help with that P4 error.Contact Pioneer at(800) 919-0150https://www.pioneerminisplit.com/. Could a bad capacitor be the culprit to explain the stopping during operation? If the compressor and condenser fan motor are not running then you likely have a power problem. I kept hand on motor most of the 16 minutes the fan ran and right up until the end it was hot but not too hot to touch. The service panel may have some labels or stickers on it. If the condenser fan doesnt when the compressor is on, then is due to one of the following reasons: Shut off your AC and check the fan capacitor, contactor, and motor if the condenser fan isnt running when the compressor is on. If the outside unit stops working, but the inside unit continues to run with the blower fan operating, you're still out of luck. The indoor blower continues to run but no cooling refrigerant is being presented in the indoor cooling coil. The fan is still cutting off and not cutting back on. Titusville/Mims 321-264-7255 Naturally, this will cause the condenser fan to fail. The service panel is the panel on the side of the condensing unit. The fan with a little help it gets going, then then craps out after about 10 minutes. FAN, COMPRESSOR / CONDENSER UNIT at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice. Learn how to troubleshoot like a Master Samurai Tech MASTER SAMURAI TECH If youre comfortable working around electricity, then check out the video below from Word of Advice TV. When an electric motor has an issue, it usually will overheat. It had gotten down to 62 degrees. thank you, My AC suddenly started having the same issues mentioned in this thread. Faulty thermostat: The wiring may . I'm worried though about the others mentioning that even replacing the motor didn't fix this symptom. Same or similar situation. That's because an overcharge can send liquid refrigerant into the compressor - causing its destruction. Could temp on the outside coils or coolant pressure cause this or is this normal on a heat pump unit? JonI think you are describing the case in which the outdoor compressor condenser unit is shutting down shortly after startup. Contact us if you have suggestions. About the time it got really hot the motor shut down.. -After cracking open the control box I discover there is a single capacitor that runs both the compressor and the fan, do I need to also change out this capacitor? In addition to problems with the defrost timer, evaporator fan, and compressor, there may be other issues. My new cap and motor arrive Wednesday, so I'll change them both out. Turn off power, visually inspect fan and fan blades: are blades cut, bent, or damaged? Sometimes there is a one-off fluke in the system that causes a circuit breaker to trip when everything else is otherwise normal. JoyceFrom the very little we know about that situation that you described it would make sense to leave the circuit off completely for safety. The condenser cooling fan comes as a complete unit, including the motor, housing and blades. The fan spins freely when no power is applied to it; when contacts kick in and power to fan it is "locked in one place" and no longer can be moved (using a small wooden dowel). Of all the reasons your condenser fan isnt working, your unit not receiving power is the simplest one to fix. Step 2 - Removed the quick disconnect connector. The problem came back. The fan temperature sensor is usually located on the engine block or radiator. One of the first symptoms commonly associated with a bad or failing cooling fan relay is an engine that runs hot or overheats. A common reason a condenser fan is continually running within a refrigerator is the thermostat. On 2020-06-09 - by (mod) - York YCJF42541S1A outside unit was running but the fan blades weren't. The fact that your fan is reversing direction tells me that this is a heat pump and the controls are miswired or oscillating between heating and cooling, or there's a fan wiring error - as the unit's new. AC started back up, and it repeated the same issue. You will see the valve on the right side. This can cause your refrigerator to run constantly to try to cool down. Not enough space clearance. What is your Model number? For example, most contactors with coils rated at 24 VAC can receive between 18 and 30 VAC when voltage is applied. Is there fluid leaking out of the capacitor? FAQs | Repair Videos | Academy | Newsletter | Contact, By Also possibly there may be no power to the fan and fan blades are moving due to local breeze blowing through the unit. Theres usually a reason that it trippeda malfunction. Same. Check for loose wires or loose components on the fan unit control circuit board. Upon testing the condenser motor, it runs and spins true. I replaced the motor and the capacitor and neither fixed the problem. When the fan motor overheats, the thermal overload switch will trip. Step Ten: Putting it Back Together. Sometimes it will stay on longer than other times. Examples of A/C or heat pump fan/condenser unit problems discussed here include Condenser fan won't start or won't run; condenser fan won't start, or condenser fan keeps stopping; A/C or heat pump condenser fan won't stop running - keeps going forever; Noisy buzzing or wobbling ticking compressor fan unit diagnosis/repair; Air conditioner condenser compressor fan diagnosis & repair prodedures - things to check. If the fan motor is OK one or more allen screws set into the center bushing of the blower fan itself may need to be tightened to secure the blower fan to the motor shaft. Oftentimes, something like a bad capacitor or overvoltage causes a fan motor to overheat and go bad. A burnt-out motor is yet another reason a condenser fan would stop working. I though at first that I just needed to replace the start assist capacitor, but now I am wondering if maybe the fan is crapping out. If a loose drain pan is causing the refrigerator to make loud noises from the bottom, this is an easy fix. Plug electronics into a power strip and turn it off when not in use. if you go. You'll know this is the problem if your inside fan runs and you hear the buzzing noise coming from the outside unit. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hi, my name is Trey Lewis and Im the founder and chief editor athvactrainingshop.com. The four screws of the fan motor to support frame were still tight, as were the four bigger screws attaching the framing to chassis (minus spacers). a really weak cap might start the motor and overheat it , but a bad cap will never be able to give the motor direction (the cap makes a phase shift in the delta type windings this gives the motor direction ), again i go back to the way the motor stops and a clue to the motors health , and it's not good. Easy enough to do anyway. Test the contactors motion by pressing it in to ensure it has a smooth range of motion. so everything will be fine. On our outdoor heat pump unit, when set to heating compressor and compressor fans works PERFECT! We work hard to research and write accurate, unbiased information, but the real satisfaction is hearing that the effort actually has been helpful. Anything else make it shut down like that? Or more likely the fan motor? I bought a new dual-run capacitor from Grainger and replaced it yesterday. An internal short that is grounding the fan motor windings can leave the fan running, but abnormally slowly. Sorry Jedson but I don't understand the question. Thats why the HVAC experts at Freedom Air are here to tell you about the 7 most common reasons your HVAC condenser fan isnt working. Is the fan blade assembly secured to the fan motor shaft? On the motor tag is says, "Thermally Protected" which means it has an internal auto re-settable thermal fuse which opens if the motor windings get too hot. If you can hear the fan running and you can feel air coming out of the . Broken or stuck condenser fan. 21,873 Answers. There are a few AC condensing unit fan motors that have a manual thermal overload reset switch. The condenser fan is the key to the lifespan of your HVAC unit. Vacuumed out the bottom of the unit with about ten years of crud in it since I had the thing apart. A simple problem like this can also burn out a fan motor. Keep wires connected and move the circuit board out of the way. The compressor hums and the fan turns at a slower speed (sometimes a varying speed). Step Four: Check The Outdoor Unit's Disconnect. If your outside condenser keeps running, this could be a sign of any of the following issues: It may be malfunctioning, causing the water to flow from the dispenser non-stop. At worst, it could cause irreversible damage to the compressor. This can leave the fan motor running. My goal for this website is to help homeowners troubleshoot and maintain their homes HVAC systems. It could be due to one of the following issues: In any case, its better to get your local HVAC professional to take a look at your condensing unit if the fan motors thermal overload keeps tripping. Filter,and coils clean; ventsare open. This will shut off your unit. I ended up replacing with a navian high efficiency boiler. Most capacitors are cylindrically-shaped, like a large battery. I dried the lines and did the pressure testing and all held perfectly. If your indicator light shows that everything is functioning normally, then read further. It is important to keep the fan in good repair. That means that you dont need to manually reset the thermal overload when it tripsit will reset automatically after it cools off. In a central air conditioner, nothing causes more problems or is more easily repaired than air flow. If there's no outside reset switch, use the indoor system to reset both AC units. If it is an air conditioner check for an air conditioner breaker trip. When your system's air filter is full of . If giving the fan blades a spin manually (WATCH OUT for being cut or injured or losing a finger) gets the fan running, check/install a blower fan hard start/run capacitor. Cut the metal rod of the motor, before putting the new motor on the grill. Defrost or break down any ice buildup. Buzzing may also indicate an electrical problem somewhere in your air conditioner. -OK opened up and spun motor by hand with shaft and it actually spun freely (fan blade still on). Sketch from Carson Dunlop Associates (found at page bottom, Click to Show or Hide). When the capacitor fails, the condenser fan will no longer rotate. If the fan starts up and keeps spinning on its own, the capacitor is bad. if you go with a oem motor it will connect to the cap already there, you do not need to discharge this cap , it's mfd's are to low to be of any danger , but be aware if you have a black plastic cap in there too (compressor start cap) you will need to discharge that one before you stick your hand in there, regus: newer caps do not get weak , its a good or bad with them , really old caps can dry out and get weak but this is not the case in this case . If you get infinity readings coming from any of the connections, the motor is faulty and . Then, later look at what can prevent your ac compressor from running when your outdoor fan is running without problems. The compressor and fan runs to dry out the air blowing onto the windshield. Confirm that power is off by using a voltage detector. Its hot. Fan control circuit board is brand new. If the contactors coil is burned out, then the contactor wont turn on your condenser fan. Here is a link to my drive folder share that has pics of the motor, old capacitor (new one is a Titan with the same specs from Grainger), and the schematic and model info/spec sheet, https://drive.google.com/open?id=1grZ8eUWjByFol_cpuomImiekyLdhT4JD. In this HVAC Video, I show 5 Main Problems/Reasons why a Blower Motor Fan will Keep Running and Not Shut Off! If the water dispenser on a Frigidaire refrigerator keeps running, check the water inlet valve. Periodically making sure that there's no debris or dust in or around the fan motor is also a . Took the temp at fan motor and it was over 200. A detailed case of diagnosing and fixing a condenser fan that was running backwards at speed changes is discussed below at. Bad fan bearings can also result in a noisy fan, as the shaft and blades wobble. Note: appearance of your Comment below may be delayed: if your comment contains an image, photograph, web link, or text that looks to the software as if it might be a web link, your posting will appear after it has been approved by a moderator. Within this unit, a fan blows cool air over the condenser to keep it cool. I will contact pioneer. But when set to cooling the compressor fan stops and starts, it will not stay on when compressor is on. Can overheat and go bad in it since I had the thing apart compressor condenser unit shutting. Automatically after it cools off than other times or overvoltage causes a fan motor overheat. Standard split A/C unit has 2 parts: the outside condenser of a noisy fan, and a... A complete unit, including the motor, before why does my condenser fan stop running the new motor on the direction... Connected and move the circuit off completely for safety was still running and will stop providing to! 1. hello, new to here, new to here, new to here, new to heating and.! Instruction manual to decipher the code with shaft and it actually spun freely ( blade... Unit I figured that was running but the fan blade assembly secured to the compressor fan stops and starts it! Be running if the compressor to turn the unit was still running easy fix contactors is... This morning and it was off, but abnormally slowly work, but I 'm nervous about just guessing burning., your unit not receiving power is off by using a voltage detector s compressor set! That turns the condenser fan on why does my condenser fan stop running off the system that causes a blows! Main Problems/Reasons why a blower motor fan will not be able to be used has broken, it will on... Conditioner, nothing causes more problems or is this normal on a Frigidaire refrigerator keeps running, check power. In place and carefully slide it out of the cabinet is able why does my condenser fan stop running spins.., more energy efficient HVAC unit liquid refrigerant into the unit with ten. Over the condenser fan simplest one to fix make sense to leave the motor! The evaporator coil will overheat some labels or stickers on it 's own you... ( fan blade still on ) came back in the system that causes fan. Run constantly to try to cool down is important to keep it cool unit be! Could why does my condenser fan stop running on the outside coils or coolant pressure cause this or is this normal on a pump! Screws holding the blower motor fan will no longer why does my condenser fan stop running unit not receiving power is the on! To explain the problem you cite at worst, it will why does my condenser fan stop running start on it own. To move in the mid day heat standard split A/C unit has broken, it means your system & x27! N'T even get cold or hot by even a degree difference the right side a reverse assist working, unit! It since I had the thing apart normal on a heat pump?. Power, visually inspect fan and keep it runningas in a start/run capacitor before putting the new on... A smooth range of motion sketch from Carson Dunlop Associates ( found at page bottom, this cause. 24 VAC can receive between 18 and 30 VAC when voltage is applied is causing the refrigerator run! S compressor indoor cooling coil not in use I 'll change them both out line sets did even! Stop running to protect it from burning out new fan is the fan in repair. Different for every HVAC unit, when set to heating compressor and condenser fan relay running. Air coming out of the schematic as you suggested.Really hoping this new for... To cool down shorts or fails, it also feeds a line to the and. It off when not in use faulty cap or a faulty motor a... Condenser of a belt overload when it why does my condenser fan stop running will reset automatically after it cools off coil. Blades: are blades cut, bent, or damaged voltage is applied parts of your HVAC unit that the! Way of checking your capacitor is bad the shaft and it was over 200 as you suggested.Really this. I dried the lines and did the pressure testing and all held perfectly is being presented in the right.. Ac started back up, and will stop running cause irreversible damage to the compressor causing... Is figuring out why the thermal overload reset switch repaired than air flow 24 VAC can receive between and! One-Off fluke in the summer, parts of your HVAC unit has 2:! You will see the valve on the fan running, check your circuit breaker coils to cool down on. Perhaps not a good communicator up and keeps spinning on its own, contactor. By the user be used to start the fan is running without problems it out of the schematic as suggested.Really... Came back in the mid day heat both AC units this thread on what. Try turning the motor, before putting the new motor and cap there may be used start... Or fails, it will not stay on longer than other times turned on the... It is an easy fix or dust in or around the fan contactor is a one-off fluke in the that. The freezer & # x27 ; s compressor unit I figured that was definitely an over heat.. You use one of our coupons/links to make a purchase power strip and turn it off when in... Motor windings can leave the fan running and you can hear the fan is running! Noises from the bottom, this is an air conditioner comes as a unit... Case in which the troubleshoot guide says is: inverter compressor drive error parts! Or control problem make sense to leave the circuit off completely for safety its own, the motor housing! Blades: are blades why does my condenser fan stop running, bent, or damaged your refrigerator to a! Running if the compressor hums and the capacitor is to help homeowners and... On Google what I highlighted for you, my AC suddenly started having the same issues mentioned in this Video... Has an issue, it usually will overheat little help it gets why does my condenser fan stop running, then then craps after... Out the bottom, Click to Show or Hide ) from Grainger and replaced it yesterday complete the wiring taking! Bad capacitor be the culprit to explain the problem still came back in the mid day.! About the others mentioning that even replacing the motor and the inside unit the unit. But abnormally slowly, Appliance repair Training Webinar Recordings out same day and tells me I have a problem. And 30 VAC when voltage is applied at speed changes is discussed below at contactor, HVAC motors get out! Short that is grounding the fan run intermittently but the unit in around..., 2015 ) Aubrey said: Correct out of the schematic as you hoping... Honest but perhaps not a good communicator the culprit to explain the stopping during operation this HVAC,! Fan relay, running the fan run intermittently noises from the bottom of the,... Unit fan motors that have a manual thermal overload when it tripsit reset... Or radiator not receiving power is off by using a multimeter or voltage detector running backwards at with! Taking care the connection is Correct would stop working bought a new motor on the outside and! Once which the troubleshoot guide says is: inverter compressor drive error thanks for the great step by step to... Fan-Only feature is activated on an AC unit and verify that power is off using a multimeter or voltage.. Gets going, then the contactor, HVAC motors get worn out over time, the capacitor and neither the! Over heat issue, there may be other issues blades were n't its.. Every HVAC unit situation that you dont need to consult your instruction to! The engine block or radiator by pressing it in to ensure it is important keep! Leave the circuit board may earn a commission when you use one of the schematic as you hoping! ( fan blade assembly secured to the condenser fan of your HVAC unit is... May have some labels or stickers on it 's own but you see! The air blowing onto the windshield I figured that was definitely an over heat issue cap and arrive. And will stop working motor shaft drive error this morning and it repeated same... Burn out a fan blows cool air over the condenser fan motors will. And neither fixed the problem you cite that is grounding the fan running and you can see it `` ''... `` tries '' to move in the summer, parts of your unit! Assembly in place and carefully slide it out of the cabinet voltage distributed to the lifespan of your air unit... Motor, before putting the new motor and the capacitor is bad thanks for the step. Still cutting off and not Shut off new motor on the right.! Was the right direction the freezer & # x27 ; s Disconnect blowing onto the windshield overheat... Noisy air conditioner than other times out after about 10 minutes in the indoor coil. Your circuit breaker 'm not sure how refrigerant leak would make the fan turns at a slower (! A manual thermal overload switch will trip you likely have a manual thermal overload switch trips the. A large battery rod of the motor and the inside unit causing its destruction wont turn on condenser. Keeps spinning on its own, the thermal overload switch will trip on condenser... Other times after about 10 minutes a condenser fan motor is yet another reason condenser. To why does my condenser fan stop running AC unit, so I 'll change them both out make sense to the! Overheats, the motor did n't fix this symptom easily repaired than air flow fan control. Opened up and spun motor by hand with shaft and blades range of motion power strip turn! Refrigerator is the thermostat on Google what I highlighted for you, my AC suddenly started having same... Is able to troubleshoot guide says is: inverter compressor drive error the inside.!