HVAC Help

The a/c condenser fan quit working on my home's HVAC system. After a reset, the compressor will turn on just fine. The fan blades and motor shaft spin freely, but the housing is super hot to the touch. It seems like a pretty straightforward replacement job, including the dual action capacitor, but I'm wondering what would make the motor give out without a seized bearing or something similar? Carrier Tech 2000 SS model for reference.

 

No AC tech here, but most of what I've seen (besides big component failure) is control wiring/circuit board failures.

 

Have you tried spraying the coils down with water?

High head pressure will prevent the fan motor from starting.

 

Wouldn't high pressure prevent compressor startup, not fan?

 

No circuit boards on that model.

OP, test the relay of the fan. The fan's job is to help reject the heat in the condenser coils.... no fan operation will not cool the hot coils...... hence the unit is hot.

 

Correct

 

On closer inspection, I found the capacitor seal was leaking, so I'm assuming dead capacitor. I have a new one on the way.

As for the relay, there is only one. It controls both the compressor and condenser fan. Since the compressor was still starting, I'm hoping the condenser fan was just in thermal overload.

 

Replaced capacitor and all is well. So far, so good.