Is there a way to figure out the correct capacitance for my A/C unit? The start capacitor is missing, and nobody seems to know, or wishes to tell me what the capacitor is. If it's not possible to figure it out, if anyone happens to know the capacitor size for the start capacitor in a Carrier 38EN02431 is, I would greatly appreciate it if you could tell me....

Can you see where the capacitor is missing from??? are there wires hanging loose where they were once connected to a capacitor. Do you know if it was a duel capacitor or not. And one last question is this a capacitor for the compressor or the fan motor or both?

There are 2 capacitors in the system. ONE of them is a 5 MFD capacitor. I can see all the disconnected wires. I don't know (sitting here) which capacitor is which, but, if I remember correctly, the one that's missing is for the compressor..

If it is for the compessor it will be anywhere from 25-50 mfd. You can go, about + or - 10%, as this is the tolerance of most capacitors anyway, without much adverse effect. I would try to call a Carrier dealer or supplier in you area and ask them.