I recently notice my lights dimming about every 5 minutes, and then noticed my cental air unit was not cooling. The outside fan runs but the compressor doesn't not. About evey few minutes it tries to kick in but can't. Any idea on my problem

This sounds like a similar situation:
https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/heating-air-conditioning/c-not-run-209772.html

It is a pretty cheap fix, if this is what it is.
WallyH

Is there a separate capacitor for the compressor? The fan runs fine, and I hear the compressor trying to kick in every few minutes, and that is when the lights dim


Thanks

Is there a seperate capacitor for the compressor? The fan runs fine, and I hear the compressor trying to kick in every few minutes, and that is when the lights dim


thanks
There is a separate capacitor for the compressor, but it may be combined with the fan capacitor into one unit. You can tell by the number of terminals on it. If it has 3 terminal, it is a dual unit. Here is an example (http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/2GE97).

Best of luck,
WallyH

Replaced the capacitor and that didn't fix it, I have a feeling, this one is going to cost me an arm and leg

Thanks for trying