I notice the temp in the house started going up despite being set low. Live in Texas and this year we are breaking all the heat records, so it doesn't take long to get hot inside. Inside unit appears to be fine, but the fan outside isn't coming on. I had my son turn it on while I was right up next to it and there is nothing... no noise, no click... nothing. The fuses are all in on position, and I did flip them all just to be sure, still nothing. I know zip about this kind of stuff... but we have had issues in the house with other breakers. Could this be a bad breaker or should I just call someone.

Could be bad breaker but could be a bad capicitor,in outside unit
Could be a broken low voltage wire that goes out to te ac
Could be a bad contactor in ac
If you are able to check out these items,(very carefully) beware electricity can kill
You could save some bucks

could be bad breaker but could be a bad capicitor,in outside unit
could be a broken low voltage wire that goes out to te ac
could be a bad contactor in ac
if you are able to check out these items,(very carefully) beware electricity can kill
you could save some bucks

I was able to find the little middle button on the contactor and push it on with a screw driver. Everything seems to turn on (as long as I hold it down), and the fan seems to be trying to turn... but doesn't get going. The button on the contact does not stay pushed in at all, as soon as I release pressure... everything turns off.

When the thermostat is calling for cooling the outside units contactor should pull in. If not you have a low voltage problem. To compound the issue when the contactor is pushed/pulled in the outside fan motor should run. Looks like you may have two problems.

The capacitor for the motor could be defective but the low voltage problem you will need to trace back to see where the fault is.