I have a RUUD 10 SEER AC outside unit. The AC repairman put in a capacitator temporarily so that the unit would still work that had more OHM. I asked about this because I was concerned that this could cause damage. He assured me that it would not as the original capacitator was not available and had to be ordered. The temp he put in remained in the unit for about 4.5 days. I did notice that the unit was louder while running than it had been before during this time.

The orginial capacitator was put in two days ago but the unit still continued making a louder noise. The fan stopped working last night and I went out and felt the top of the fan on the outside it was hot. I turned it off for a while and it came back on. It went off again. I turned the unit off and then back on later and it came back on.

The original capacitator is a MFD 35.0 / 3.0 370 VAC 50-60 Hz. The new one he put in is a 35.0/3.0 400 VAC and is a little larger in size. When I called the AC man I asked if this would cause the problem one being 400 VAC and he assured me it would not. I then asked if when they put in the temp that was more OHM would this have created a problem and he said he did not believe it would because it was only a temporary fix until the new part came in. Now he says it sounds like the fan motor and would cost about $375.00 to replace. I need your advise on this one as I would not like to be chasing money after money for repairs.

The higher voltage is not a problem, the motor may be what caused the capacitor to go bad, the bearings may be bad and dragging down the motor.

Replace the fan motor. It was going bad to start with and he tried to save it by using a new capacitor. If I would have been there the motor and capacitor would have been replaced in my first visit to repair the unit. The 440 volt capacitor is just a different voltage capacity and can be used to replace a 330 volt one. BUT you cannot replace a 440 volt one with a 330 volt one. Have him put the motor in and be cool again.