My a/c unit just stopped working. The fan blows inside just fine but I noticed it would not get cool.. after awhile I checked the unit outside to make sure it was running. Turns out the fan outside was not moving. It makes a buzzing noise every once in awhile but the fan just won't turn on. Funny part is that we have used it once or twice this year and the a/c worked fine.. Ive searched all over on what this could be and no luck. Does anybody with a/c experience know if this is just the motor to the fan? It obviously gets electric to the unit because of the buzzing noise but the fan just won't turn.

Any advice would help. I would rather not pay the repairman to come out if its something simple.

Thanks

Could be a bad Capacitor.

So you think I should try replacing that first?

Their cheap enough, and quick, and can't hurt.
With power off, with a stick, does blade on fan spin free?

Thank you... yes the fan blade spins free when I push it. Does this mean the motor is no locked up and should be OK? About how much do capacitors run?

Look through here:
compressor capacitor, Home Garden, Electronics items on eBay.com (http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=p3907.m38.l1313&_nkw=compressor+capacitor&_sacat=See-All-Categories)