Here's the scenerio...

Yesterday afternoon, my condenser fan stopped running, but I could hear my compressor running and the relief valve was hissing.

Made a trip to my favorite supply warehouse, picked up a new fan motor and dual cap. Installed them and nothing. Well, the compressor kicked on and the contactor stuck shut. Shut off power, unhooked the fan and cap, and I can still see and hear the contactor energized. Took amp and voltage readings, nothing, but can still see and hear it shut. Shut off at breaker box, contactor released. Turned everything back on, stuck again. Went to warehouse again and got a new contactor, hooked it all up according to schematic, turned it on and... nothing. Contactor wouldn't pulldown. I pushed it in and the compressor kicked on, but not the fan and cap. I took amp and volt readings from the fuse box to the contactor, all normal, yet nothing is working. I don't want to think that I bought 3 faulty parts.

I've been doing HVAC for the past 2.5 years, but I seem boggled on this one and am drawing a blank at the moment. I really really really want to avoid getting a new unit or a compressor for obvious reasons.

The new capicitor you bought, does it match/is it what the new motor calls for
Example 35/5 or whatever,the bigger number has to be what the compressor needs to start

The smaller number has to be what the motor calls for,look on box motor came in or on the side of new motor

Yup. Replaced identical parts.

Here's the scenerio...

Yesterday afternoon, my condensor fan stopped running, but I could hear my compressor running and the relief valve was hissing.

Made a trip to my favorite supply warehouse, picked up a new fan motor and dual cap. Installed them and nothing. Well, the compressor kicked on and the contactor stuck shut. Shut off power, unhooked the fan and cap, and I can still see and hear the contactor energized. Took amp and voltage readings, nothing, but can still see and hear it shut. Shut off at breaker box, contactor released. Turned everything back on, stuck again. Went to warehouse again and got a new contactor, hooked it all up according to schematic, turned it on and.... nothing. Contactor wouldn't pulldown. I pushed it in and the compressor kicked on, but not the fan and cap. I took amp and volt readings from the fuse box to the contactor, all normal, yet nothing is working. I don't want to think that I bought 3 faulty parts.

I've been doing HVAC for the past 2.5 years, but I seem boggled on this one and am drawing a blank at the moment. I really really really want to avoid getting a new unit or a compressor for obvious reasons.



Revisit the entire process. You usually will not have one failure of a new component let alone all three. Your volt meter will be your best friend in tracking down the problem. I feel you have a wiring problem but with all the different units out there along with many different wiring methods make it just about impossible to write them all down here. I suggest you use the wiring diagram located on the back side of the service access door on the outside unit since they all have one located there as required by law. If it is missing then obtain one from the manufacturer by using the exact model number or do a search on Google to see if you can find one.

(quote) the compressor kicked on, but not the fan and cap.

You replaced the capicitor withan exact match
You replaced the motor
The duel cap you bought might be an exact match for the compressor,but not particular a match for the new motor
Most of time a seporate cap needs to be bought for the motor