[handymom77]

After two days away, we came home to a hot house and noisy AC. Called around. Got a young kid to stop by. He said we need a new fan motor and capacitor. He 'jump started' the outside unit and set the thermometer to 60 so it will cool till he comes back tomorrow. If he can 'jump start' it doesn't that mean the fan motor is okay. It's my understanding that the capacitor is like a starter. Please educate me; I already gave him a check for $600 and I just don't feel right about it. Also, when I asked him it the motor could be under warranty he brushed me off with no explanation other than, "No, it's not."

[hvac1000]

Exact brand and model number of both inside and outside units?

Date of purchace? Copy and attach purchace invoice if possible.

[handymom77]

Unfortunately, I do not have invoices as the unit came with the house and we are not the original owners. I do know the house was built in 2004. Both inside and outside units are Yorks. The inside model # is F2RP036H06B. The outside model # is H2RC036S06A. Thanks.

[hvac1000]

Here is an exploded view of the parts in your unit

http://www.yorkupg.com/PDFFiles/035-...001-C-0902.pdf

Here is the part number for your motor

024-27596-000

Google search for motor price

Patriot Supply - 024-27596-000

York Coleman FAN MOTOR 1/4 HP 02427596000 024-27596-000 - eBay (item 370174795705 end time Sep-13-09 10:48:44 PDT)

Read these notes!

I have NO idea how anyone could jump start a motor if it is really defective.
As you can see the price of the motor is about 170.00 and that is IF YOU NEED IT.
Add 10.00 to 15.00 for a new capacitor that goes with the motor
ALWAYS replace the capacitor when replacing a motor.
The motor might not be bad it could be just the capacitor that is defective.
At this point you do not really know what is wrong with the unit since as I said before a defective motor cannot be JUMP STARTED.
You gave him $600.00 for what? NEVER pay until the unit is repaired properly and you have a invoice stating exactly what parts were used,the price of the parts,the price of the labor,and the price of the service call.
ALWAYS ask for the old parts off your unit back. They belong to you and this way you can be sure they were replaced.

This is standard advise I give to all folks in your position. What you do from here is your decission.

Always remember all companys that are in business deserve to make a profit if they do good work. The amount of profit depends upon the area in which there business is located,the amount of overhead they have,the cost of doing business in your area,etc. I have no idea what items cost in your area and any part prices just reflect the price that you could possibly pay for that item. It does not include shipping,warranty considerations,labor and many other items that go along with this type of work. Also Saturdays,Sundays,Holidays always cost more since the service people (workers) demand to be paid more $$$.

[handymom77]

Thank you for this information! As I said before, we had just returned from being out of town. I have and infant and toddler. I felt like I was in between a rock and a hard place and the tech knew it. I have called the company back and asked to speak to someone in charge. Since it is a holiday, the check is still pending so I think I have some bargaining ground. Also, when I picked this company from the phone book, I did so because I was told there was not an extra charge for weekend/holiday work. As a small business owner myself, I understand paying an appropriate price for skilled work. I'm just concerned that this price either includes skilled work I don't need or is made up all together. I will report back about what happens today. PS My AC has run all night and it is now freezing 67 degrees in here. The tech said it would be no problem to run it all night because he was replacing those parts...

[handymom77]

Well, the office manager has called a few times getting the story straight. They are going to make the repairs and give me my check back. The new total is $518.00 which is better than before.

[hvac1000]

Good luck.

[acsjoe]

Lets face it the motor will cost under 100.00 and the capacitor for the fan under 10.00. If he jump started the motor that means he spuned it around with his screwdriver if it stayed running the capacitor was bad. So that would be 10.00 for the capacitor 45.00 for the service call and another 75.00 for labor. Any more than that and you are being taken advantage of.

[thermalmedics]

Epic rip off call - sorry to hear it

Stuff is still going on all the time

Try to get a database of good tradesman and contacts. Plumbers , electricians, a/c guys. They are out there you just have to find them and I guarantee they are not in the phone book. Someone has to pay for those big ads.

[hvac1000]

The original post is from 2009. I hope by now his unit is fixed.

[thermalmedics]

Agreed, but the classics never get old.

People who read this tale: Do 10 minutes of research BEFORE you let your fingers do the walking - not after the bill is in your hand and the break lights disappear down the street...

[Frank Mangrum]

epic rip off call - sorry to hear it

stuff is still going on all the time

try to get a database of good tradesman and contacts. plumbers , electricians, a/c guys. they are out there you just have to find them and I guarantee they are not in the phone book. Someone has to pay for those big ads.

I agree 100% with thermalmedics--Right on! Frank

[handymom77]

Well, long time no see. It's been four years, almost to the day, since my outside unit gave me grief. The technician did fix it but about a month later I was awoken by a terrible noise outside. I turned off the inside thermostat and when I got outside, the zipties holding the wires above the fan had broken loose and where being hit by the fan. I re-tied them with more zipties and have since put more zipties out there from time to time... I cannot wait for ya'lls comments about the zipties, I'm almost positive that was not the right way to do it.

Anyhow, like I said, it's been four years and guess what it's making funny sounds again. They are different now; almost like the fan is loose or off center. My question is this: I saw how to pull the breaker so I won't get shocked. To inspect the fan for myself, what should I look for? Also, does anyone know if it's possible to upload a video?

Thanks in advance. I'm trying to prevent the trouble I went through last time...