Generator on my central air unit stopped

[dualism]

It keeps trying to kick on every 10 mins or so.

I called a place near here and he said it's probably overheating.  Is there anything I can do without spending a couple hundred bucks?

I can get the model #s if need be, I know it's a Ducane, just need to know how to go about opening it, and I have to figure out how to cut power to it.

Thanks

[Rrey199]

 I'm assuming you mean that the compressor wont start.

Let's start with some basic questions.

Does the fan inside the outdoor unit (condenser) turn on?

If so, is the compressor trying to start, IE humming/buzzing briefly, and then giving up?

If not, what is it that tries to start every 10 minutes?

and.... To cut power to the unit, find the outdoor disconnect box and either pull out the handle or turn the switch off. Also, since you are in unfamiliar territory, I would urge you to find the circuit breaker that feeds it and turn it off as well.

Better to be safe than to be pickin a beneficiary!

Get back to me with the info & I can probably help you through it. (Model & serial #'s not necessary)

[dualism]

The fan on the top of the unit is on.  As far as any other fan, I don't near anything.

The compressor appears to try to start every 10 or 20 mins.  It shakes the unit, but isn't able to start up.  Sort of makes me think of a lawnmower trying to start.

[Rrey199]

 Not a good sound. It sounds as if the compressor might be bad. As I'm understanding, it makes a racket briefly, then kicks off again?

That sounds like a mechanical failure inside the unit. The compressor kicks off because it tripps the internal overload.

You can try to hook up a start booster to the compressor to see if you can get it to kick over, in case the noise is liquid refrigerant flooding back.

OH, also is the compressor round as seen from above or is it kinda oblong shaped? The round is a scroll compressor, the oblong is a reciprocating compressor.

A Startbooster, otherwise called a HardStart Capacitor goes for about $15 at a supply house and is easy to hook up. I would give that a try first.

[dualism]

It's sort of oblong, like a cone shape.

[dualism]

Just had someone come look at it.  The compressor is bad and needs to be replaced, since it's a 10 seer unit he said i'm looking at $1000 to get it replaced, with a 13 seer, which would include replacing stuff inside the house as well.

What is my best avenue here?  Money-wise.

[Rrey199]

   You might get a new compressor for 1K, but I don't think that will get you a new 13 seer condenser. Certainly not a new air handler as well. The 1K is even low for the new compressor, but maybe that's what it is near you. In my area, a compressor swap out would run 1,800 or so. Double check the estimates.

[dualism]

One guy offered to do it for $1000 cash to do it.  The guy doing it right now is doing it for $1200 on my CC.