Before condemning the compressor I would always go for the low hanging fruits first: - check for 240V in and out of the contactor under load - check the contacts on the contactor - check LRA while leaving the meter on max reading - trace every wire to make sure some idiot didn’t reverse a couple as it might very well be the case here - ohm out the compressor harness as there might a bad contact in it, it happened to me - try a new cap as some read ok but don’t work right under load - I used a start box to run the compressor in forward and reverse if it’s locked and managed to salvage some for years or just long enough to get a new one to swap. - check system pressure but you did that - if all of that fails then it’s a new compressor or system depending on age, condition and budget.
@@russellhltn1396 I believe that whoever looked at it prior to him coming there may have swapped leads on the cap. He says that purple is HERM but there is no purple lead on the compressor plug. Just Black Yellow and Red. There is however a purple lead on the fan. Can be seen at 7:50 in the video.
Yep, I was just fixing to comment to get a piece of 2x4 and a hammer and give it a good smack! I worked in Resort Motel/Apartments and saved several compressor change outs using that method!! We used A/C units until the coils were nearly bare of fins then scavenged anything remotely usable! These units were beachfront so usually only got a max of 5 years out of them!!
I just stumbled onto this video and was subscribed to the channel by the end. I appreciate the insight into actual field work. The troubleshooting you did was solid. Checking for logical points of failure is always better than drawing conclusions without investigation. Your methodology seems forensic in nature, even. The running commentary was exemplary. I was especially amused about the black widow balls. As soon as you mentioned that you didn't see a widow, my first thought was, "I sure hope it doesn't see you!" I suppose we think alike in that regard. As a residential cable technician, I encountered my fair share of creepy crawlies. Spiders, wasps and snakes are quite fond of the enclosures that we use for grounding blocks and splitters. The pedestals that cover taps also tended to be favorable shelters for them. It's interesting to see so many parallels between that low-voltage equipment troubleshooting and HVAC troubleshooting. Looking forward to more great content! Thanks for sharing, brother!
It might have been a slip up, but you said purple is herm, purple is common to the fan. Yellow is herm. I couldn't see where you hooked it to. That's the problem if you did use purple to herm..
Showing the old one next door, I just replaced my original Whirlpool A/C. It was new in 1982 when the house was built. Only thing wrong was she leaked down and was not energy efficient.
Not a tech, but my house has a 2013 Goodman and oh boy do you guys scare my wallet when you get to talking about them. When i moved in 5 years ago i had a tech come in and do a deep clean on the condenser and he also sold me a hard start too. I do my part by rinsing the coil twice a year without chemicals(sandy florida yard), keeping the drain clean, and using decent filters. Other than that it works great and hope my religious maintenance gives this thing a nice long life.
Curtis you get the best and craziest service calls ! It's always somebody's been there before you and done something weird. And it's stuff like that, makes you a great technician! Because you can figure out what the last knucklehead did And undo it!
I always thought that the "Goodman" name was ironic since most model's weren't that good lol. I'm guessing you will probably get that compressor change out. Don't forget to put an American made dual run capacitor in it and check amp draw on that fan motor when you go back. It appeared to hesitate on start up. Good video as usual Curtis!
I've put in over 1000 Goodman and have had the least call back of any brand I've sold including Trane, Carrier, York, Rheem and Lennox. Trane and York are by far the worst.
Purple lead doesnt go to Herm on Goodman units. The purple is usually from the cfm. Maybe I heard wrong but I thought he said purple on herm. Sounds like it was wired wrong. Also you never megged or Ohmed out the compressor. Verifying that wires are in correct designated spots and ohming out compressors/ motors should have been tested before even putting a hard start on the system. That’s my only complaint with this service call. You missed several key tests and possibly sold a compressor changeout that could have been an easy same day fix.
I noticed you said you couldn't find the screw that fell. Way back in the day when I was dad's "boy" one of my jobs was to use a magnet to find the screws he dropped. Are the screws made differently now or would a magnet still help you ? I know dad used to fuss cuz he said they was selling wanna be screws that don't tighten, they just twist and break off. I miss the days of being younger and helping my dad, I miss even more daddy still being here, damn covid ...
i think thats because it was pulling 68 amp on 10/2, voltage drop over the run probably caused that. though i agree, i would still have checked the incoming as well, just because
I enjoy your videos. I’m not in the trade, but learning after two full change out in 15 yrs. It seems companies here say it’s not reasonable to repair. I agree on my prior pile of York after spending too much to keep it going. Unfortunately, I’ve always gone for variable speed high efficiency. Probably worst mistake. 2-1/2 yr Carrier works good. I fear when it fails. I put surge suppressor on everything since guessing that is what kills the electronics. I do have to say, comfortable if variable speed AC or gas furnace is nearly always running, and bills not bad.
Amen to that on the repairs, no money on complete system upgrades. It's like selling a new walk in cooler or freezer, the only people making any money is the manufacturer/supply house and government/tax man/OG.
@@stevee7774 CRT television tubes are another thing you got to be careful about. Since they can also store enough voltage to take you off your feet. Usually at the point where the flyback transformer cable connects to.
You called purple herm. purple is common for the fan motor and yellow is herm. you may have just mis spoke if you didnt mis speak well thats your problem lady! I mean Curtis.
Please forgive me if this seems like a stupid question. . . If a compressor fails/locks, is there a chance that it circulated metal particles into the copper lines and/or into the compressor oil? I'm picturing the 'glitter' that appears in motor oil when there's internal engine damage. If yes, how do you clean the contamination out of the lines and/or evaporator coil so the new compressor doesn't get damaged?
That was a good, thoughtful question. Never fear asking a question, that’s how you learn. It’s when you should have asked, but didn’t is when trouble will find you.
Curtis been a long time since I saw this. But you can read proper MFD on capacitor and still be grounded or shored forgot pretty sure it was shorted Not trying to second guess you. You’re the tech that had a better view of conditions there
this measuring device, checking for leakage of refrigerant: which refrigerants can that detect? Like which R numbers? Or do you have to have separate measuring devices per refrigerant?
@ 3:49 you mention that purple is on HERM. This isn't right. Purple should be the fan lead and from the compressor plug it is either red or yellow. You can even see it in the video at 7:50. Might actually be the issue.
That’s most definitely the issue. Might have still needed the super boost , but it wouldn’t start correctly wired wrong. Also he condemned a compressor without even ohming out the windings. I’m a huge fan of this channel but he dropped the ball on this diagnostic.
I did not see a filter dryer outside. Did I miss it? With out those you can be running some bad stuff through the compressor and wear things out faster. I am sure you will add one when you are back! I have also now seen them installed inside to keep them out of the weather to help them last better. Thoughts on that? Take care Curtis 🇺🇸
Curtis, I know you enjoy repairs... But that Goodman is tired. Your (and your customer's) luck - next month the condenser blower motor will go out, or the contactor, or the capacitor. Change out the condensing unit and your customer gets more warranty; you get less chance of call-backs.
Doing an AC swap is way better money than a repair. You can do a swap in 3 hours and make some good money. A repair at that point is scraps. Plus you you have the peace of mind that down the line their condenser is gonna last well into the future and that everything is done right. He pretty much did everything I would do minus checking pressures. Or simply just tapping to make sure there’s refrigerant in the system. I know he felt the lineset but putting on your gauges really gives you a lot of information. I know some ppl are hesitant given the not knowing what contaminants are in the system but that’s what filter driers are for. Either way it’s rough when you get these kind of calls because sometimes customers aren’t willing to fork over payment for a new condenser and want simple fixes like changing out a compressor until you think about cost value and it’s simply not cost effective to change a compressor when you got a 15 year old condenser. It is what it is.
why would you not ohm, pressure and voltage test to all terminals a comp your recommending? i’ve seen several misdiagnosed comps because people where trying to start against back pressure, a wire was broken or voltage lacking at a terminal
I didn't see him ohm the compressor or confirm start and run wires weren't accidentally transposed...with the compressor plug half off I'd suspect that. You never know what was done by others.
Not much less than a new unit. By the time you buy the compressor, recover refrigerent, charge new refrigerent, torches, materials, labor time, you might as well put in a new unit. At least that will have a full warranty.
