Quote:TMD ... Youtube is like a repair bible, you can learn to fix everything on youtube, except a flux capacitor. I think.
I have around 70 ish repair video's on youtube .... because I can fix 70 things in total. Most of them pertain to the female body, the other 69 are not. 
I see what you did there... :yes: also TMD how often do you change your filters? clean it out?
Quote:Anyone familiar with this sort of thing happening?
I'm guessing replacing the compressor isn't even cost effective at this time and I'll have to shell out the friggin dough to buy a brand new one, right?....
I had the exact same problem, ended up being a solenoid. Like 700 installed.
Sucks awful
After reading homebiscuits post, I have to correct myself and say capacitor.
Quote:I see what you did there... :yes: also TMD how often do you change your filters? clean it out?
Well, being this is a standard wall unit, you never have to actually change the filters, just clean them regularly, which I did.
Anther vote for complete replacement. You could probably fix it but the repair cost will not justify having a 20 year old cooler in comparison to the replacement costs IMO.
Quote:You're only looking at about $350-$400 to replace it. I saw a LG 12000btu at the Home depot for $349.http://www.homedepot.com/p/LG-Electronic...5yc1vZc4lu
Yeah, and if you want cheaper than that, you can take a chance on buying a used one off of Craigslist or from a used appliance place.
Personally, I'm going for the new unit just so I've got the warranty.
Quote:I have faith...I'm sure you could fix a flux capacitor too! 
Cool, can I piddle around with yours for a few hours?
Just to make certain I understand how one that still operates properly is supposed to function.
Go to Ferguson, Mo. Craigslist.....a few cheap ones there. Refurbished and removed from various places.
Also TMD, it is probably a 220v unit, make sure one of the 110v legs of the breaker switch didn't trip. Typically they are tied together, but I would at least check.
For the relative little amount of cost, if the unit is bad, you may see a pretty quick return on your investment. If you can hold out, you should be able to pick one up at a discount heading into winter. My buddy bought a unit for his automobile shop that was 50% marked down a couple years ago. He asked me to keep my eye out for one, and I happened across what I thought was a good deal, so I called him, and he had me pick it up for him.
Quote:Also TMD, it is probably a 220v unit, make sure one of the 110v legs of the breaker switch didn't trip. Typically they are tied together, but I would at least check.
For the relative little amount of cost, if the unit is bad, you may see a pretty quick return on your investment. If you can hold out, you should be able to pick one up at a discount heading into winter. My buddy bought a unit for his automobile shop that was 50% marked down a couple years ago. He asked me to keep my eye out for one, and I happened across what I thought was a good deal, so I called him, and he had me pick it up for him.
Sales on things like air conditioners really crank up over the Labor Day weekend. This is the last big push for the big box retailers to unload their inventory before they start switching out for the winter equipment.
Quote:Well, being this is a standard wall unit, you never have to actually change the filters, just clean them regularly, which I did.
Hope you got that thing working, dude. It's HOT up here today. Reading 90 on my window thermo. My window unit is set on 80 and hasn't cycled off for quite some time.
Quote:Hope you got that thing working, dude. It's HOT up here today. Reading 90 on my window thermo. My window unit is set on 80 and hasn't cycled off for quite some time.
I know.....
The entire friggin summer has been moderate in temperatures up until NOW when my air conditioner breaks...
It so figures.
Hey I have lurking for a long time on here and finally found something to chime in on.
If you haven't replaced your a/c unit yet then you should check your run capacitor for the compressor. Usually they run a dual capacitor in wall units. If you see liquid or it bulged then it will most likely be defective.
It sounds like the compressor can't get up to speed out of its start winding. If that is the case you can get a hard start cap which gives the compressor a 300% surge to help it.
If it is the compressor it won't be cost effective to replace it. A/c windowshakers are a throwaway item now days unfortunately.
Good luck!
Is window/wall units more common in the north east? Around here it is closer to 80/20 in favor of central cooling. I am not aware of anyone I know off hand that uses a remote unit.
Take a picture of this 20 year old models specification tag (post it for us), maybe we can find some online repair manuals, or figure out if a cheap part could be the problem that could keep you going for a few more months. I would still suggest a replacement.
Quote:Hey I have lurking for a long time on here and finally found something to chime in on.
If you haven't replaced your a/c unit yet then you should check your run capacitor for the compressor. Usually they run a dual capacitor in wall units. If you see liquid or it bulged then it will most likely be defective.
It sounds like the compressor can't get up to speed out of its start winding. If that is the case you can get a hard start cap which gives the compressor a 300% surge to help it.
If it is the compressor it won't be cost effective to replace it. A/c windowshakers are a throwaway item now days unfortunately.
Good luck!
You sound like just the person to handle this. Welcome to the message board, Del19.
Thanks Sammy! I hope to be a regular here.
Quote:Is window/wall units more common in the north east? Around here it is closer to 80/20 in favor of central cooling.
Yes. In and around the urban and many suburban areas there are a larger amount of small apartments, flats, duplexes and cottages. The smaller square footage lends itself to the cheaper AC units.
Also - the "dog days" are scattered between a 2 or 2.5 month period. Rather than the 4plus month stretch in the south. So they are used for as little as half as much each year.
In areas that are at higher elevation north of NYC - some apartments and houses can still be found without AC at all. Although that isn't as common as it was 15 years ago.
Quote:Hey I have lurking for a long time on here and finally found something to chime in on.
If you haven't replaced your a/c unit yet then you should check your run capacitor for the compressor. Usually they run a dual capacitor in wall units. If you see liquid or it bulged then it will most likely be defective.
It sounds like the compressor can't get up to speed out of its start winding. If that is the case you can get a hard start cap which gives the compressor a 300% surge to help it.
If it is the compressor it won't be cost effective to replace it. A/c windowshakers are a throwaway item now days unfortunately.
Good luck!
This sounds to me to be a likely culprit and inexpensive to try as a temporary fix. I rarely like to give advice on the internet when it comes to electrical/electronics issues, especially if someone has no experience/knowledge of such things. Here are a few safety tips that I recommend doing should you decide to do a replacement.
1. First, make sure that you open (turn off) any and all breakers for the unit.
2. Before you touch the capacitor, take a screwdriver and short both of the leads on the top of it.
3. Pay careful attention to how it is hooked up, and be sure to hook up the replacement the exact same way.