YORK compressor won't always start

>Hello gang. I've got an issue I'm trying to diagnose, and some of the
>posting I've read on this site are very helpful. I'm the owner of the
>unit, and I've gone through multiple technicians who have been
>unsuccessful. I'm not on here to cut corners, and I'm no
>do-it-yourself'er. I'm currently working with a knowledgable tech that I
>trust, but he's running out of idea. And he's been working directly with
>the YORK technical service rep in our area.
>So here it goes. Live it Phoenix, and it's been 110/day.

> Unit running
>fine all summer, turned off for 1 week vacation, and issues arose upon
>return. Unit is 3.5 ton YORK heat pump, circa 1985. Well maintained, and
>in generally good shape...just old.

>When turned on, in AC mode, the inside blower would run, but neither the
>fan or compressor would start on outside unit. But this proved to be
>intermittent. Unit would sometimes start, but then would run short while
>and kick off, with the "EM Heat" light coming on. In general, it'd run in
>the cooler mornings, and error in the hot afternoons and evenings. I'm
>not sure the significance, but the pattern was beyond coincidence.
>The YORK tech determined one of the sensors was bad (Ambient sensor,
>discharge sensor, liquid sensor, DS Defrost sensor). The tech suggested
>jumpering two pins in the control module, to take these sensors out of
>circuit. We did that, problem appeared to be solved, as the unit fired
>right up, and cooled without issue that night and next day.
>End of next day, different problem (prob same problem, but now different
>manifestation given elimination of sensors). Now the outside unit fan
>motor always turns on, but compressor does not. Unit just blows warm air
>in the house. Like clockwork, three days in a row now, I leave the unit
>off until it cools down outside, then it fires right up and runs until the
>next day's afternoon. When it's running, air is ice cold and cools the
>house immediately.

>Any direction would be great help. The current direction my tech has
>recommended was adding a "hard-start" kit, which I understand to be a
>higher charging cap? While this new cap can't hurt, I assume, I'm
>wondering about whether the reversing solenoid or the high pressure sensor
>might be to blame?
>Lastly, if it ends up being the HP sensor, and assume the sensor works,
>any ideas on what temperature-related scenario could be creating the high
>pressure?
>Thank you all, for your time.
>-------------------------------------

> Hello gang. I've got an issue I'm trying to diagnose, and some of the
> posting I've read on this site are very helpful. I'm the owner of the
> unit, and I've gone through multiple technicians who have been
> unsuccessful. I'm not on here to cut corners, and I'm no
> do-it-yourself'er. I'm currently working with a knowledgable tech that I
> trust, but he's running out of idea. And he's been working directly with
> the YORK technical service rep in our area.
>
> So here it goes. Live it Phoenix, and it's been 110/day. Unit running
> fine all summer, turned off for 1 week vacation, and issues arose upon
> return. Unit is 3.5 ton YORK heat pump, circa 1985. Well maintained, and
> in generally good shape...just old.
>
> When turned on, in AC mode, the inside blower would run, but neither the
> fan or compressor would start on outside unit. But this proved to be
> intermittent. Unit would sometimes start, but then would run short while
> and kick off, with the "EM Heat" light coming on. In general, it'd run in
> the cooler mornings, and error in the hot afternoons and evenings. I'm
> not sure the significance, but the pattern was beyond coincidence.
>
> The YORK tech determined one of the sensors was bad (Ambient sensor,
> discharge sensor, liquid sensor, DS Defrost sensor). The tech suggested
> jumpering two pins in the control module, to take these sensors out of
> circuit. We did that, problem appeared to be solved, as the unit fired
> right up, and cooled without issue that night and next day.
>
> End of next day, different problem (prob same problem, but now different
> manifestation given elimination of sensors). Now the outside unit fan
> motor always turns on, but compressor does not. Unit just blows warm air
> in the house. Like clockwork, three days in a row now, I leave the unit
> off until it cools down outside, then it fires right up and runs until the
> next day's afternoon. When it's running, air is ice cold and cools the
> house immediately.
>
> Any direction would be great help. The current direction my tech has
> recommended was adding a "hard-start" kit, which I understand to be a
> higher charging cap? While this new cap can't hurt, I assume, I'm
> wondering about whether the reversing solenoid or the high pressure sensor
> might be to blame?
>
> Lastly, if it ends up being the HP sensor, and assume the sensor works,
> any ideas on what temperature-related scenario could be creating the high
> pressure?
>
> Thank you all, for your time.
> -------------------------------------

>
>
>

> Cant_Sleep wrote:

>> Hello gang. I've got an issue I'm trying to diagnose, and some of
>> the
>> posting I've read on this site are very helpful. I'm the owner of
>> the
>> unit, and I've gone through multiple technicians who have been
>> unsuccessful. I'm not on here to cut corners, and I'm no
>> do-it-yourself'er. I'm currently working with a knowledgable tech
>> that I
>> trust, but he's running out of idea. And he's been working
>> directly with
>> the YORK technical service rep in our area.
>>
>> So here it goes. Live it Phoenix, and it's been 110/day. Unit
>> running
>> fine all summer, turned off for 1 week vacation, and issues arose
>> upon
>> return. Unit is 3.5 ton YORK heat pump, circa 1985. Well
>> maintained, and
>> in generally good shape...just old.
>>
>> When turned on, in AC mode, the inside blower would run, but
>> neither the
>> fan or compressor would start on outside unit. But this proved to
>> be
>> intermittent. Unit would sometimes start, but then would run
>> short while
>> and kick off, with the "EM Heat" light coming on. In
>> general, it'd run in
>> the cooler mornings, and error in the hot afternoons and evenings.
>> I'm
>> not sure the significance, but the pattern was beyond coincidence.
>>
>> The YORK tech determined one of the sensors was bad (Ambient
>> sensor,
>> discharge sensor, liquid sensor, DS Defrost sensor). The tech
>> suggested
>> jumpering two pins in the control module, to take these sensors
>> out of
>> circuit. We did that, problem appeared to be solved, as the unit
>> fired
>> right up, and cooled without issue that night and next day.
>>
>> End of next day, different problem (prob same problem, but now
>> different
>> manifestation given elimination of sensors). Now the outside unit
>> fan
>> motor always turns on, but compressor does not. Unit just blows
>> warm air
>> in the house. Like clockwork, three days in a row now, I leave
>> the unit
>> off until it cools down outside, then it fires right up and runs
>> until the
>> next day's afternoon. When it's running, air is ice cold and
>> cools the
>> house immediately.
>>
>> Any direction would be great help. The current direction my tech
>> has
>> recommended was adding a "hard-start" kit, which I
>> understand to be a
>> higher charging cap? While this new cap can't hurt, I assume, I'm
>> wondering about whether the reversing solenoid or the high
>> pressure sensor
>> might be to blame?
>>
>> Lastly, if it ends up being the HP sensor, and assume the sensor
>> works,
>> any ideas on what temperature-related scenario could be creating
>> the high
>> pressure?
>>
>> Thank you all, for your time.
>> -------------------------------------

> 110ºF daytime? Try the hard start capacitor immediately and go from
> there. Give your Technician free rein and get this over with. Christ,
> it
> is August in Phoenix! Expect to pay extra when you have a heat pump.

>>
>>
>>

>Cant_Sleep had written this in response to
>http://www.thestuccocompany.com/hvac/Re-YORK-compressor-won-t-always-start-38334-.htm
> :
>Don Ocean wrote:

>> Cant_Sleep wrote:

>>> Hello gang. I've got an issue I'm trying to diagnose, and some of
>>> the
>>> posting I've read on this site are very helpful. I'm the owner of
>>> the
>>> unit, and I've gone through multiple technicians who have been
>>> unsuccessful. I'm not on here to cut corners, and I'm no
>>> do-it-yourself'er. I'm currently working with a knowledgable tech
>>> that I
>>> trust, but he's running out of idea. And he's been working
>>> directly with
>>> the YORK technical service rep in our area.
>>>
>>> So here it goes. Live it Phoenix, and it's been 110/day. Unit
>>> running
>>> fine all summer, turned off for 1 week vacation, and issues arose
>>> upon
>>> return. Unit is 3.5 ton YORK heat pump, circa 1985. Well
>>> maintained, and
>>> in generally good shape...just old.
>>>
>>> When turned on, in AC mode, the inside blower would run, but
>>> neither the
>>> fan or compressor would start on outside unit. But this proved to
>>> be
>>> intermittent. Unit would sometimes start, but then would run
>>> short while
>>> and kick off, with the "EM Heat" light coming on. In
>>> general, it'd run in
>>> the cooler mornings, and error in the hot afternoons and evenings.
>>> I'm
>>> not sure the significance, but the pattern was beyond coincidence.
>>>
>>> The YORK tech determined one of the sensors was bad (Ambient
>>> sensor,
>>> discharge sensor, liquid sensor, DS Defrost sensor). The tech
>>> suggested
>>> jumpering two pins in the control module, to take these sensors
>>> out of
>>> circuit. We did that, problem appeared to be solved, as the unit
>>> fired
>>> right up, and cooled without issue that night and next day.
>>>
>>> End of next day, different problem (prob same problem, but now
>>> different
>>> manifestation given elimination of sensors). Now the outside unit
>>> fan
>>> motor always turns on, but compressor does not. Unit just blows
>>> warm air
>>> in the house. Like clockwork, three days in a row now, I leave
>>> the unit
>>> off until it cools down outside, then it fires right up and runs
>>> until the
>>> next day's afternoon. When it's running, air is ice cold and
>>> cools the
>>> house immediately.
>>>
>>> Any direction would be great help. The current direction my tech
>>> has
>>> recommended was adding a "hard-start" kit, which I
>>> understand to be a
>>> higher charging cap? While this new cap can't hurt, I assume, I'm
>>> wondering about whether the reversing solenoid or the high
>>> pressure sensor
>>> might be to blame?
>>>
>>> Lastly, if it ends up being the HP sensor, and assume the sensor
>>> works,
>>> any ideas on what temperature-related scenario could be creating
>>> the high
>>> pressure?
>>>
>>> Thank you all, for your time.
>>> -------------------------------------

>> 110ºF daytime? Try the hard start capacitor immediately and go from
>> there. Give your Technician free rein and get this over with. Christ,
>> it
>> is August in Phoenix! Expect to pay extra when you have a heat pump.

>>>
>>>
>>>

>-------------------------------------
>Thanks for the advice. The "trick" to my tech diagnosing this, is that
>it's intermittent, and as luck would typically have it, it's usually
>running while he's here. Last time it was down and he was here, the York
>technical service work around of jumpering the sensors seemed to do the
>trick. He's never experienced this type of unit (no surprise there), or
>this particular issue. I'm hoping by broadcasting to a wider audience,
>I'll find someone who's seen this problem. There were a few threads on
>there that were quite close.
>The tech is great, very supportive and cooperative in this problem. I've
>given him free reign to replace whatever might be the cause. Because the
>unit runs so long without issue, I feel like the major working parts are
>fundamentally intact, and we're moments away from a relatively cheap fix
>once we find it.
>Longer term, we're heading down the path of new units. Like you
>said...how much more can I possibly expect from units of this age. That
>said, I'd LOVE to get through the month of Sept with this unit, to make
>the change at my leisure over the winter.
>Thanks for your help.