YORK compressor won't always start - Page 2

> On Mon, 31 Aug 2009 00:46:02 +0000, Rerich00_at_gmail_dot_com@foo.com
> (Cant_Sleep) wrote:
>

>> Cant_Sleep had written this in response to
>>

>> :
>> 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.

>
>         If it comes down to it, consider a temporary window unit to
> get you through the month. Then keep it for emergencies anyway.

>
>

> 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.

> 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.
> -------------------------------------