Overhead a/c compressor

[Turkey54-JAY]

I am wondering if I burnt up the compressor. I noticed a hot smell so I immediately cut the AC off. Then I noticed the overhead filter was filthy so I removed it and cleaned it. It was completely clogged. I reinstalled it and turned the ac back on and it blew cool air great for a couple days. Got up this morning and the fan was blowing but you could hear a grinding noise every time the compressor would try and kick in. And the air blowing out the overhead vent wasn't cool. Did I burn it up? It's a 2007 Jay Flight SE 27 BH . If I did how hard a fix?

 

[JFlightRisk]

Welcome to the Forum from Western New York State!

First, I would get on the roof, take the shroud off, turn the a/c on and verify it's the compressor, fan motor, or something else loose or rattling around. If it is indeed the compressor, unfortunately there's no fix to it. The whole roof a/c unit will need replacing.

 

[craigav]

I would carefully inspect the A/C capacitor(s) as when they go out often you will hear a humming noise, notice a "hot" smell (so to speak) and a lack of cooling. If you have never changed the capacitor(s) then that would be what I would highly suspect first. (although a complete inspection is proper as JFlightRisk suggested)

FYI, you may want to search youtube or similar with more details of what to look for regarding the capacitor(s) and how to safely discharge the capacitor or verify it is not holding a charge (commonly just short the capacitor terminals with an insulated screwdrivers). Also, they are not all that expensive, and something I would consider changing even if you can't determine if they are bad or good. ~CA

 

[Jagiven]

Welcome Aboard! Being a 2007, it could be a number of normal were items. But you also stated you have not cleaned the air filter so that could add a few more potential issues to look at.

First you should clean the air filter regularly. I clean mine about every 5-10 days of use. A dirty filter can really restrict the air flow.

The controls and wiring are inside under the cover. If you could smell it inside, I would pull off the inside cover and check the control and wires. They are a simple electrical system. Check/test the connections and condition. If you have no electrical skills, is anything discolored? If so, it is a sign of over heating. While your there, do you see any signs of water leaks? Check your mounting bolts in the four corners. They should be finger tight/snug, do not tighten them tight. There is a foam gasket between the roof and AC, once fully compressed it needs to be replaced. It might be time to replace the gasket anyways.

The fan motor is up on top of the roof. It has a long motor shaft that has two fan blades on it (one inside the housing and one outside). If you burnt up a motor, the smell should not have made it inside the RV. I agree with JayFlightrisk and Craigav. Get up on the roof and check the capacitor, they do go bad. If you do not know how to test them, ask, they hold a LOT of power, and you want to discharge it before messing with it. Spin the motor by hand, does it feel smooth and free? Chunky/wobbly/very stiff to rotate, if so, probably have bearings that are going out.

While on the roof, check the condenser coils? How clean are they. I wash the dirt and cotton out of mine every few years. This will greatly improve they units efficiency.

As for fixing, motors and capacitors are the two things that normally go bad. The capacitor is super easy. The motor is an easy fix, just takes more time as you have two fans to swap out.

Good Luck, happy camping