American Standard Outdoor Unit Not Responding to Cooling Call

Thermostat calls for cooling but outdoor unit does not run; indoor blower may run

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Safety Warning

This repair may involve working with high voltage components or water connections. Always unplug the appliance before removing any panels.

If you are not confident in your ability to perform this repair safely, we strongly recommend contacting a professional technician.

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Possible Causes

Broken Y wire between furnace and outdoor unit, Tripped outdoor unit breaker, Failed contactor coil, Low-voltage short at outdoor unit

How to Fix / Troubleshooting

Safety: Turn off power to the outdoor condenser at the disconnect and breaker before opening any panels.

  • Check outdoor breaker/disconnect: Ensure the outdoor unit breaker is ON and the disconnect is fully inserted.
  • Verify 24V at contactor: With a call for cooling and power on, a technician can measure 24V across the contactor coil. If no voltage is present, the Y circuit is open between furnace and outdoor unit.
  • Inspect Y wiring outdoors: Look for damaged thermostat cable where it enters the outdoor unit. Repair any cuts or rodent damage.

Note: If 24V is present at the contactor but it does not pull in, the contactor coil is likely bad and should be replaced by a technician.

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Repair Difficulty

Hard 4/5

Required Part

Outdoor unit contactor or Y low-voltage wiring
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