The Goodman air conditioner was not cooling because the start capacitor was failing and the contactor coil was out of its normal range.

When diagnosing a compressor and fan motor that will not kick into full operation but where the system powers on, first isolate the incoming power and discharge the capacitor before testing. Use a reliable capacitance meter to measure the capacitor under load and compare to the nameplate rating; a reading more than twenty percent low indicates failure and will cause weak motor start torque and overheating. Inspect the contactor coil resistance with an ohm meter and compare to the manufacturer specification; a coil that reads open or significantly off spec will not pull the contactor reliably and can allow intermittent or no compressor engagement. Check for lubricant or pitting on the contact faces and confirm coil voltage at the contactor when the thermostat calls for cooling; a proper coil will see the correct control voltage and physically draw in the contactor. After replacing both the capacitor and the contactor with parts that meet the original equipment specifications match microfarad and voltage ratings for the capacitor and match coil voltage and contact amperage for the contactor. Finally run the system through several cooling cycles while monitoring suction and discharge pressures and ambient and supply air temperatures to verify expected temperature split and stable operation.

Common mistakes are assuming low refrigerant without checking the electrical start components which wastes time and can lead to unnecessary refrigerant work, so always test capacitors and contactor operation first. Another issue is replacing the capacitor with one of the wrong microfarad or voltage rating which can damage the compressor, so always match the nameplate values and use high quality replacements. A third problem is failing to fully discharge and isolate the capacitor before handling which is a safety hazard, so always remove power, verify zero voltage, and then short the capacitor with an insulated tool before touching connections.

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