looking for some suggestions

[ripper225]

hi, been a lurker here for a while and finally decided to post as i am having an issue with my A/C that i could use a little help on.

i have a 2-story house with a unit for upstairs and one for down... upstairs unit was freezing up on the outside and through digging around on the site concluded it probably was low on coolant. I contact a local HVAC guy to come check it out and the units are both Carrier 38BRC036 321 (4099E16461) with the CK2BXA036017AAAA (2399x64537) coils. Upstairs unit had corrosion on the coil (9yrs old) and developed a coolant leak. Got it sealed up and am waiting on a quote for the replacement coil... It was about 2lbs low on coolant.

During the time I was trying to figure this out on my own I also had the same unit lose power to the thermostat. After scouring this site I checked all blade fuse (good), i didn't see anything blatant on the board or the transformer that looked bad but i had no tools to really give it a thorough check. I was pretty sure the fuse was bad, but when that wasn't the issue I just put the cover back on and went and turned the power back to the unit and it came on! Well, I had the unit lose power again today after the HVAC guys were here yesterday to check it out.

My first question is: is it possible that the coil being low on coolant is causing this issue somehow and when the coil is replaced that this issue will be resolved as well or does this sound like the transformer needs to be replaced?

Second question is: i read in another thread that the CK carrier coils are pretty low grade and known for having leaks. Is there a replacement coil that you would recommend over going with the same coil that was in there? I have not had much luck finding coil info on the internet short of this web board.

any info would be greatly appreciated, this site has already been very very informative in diagnosing the issues thus far *thank you all*. I'm just dying to get this all fixed up though as it looks like tonight the family will have to sleep downstairs as the upstairs unit is not cooperating :(

[yourairman]

hi, been a lurker here for a while and finally decided to post as i am having an issue with my A/C that i could use a little help on.

i have a 2-story house with a unit for upstairs and one for down... upstairs unit was freezing up on the outside and through digging around on the site concluded it probably was low on coolant. I contact a local HVAC guy to come check it out and the units are both Carrier 38BRC036 321 (4099E16461) with the CK2BXA036017AAAA (2399x64537) coils. Upstairs unit had corrosion on the coil (9yrs old) and developed a coolant leak. Got it sealed up and am waiting on a quote for the replacement coil... It was about 2lbs low on coolant.

During the time I was trying to figure this out on my own I also had the same unit lose power to the thermostat. After scouring this site I checked all blade fuse (good), i didn't see anything blatant on the board or the transformer that looked bad but i had no tools to really give it a thorough check. I was pretty sure the fuse was bad, but when that wasn't the issue I just put the cover back on and went and turned the power back to the unit and it came on! Well, I had the unit lose power again today after the HVAC guys were here yesterday to check it out.

My first question is: is it possible that the coil being low on coolant is causing this issue somehow and when the coil is replaced that this issue will be resolved as well or does this sound like the transformer needs to be replaced?

Second question is: i read in another thread that the CK carrier coils are pretty low grade and known for having leaks. Is there a replacement coil that you would recommend over going with the same coil that was in there? I have not had much luck finding coil info on the internet short of this web board.

any info would be greatly appreciated, this site has already been very very informative in diagnosing the issues thus far *thank you all*. I'm just dying to get this all fixed up though as it looks like tonight the family will have to sleep downstairs as the upstairs unit is not cooperating :(

If you are using a Carrier coil for the replacement make sure it is the tin plated coil. The model number of the coil will have a T in it to specify it is tin plated. The low refrigerant should not blank out your thermostat. I would have the company that is working on your system investigate this problem further.

[ripper225]

i had the pros back out today... from the info on this site i figured it was either the pcb board or the transformer. when the expert got here to check it out he concluded its the pcb board. not looking forward to getting the quote on this... looks like im going to need a new coil and board :(

and you said "if you're using a Carrier coil for the replacment...", is there an alternate brand of coil l that would be a better replacement??? Possibly something less expensive, better built or more efficient? I'm not looking to skimp on this as I want the job done right, but if there is a less expensive yet equally as good coil (or a better coil for roughly the same price) from another vender I am open to suggestions.

thanks again guys, I know you guys do this all day and probably the last thing you want to do at night while trying to relax is more work

[DanW13]

If this is a new install the bd and coil should be under warranty.

[ripper225]

not a new install... they're 9 yrs old

tonight, the unit has been going off randomly (no power to the thermostat) and then coming back on.