Why Does the Air - conditioner Compressor Stop Running in Less Than 1 Minute?

2025-03-17

Possible Reasons

The temperature of the outdoor unit of the air - conditioner is too high, and there is a problem with heat dissipation. The high - temperature overload protector of the compressor has stopped the compressor from working. It is necessary to cool down the outdoor unit, especially the compressor. In addition, clean the fins of the outdoor unit with a cleaning agent for better heat dissipation.
The temperature - sensing probe is damaged. Replace the sensor.
The compressor capacitor is damaged. Replace it with a new one.
The Freon pressure of the compressor is insufficient or too much Freon has been added. Use a pressure gauge to measure whether it is 0.5 Mpa.
The circuit board has a malfunction. Try replacing the circuit board.

What are the common troubleshooting methods for air - conditioner compressors?

I. Short - circuit, Open - circuit, and Winding Touching the Housing Ground

These types of malfunctions are caused by the motor part of the compressor. The fault symptoms are as follows: when there is an open - circuit, the power supply is normal, but the compressor does not work; when there is a short - circuit or the winding touches the housing, the protector activates or the fuse burns after power - on.

Why Does the Air - conditioner Compressor Stop Running in Less Than 1 Minute?1742221218464

It should be noted that when there is a slight short - circuit between the windings, the compressor can still work, but the operating current is very large, and the temperature of the compressor is very high. Before long, the thermal protector will activate.
Short - circuits in the windings and the winding touching the housing ground can generally be checked with a multimeter. For short - circuits in the windings, especially slight short - circuits, since the resistance of the windings is very small itself, it is not easy to determine. It should be judged according to the measured current.

II. Compressor Shaft Seizure and Cylinder Jamming

If the compressor loses oil or impurities enter, it often causes shaft seizure or cylinder jamming. The fault symptom is that the compressor does not run after power - on, and the protector activates.

Why Does the Air - conditioner Compressor Stop Running in Less Than 1 Minute?1742221218511

III. Compressor Suction and Discharge Valves Not Closing Tightly

If the suction and discharge valves of the compressor are damaged, even if there is sufficient refrigerant, the system cannot establish high and low pressures or it is difficult to establish qualified high and low pressures. The system will not cool or the cooling effect will be very poor.

IV. Compressor Vibration and Noise

These problems often occur during maintenance work. Generally, they do not have much impact on the refrigeration performance, but they make users feel abnormal. The causes are often the collision between the pipeline and the housing, the loosening of the compressor's fixing bolts, and the falling off of the shock - absorbing blocks.

V. Thermal Protector Damage

The thermal protector is an accessory of the compressor. The common malfunctions are open - circuit or a decrease in the operating temperature point. An open - circuit will cause the compressor not to work; a decrease in the operating temperature point will cause the compressor to stop running after working for a period of time and repeat this. This problem is often easily confused with a slight short - circuit between the windings. The difference is that when the thermal protector is damaged, the operating current is normal, while when the winding is short - circuited, the current is too large.

Quick Troubleshooting Methods
For problems in the compressor motor part, the compressor suction and discharge valves not closing tightly, and thermal protector malfunctions, the replacement method should be adopted.
For compressor shaft - seizure and cylinder - jamming faults, attempts can be made to repair them first. The specific methods are as follows:

Tapping Method: After starting the machine, use a wooden hammer to tap the lower part of the compressor to make the jammed parts inside the compressor vibrate and start running.
Capacitor Starting Method: A capacitor with a larger capacitance than the original one can be connected to the circuit for starting.
High - voltage Starting Method: The power supply voltage can be increased with a voltage regulator for starting.
Pressure - Relief Method: Empty all the refrigerant in the system and then start.
If the above methods do not work, there is nothing else that can be done, and a new compressor has to be replaced.