split system fan not working

Guys have a Panasonic CS/CU-1203KR about 10 years old ;the head fan is not working.
Had the firm around that installed it ; they say the fan is stuffed , parts are no longer available and essentially I need a totally new unit which seems incredibly wasteful.
I wasn't here when they came and can't confirm they even took the unit apart to check the fan so query that it could be something as simple as a mouse eating wiring.
My feeling is they saw it's age and formed an (uninformed) opinion.

A few questions.
1. What is the process to check a fan (gas etc)
2. Where to get parts if required
3. Can the outdoor unit be mated to a different indoor unit if necessary.

Thanks for your thoughts
Cheers, Ross (Alice Springs)

I'd be highly surprised if a failed fan really requires replacing the entire unit. Unless the something has been seriously warped, melted etc then just replace whatever part (bearings?) has failed and put it back into service.

It sounds like a cover up for lack of skills to me - a bit like the nonsense of replacing an entire control board for $500 or so because one triac or something else worth less than $20 has failed. It's sadly rather common.

Sounds possible.

With a lot of domestic appliances when they are no longer built then production of parts, especially oem parts also stop being produced.

Having said that I had a failed relay board in a similar Panasonic unit late last year. It was about the same price for us to replace the whole unit (at cost price). It also took a few days to source parts.

Fans are usually a bit easier but technology has moved a fair bit and the old parts are simply no longer supported. the manufacturers are trying to make money and producing old parts doesnt make the same profits as selling new units.

the motors are transistor driven from the indoor pcb, not available and you cant substitute tthe motor. Nor can you mix and match indoor and outdoor units. cheapest option is to go to local hardware store and buy elcheapo unit and chuck it away when it fails. Sorry for the bad news. I have had a few of these lately as im in the aircon industry.

Hi reddirt, I sold and serviced air conditioning for 25 years untill just recently panasonic is a good brand and I would expect you should still be able to get a fan motor for it. So you should be able to go down that path if you want but read on. The fan motor is a pain in the ???? to get to, you usually have to disconnect the fan coil (inside head) which these days with green house regulations etc, means pumping down the system so you don't loose refigerant to atmosphere, disconect pipework and cbles, take the head off the wall, completely pull the head apart remove the small motor from the small fan without braking the plastic blades, replace motor and then put it all back together again. You then hope it dosen't vibrate or rattle or leak refrigerant. It would be quite expensive and you still have an old unit. (wouldn't get much change out of $1200.00)
Or you can buy a new one with 5 or so years warranty installed for not much more.
If budget is an issue you should be able to get if repaired, would should still be cheaper than a new unit.

Good luck
Or you can buy a new one with 5 or so y

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gyro

Nor can you mix and match indoor and outdoor units.

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You can depending on the type of control. With most smaller constant speed systems, there are usually 4 wires. one each for supply to the outdoor fan, compressor and reversing valve and a neutral.

These are all switched at the relay board in the head unit and CAN be swapped for similar capacity units of different brands.