Coleman Air Conditioner Repair Guide & Error Codes

This Coleman air conditioner repair guide will teach you about replacing your air filter, common issues, troubleshooting tips, and more

Please note, the following is for informational purposes only. Any servicing you attempt is at your own risk.

Coleman At a Glance

Any air conditioner is an investment, and proper service and repairs are important if you want to get the most from the money you put into your cooling system. To help with that, we’ve put together this simple Coleman air conditioner repair guide to teach you about troubleshooting, maintenance, repairs, and more.

Check out our Coleman Air Conditioner Review >>

What’s Wrong With Your Coleman Air Conditioner?

Remember to turn your A/C completely off before opening it up to look around or attempt any fix.

Bad smells when the unit is running?

Funny odours from your vents when the air conditioner is running (aside from burning smells) are a likely indication that your filter is dirty. Along with trapping contaminants like dust and particles, the screen will also absorb things like cooking odours and cigarette smoke from the air in your home and then distribute the smells back through the house when the system comes on. The easy fix? Change the filter.

Odd or Unusual Sounds

Air conditioners make lots of noises, and they don’t always indicate a problem. For example, it’s normal to hear a low hissing sound when the system is running as refrigerant runs through the unit. Similarly, a quiet squeaking sound during operation is also typical as metal and plastic parts expand and contract with the temperature changes. However, gurgling and bubbling sounds aren’t good, and these suggest a refrigerant leak.

Temperature fluctuations?

A fluctuating indoor temperature is another indication that there’s a refrigerant leak because the system doesn’t have enough refrigerant to cool your home properly. Other symptoms of this problem include ice on the coil, ice on the refrigerant line, water dripping from the unit (as the ice melts), and the unit blowing hot air.

Not enough cooling output?

This could be something as easy as a wrong thermostat setting, so start with your system control to diagnose this problem. While you’re at it, make sure there aren’t any external heat or cold sources impacting the thermostat readings. If the thermostat isn’t the culprit, then the problem could be a poorly sized unit, bad air flow because of a dirty filter, low refrigerant, or air/moisture in the system.

Poor air flow?

This is usually because the filter is dirty and clogged, so clean or replace the air filter and test the airflow again.

Water dripping from the unit?

There are two common causes for this. The first is a clogged drain line, because if the line is clogged, then water from condensation will collect in the pipe, fill it up, and then drip down the unit. The other cause could be low refrigerant, because ice will build upon the coil or refrigerant line when the unit is running, and then melt and drip when the system shuts down.

Fan won’t run?

For the fan to run properly, the motor has to be in good working order, the capacitors have to be functional, and the contactors must be in good working order. However, motors break down, capacitors fail, and contactors wear out, and these can all cause the fan to stop running.

Compressor stops working?

Like the fan, a functional compressor also depends on capacitors and contactors, so these are often the first components a technician will check. But if the compressor isn’t running, it could also be seized because of an improper refrigerant charge, there could be poor wiring or loose connections, or there could be voltage problems.

Whole unit won’t run?

This problem will need a professional diagnosis because potential causes are power problems, loose electrical connections, high- and low-pressure problems, faulty wiring, poor installation, breaker or fuse issues, a defect with the control board, and more.

Coleman Air Conditioner Error Codes

Note that these error codes may or may not be accurate or apply to your system. Each manufacturer has a range of different sensor and error codes used for different model lines and these may differ from one model series, production run, region, and may have been updated at any time. This not a comprehensive list and these are for informational purposes only. Any use of them is at your own risk.

Outdoor Faults

Inverter Faults

Coleman Air Conditioner Repair Costs

The cost to repair a Coleman air conditioner will typically be in the $250 to $1,000+ range depending on what is being fixed. This factors in the cost for a technician to diagnose the problem, and the cost of parts and labour to fix the issue.

Your unit may be covered under the manufacturer’s warranty, which would cover parts, as well as the labour warranty if applicable, which usually comes from the company that installed it. That’s why choosing a reliable HVAC contractor that offers great warranty coverage is so important.

You can use our AC repair cost calculator to get an idea of the cost.

When to Get a Technician for Coleman A/C Repairs

There are definitely some air conditioner services, maintenance, and repairs you can take care of yourself, especially changing the filter and annual cleaning. But there are also more complex repairs that will require the assistance of a trained technician, and now we’re going to tell you which services those are:

• Any problems involving critical components like the compressor or coil
• Electrical, wiring, and voltage problems
• Poor cooling and output issues that are unrelated to the thermostat
• Frequent fuse blows or circuit breaker trips
• Refrigerant leaks
• Water leaks
• Erratic and unpredictable operation
• Burning smells
• A hot or worn power cord
• Loud and strange sounds

Who to Call For Coleman Air Conditioner Repairs

A good HVAC company has a great track record and reputation in the community, plenty of experience in the field, trained staff and licensed technicians, adequate insurance, and more. To determine if an HVAC company in your area is trustworthy and reliable would take a lot of effort and research on your part.

We’ve taken the hassle out of the task by putting together an independent HVAC contractor certification program that we use to evaluate and certify qualifying companies, and that you can use to find a reliable local technician next time you need air conditioner repairs or service.

Coleman’s Warranty Coverage

Warranty terms are an important thing to look at when you’re buying a new air conditioner because a good warranty could mean the difference between hassle-free service and an expensive repair that you have to pay for out of pocket. All Coleman models come with a good warranty that includes:

• Lifetime limited warranty for the compressor (Echelon models and LX CC17)
• 10-year limited warranty for the compressor (all other LX models)
• 10-year limited parts warranty
• 90-day labour limited warranty

Protect your Carrier air conditioner: Register and access your Carrier A/C warranty here

How to Replace Your Coleman Air Filter

Air conditioner air filters should be changed every 30 to 90 days during the cooling season. A cooling system with a new filter will operate optimally, be the most efficient, and keep your indoor air quality high and free of excess dust, allergens, and other contaminants. To change your air filter:

1. Turn off power to the unit
2. Locate the filter: check in the return air duct or on the indoor unit
3. Remove the grille from the return air duct, or remove the access panel from the indoor unit
4. Slide out the old filter
5. Clean the old filter or get a new one*
6. Slide the clean or new filter into place using the arrows for guidance
7. Replace the grille or access panel
8. Turn the power back on

*To clean an air conditioner filter, wipe it down with soap and water, rinse it clean, and leave it to dry somewhere that’s cool, dry, and out of direct sunlight.