Meters and troubleshootingQuestion 341 of 1506

A capacitor-start single-phase motor will not start but runs when spun by hand. What is the most likely fault?

  1. A shorted load
  2. A faulty start capacitor
  3. A bad overload relay
  4. A blown power factor capacitor
Show answer

Correct answer: A faulty start capacitor

A bad start capacitor blocks starting but not running, so the fault is easy to miss.

Source: Troubleshooting Motors and Controls (Dickson-Self), 6.1: Testing Motor Components

Practice meters and troubleshooting

Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026