Troubleshooting now complete. Failed fan motor/clutch. $4.4k quote signed off for repair. The good news is the failed/safe warning worked to prevent further, more catastrophic failure.
The shop does not work with Good Sams, or any other third party payer. So I pay upon completion of work and then file for reimbursement. I get this business model and am okay with it.
Good Sams processsing takes 30 - 60 days so my upcharge will be the brief escalation in credit card balance interest.
So, is this episode preventable through some regimen of preventive maintenance?
And there is still the right slide nonoperational issue to resolve.
Stay tuned.