Sound Guy, an OEM can incorporate a HARD START KIT for a tiny fraction of the money needed to retrofit one. I do not care if the AC unit seems to start normally without a hard start only an infrared inspection of the motor windings can determine if boundary level of overheating is present. The key is degradation of the magnet wire insulation. It can happen fast or slow. But once two wires are bridged the curtain starts to fall. You can't see it or notice it, but the death knell has been sounded for the compressor. I Home-Brewed a hard start kit for my window air units. Both the Panasonic and LG 5,000 BTU units have a hard start kit. And while I did not measure it, both seem to start a heartbeat faster even with 120vac supply power.
I can almost guarantee the cost and hassle of a Hard Start kit will be less painful than a compressor replacement.
