Customer Questions and Answers for Compressor Start Device Kit by Whirlpool

Hello Mark, You can test the windings for continuity, but you can't tell if there's a mechanical issue or not without replacing the start device. First, you need to make sure that, if the three terminals are burned, that you sand them to a shiny finish. If the contacts don't make good connection, the new start device will just burn out again. Also, if there's a mechanical issue within the compressor, the new start device will burn out within a day or so. To test the windings, go from one terminal to another. Then the next two. And of course then test the last combination. Write down each reading you take them. If the windings are intact, two of the readings you took will add up to the third. Lastly, test from any of the three to ground. This should read infinity, (no continuity to ground at all). When you put the new start device on and power it up, the compressor should start right up. If it trips out on overload, there is a compressor or sealed system problem present.