Customer Questions and Answers for Surface Element (Top Burner) by Whirlpool

Hi David. The triple element is part # W10823720. Use a flashlight to see if the ribbon type of element is open. Just above the ft. rt. switch is a rocker type of switch that you select before you use the infinite switch to select the inner or outer elements of that burner. It is part # 7403P985-60. Use a ohm meter to see if there is continuity between the contacts as you toggle them on / off. Are the connections there burnt or loose ? Then please look carefully at the wires connected to the infinite switch. Are they loose or tight. Sometimes you can see a burnt contact that shows a faulty switch. Please use a magnifying glass to tell us what the terminals are labeled along with the color of wire going to that terminal. The wiring diagram is behind the storage drawer or behind the control panel folded in a packet. You should have a switch with S1,S2,P,and a 4 terminal, correct ? I want to make sure so you do not get the incorrect part. http://www.servicematters.com/maytag...s/16023416.pdf http://www.servicematters.com/maytag...s/16027361.pdf If you do not own a meter, I would suggest you purchase a one. You can get a decent digital multimeter for under $20.00. You do not need fancy though it is nice if the leads are a couple feet long. If it saves ordering one unnecessary part it has paid for itself and you end up owning a useful tool. Most places will not let you return electrical parts so if you order it, you own it. A couple things to watch when measuring ohms and continuity 1. Always remove power from the machine otherwise you could blow your meter. 2. Always disconnect at least one side of any device you are checking. This eliminates the possibility of measuring an alternate/parallel circuit path. 3. When checking for closed contacts and continuity use the lowest scale (Usually 200 ohms). Then try higher scales. This scale is 0 to 200 ohms so if the device you are measuring is 300 ohms this scale would show an open circuit which it is not, you are just measuring outside the scale's dynamic range. Thank You.