How to Troubleshoot & Replace Whirlpool AP6012484 / WP8285938 Surface Heating Element, Top Burner Element

Removed the entire unit, then the cooktop, and replaced the element. 

No problem removing the cooktop and taking the glass top off. I was careful to remove the old burner, the clamps on the bottom I was unprepared for, but with needle nose pliers I got under the burner and with firm pulling and tugging it came out.And reused the old clamps. I put the glass back on and did a test of the new burner. It worked!! THE PROBLEM: then I tested the other burners.. and as I watched one of the good ones glowed brightly and buned out! What happened? ..after I purchased a new burner and took everything apart, i found a small piece of black tape on the burned out burner. On my cooktop all of the burners had this tape an the metal box on the outside of the burner..except the new parts..some how that tape had come lose (it was from the second burner) and ended up on the burner coils. Moral of the story look carefully at the other burners even after the glass is on. 

I never done anything like this before, so I found detailed directions on Youtube. Got it done in 15 minutes.