Whirlpool W10342596 Actuator Switch Kit OEM Part

Kitchenaid should have supplied this kit to it's customers. The kit is of a much better design than the flimsy original. Fairly easy to install.

I was a little concerned when I received my part and it didn't look like the part on my machine. I don't have much experience doing things like this. In spite of my concerns, the installation went well. The instructions were thorough and easy to follow. It took me a while, but I'm old. I am very pleased to have done it myself without the expense of a service call and an overpriced part.

I had my Kitchenaid trash compactor for about 6 months before my first actuator switch tab broke from metal fatigue. I think Kitchenaid knew about the problem and sent me a free replacement. It took about 9 months for the next tab to break from metal fatigue. Again, I received a free replacement. I installed a third tab and I am not sure when it broke because we had a small son and had stopped using the compactor mode about 6 years ago, and just used it as a trash can. Our son is older now, and I decided to start using the compactor mode again. That is when I stumbled across this Actuator Switch Kit. I could not be happier with the new design. I also agree with David P’s comment that Kitchenaid should have supplied this kit to its customers for free because it fixes a faulty design. The actual repair was fairly simple. Just remove the top and front panels and foot pedal. The hardest part was drilling two 3/32" holes into the front panel using the supplied pattern. The new switch lever is then screwed to the front panel using these new holes. Changing out the switch and the putting everything back together was really easy. If you have one of the old styles of compactors (with the tab to activated the compactor) where you raise the foot pedal to activate the compactor, then I HIGHLY recommend this new design.

I had to buy a whole pedal assembly for $38.00 when all I needed was the $5.00 switch.When I got the kit I realized it was a modification and upgrade to fix an old problem.The compactor now works better than ever.

I first checked for the possible causes of why the compactor would not start. I checked for power to the compactor and reset the circuit breaker at the circuit breaker panel. There are three switches in the compactor but I noticed a strip of metal on the floor under the foot pedal. As it turns out the actuator switch assembly needed replacement. It was redesigned to replace the switch and actuator. The original part is no longer made and the replacement is an improvement. It is a more robust design than the original part. The repair involves sliding out the built in compactor. It is heavy. The repair instructions were easy to follow. The compactor is now good to go.