We have a Kitchenaid KSRA25ILSS01 from 2002 - looks just like the model in Recently it stopped running. The evaporator fan and lights run, and control panel is working, but compressor and condenser fan are off. Found the start delay was bad so replaced it but no help. Compressor windings read correct resistance. Disconnected condensor fan to read voltage - on startup it's around 14V AC then drops to 4V AC and stays there.

Is it possible the thermistor might be bad and that could be preventing the control panel from starting the compressor? I'm just a homeowner trying to educate myself - hope someone can advise if this is an appropriate next step before I start taking more things apart :) If it *is* the thermistor, could I just short the connector terminals to test if the control panel will think it's getting a hot reading and see if that starts the compressor?

Thank you for any/all help!