The part replacement for the defrost timer has a black wire that was not on the original part. I have confiremd that this is a replacement but the are options for the black wire depending up the original wiring diagram of the unit. I chose version2/procedure 3 as it seemed to fit.

The new part prevents the compressor from running even though the temp is hot --the old part at least ran the compressor at the same temp.

I unplugged the refrig while changing out parts and then plugged it back in -- is there some other thing I should expect when a new timer is inserted?

Is this option wire make any sense or do I still have the wrong part?

Your timer will not advance if you failed to put the wire into the timer pins. All the modern Whirlpool fridgs. I have seen have that wire stuck in the middle pin of the timer. There will be 4 pins and one isolated, stick the wire in the middle pin of the three pins that are close together.