To test a capacitor to see if it is working, you will first need an ohmmeter/multimeter. You will be taking a measurement/reading of the electrical resistance. The reading on your multimeter will tell you if the capacitor is working properly or needs to be replaced.

Here’s how to perform the test: Set the Multimeter: Before starting, set the multimeter to an appropriate resistance range. For capacitors over 0.01µF, use the R×1k setting (1kΩ). Touch the Capacitor Leads: Touch the multimeter probes to the capacitor’s leads, noting the needle’s movement, and then switch the probes and test again.

You only need to do a quick visual check to see if this is the case. If the capacitor in your refrigerator is bulging, then it has gone bad and you will need to replace it. Once you have the capacitor out, use your multimeter to see if the capacitor is in working condition. First, be sure to set your multimeter to ohms.

If your multimeter does not offer capacitance testing capability: Set your multimeter to Ohms (O). Attach the probes directly onto the capacitor legs. A good capacitor displays an increasing number. Bad results either show zeroes (for shortness) or nothing at all (open). A good capacitor displays an increasing number.