I'm going to do a test and see what happens if I run the unit with that valve disconnected. Since the thermistor has been bypassed and that has been running with that valve wide open, I don't know what the position of that valve is without any power to it and how the heat pump will run. I have nothing to lose by trying it. Also I'm going to fiddle around with that valve a little bit and see if maybe the insulation around one of the terminals is worn away or something.