It's a dumb & expensive way to find a fault to replace parts at random hoping to eventually strike the right one. You need a multimeter to test the parts first. You can get a cheap one that will do the trick. Put it on ohms range, remove the wire from the element & put tester on both element terminals. If no reading then element is open circuit. Reading of 30 - 40 ohms is ok. Too high is just as bad as no ohms. If it checks ok then check the thermostat. Follow the wire from the element until you find it. There should be continuity but almost no resistance.
Alan, February 2009