Be certain to observe the exact same polarity as the old one. A capacitor does have plus and minus leads.
Should an old defective ceiling fan transformer be replaced by a capacitor?
capacitors are used in the fans and motors to provide the initial turn or ROTATION OF THE ROTOR after the rotation started the capacitor acts as a current path.
It is used to start the fan motor...
Due to the type of motor used in a fan. The capacitor provides a phase shift between the stationary winding and the rotating winding, which is necessary to get the desired torque.