Weird dryer problem.....help!

[kansasdad]

Clothes dryer made by Whirlpool, top lint trap.

Symptoms:

Dryer "alarm" has been inoperative for a year+ (should buzz when the cycle is finished)

Sporadic failure to start a new cycle, took several times of pushing the button to get it started. Last weekend I left it alone, came back after an hour and it fired off like nothing was wrong. This weekend I did three cycles of laundry with no problems, until it was time to do the fourth load. Pushing the start button and nothing doing. It has continued to fail to start for two days now. Normally when starting a load, pushing the start button results in a "click", now the button depresses, but makes no clicking noise or feel.

I can hear the timer "tick, tick, tick" when the mode selector is in the drying phase, and the timer does run down to a finish ("OFF") spot on the selector. If the 90 minute tumble only "wrinkle guard" phase is selected, the drum will then begin to turn, but no heat.

When the door is open, the interior light comes on, and pushing on the door latch will make an audible "click" and shut the light off.

According to YouTube, the first thing to check is the door latch/switch which seems to be operating correctly.

Any wisdom for home appliance troubleshooting from the collective minds of HuntTalk?

 

[SD_Prairie_Goat]

Seems like the buttons might be failed so it isn’t registering that you want to start. Might be a loose wire in the back behind the panel?

Next thought would be the mother board and panel are going bad and need to be replaced

 

[Dave N]

Time for a new one. Merry Christmas!

 

[Forkyfinder]

If the button is analog you could try bypassing it

 

[buckbull]

Replace with speed queens. None of that digital crap that breaks and actually gets your clothes clean.

 

[Nick87]

Replace with speed queens. None of that digital crap that breaks and actually gets your clothes clean.

Wife got a new crosckpot last night. All touch screen. Was like welp that'll last 20 minutes.

 

[TheJason]

First thought was the door sensor, you said that appears to be working. My guess would be the main control panel.

 

[mtmuley]

Get a new one. mtmuley

 

[Gellar]

Our dryer kept getting louder and louder until I called the repair man. It was under warranty still. My wife was mortified when the repairman pulled a pair of her underwear out from underneath the rollers. But there is no more noise.

 

[ismith]

Take it to the range and fill it full of tannerite.

 

[tarheel]

First off, how old is it? That will help diagnose it, because the older ones didn't use circuit boards, only the timer controlled the majority of it's function.

In my youth I was stationed in Denver and worked part time for Sears on washers and dryers (made by Whirlpool) so I do have some credence, at least for the older gear. If it's digital you're on your own.

If you can determine the year of manufacture and model number there should be ample videos on Youtube that might get you out of the woods. Failing that you're stuck with a repair service or a trip to Lowes, kinda hard to diagnose unless you're standing in front of it.

 

[kansasdad]

First off, how old is it? That will help diagnose it, because the older ones didn't use circuit boards, only the timer controlled the majority of it's function.

In my youth I was stationed in Denver and worked part time for Sears on washers and dryers (made by Whirlpool) so I do have some credence, at least for the older gear. If it's digital you're on your own.

If you can determine the year of manufacture and model number there should be ample videos on Youtube that might get you out of the woods. Failing that you're stuck with a repair service or a trip to Lowes, kinda hard to diagnose unless you're standing in front of it.

As for age, I’m guessing about 7 years old.

After watching a plethora of YouTube videos, I’m probably going to order the fuse (super cheap and easily replaced, and probably not the problem) and a new starter switch. But I haven’t even taken out my circuit tester as shown in most videos to checked for electrical continuity.

 

[Salmonchaser]

Next time you see a dryer at a garage sale, whirlpool that looks like one you had 20 years ago buy it. Our is 25 years old, I’ve spent a total of about 8 hours rebuilding the parts that can fail over the years and it’s still working. It’s just not that hard to keep the older ones running.
Based on your description I would bet it is the switch, good luck.

 

[tarheel]

As for age, I’m guessing about 7 years old.

After watching a plethora of YouTube videos, I’m probably going to order the fuse (super cheap and easily replaced, and probably not the problem) and a new starter switch. But I haven’t even taken out my circuit tester as shown in most videos to checked for electrical continuity.

I'd say you're taking the best tack; easiest items first. Since it's newer, it's outside my experiential grid. Good luck with it!

 

[npaden]

My limited experience is that dryers are pretty straightforward and easy to work on. Our dryer is about 15 or 20 years old and it quit heating a few months ago and the initial thought was to just buy a new one. I checked the YouTubes and it seemed like a pretty easy deal to replace the heating element. I ordered one on Amazon and got a whole kit of stuff for like $30 instead of just buying the element for $20. Replaced the element and still no worky, swapped out a couple more parts that were in the kit and worky. I think it ended up being a temp limit thing or something. Total time start to finish was under an hour.

Felt like I got to keep my man card even though I’ve been using a crossbow the last couple years.

 

[kansasdad]

^^^^^
Times like these when multiple responses are required!


Earlier this summer I replaced the rollers and the belt. I was completely flummoxed by the belt tensioner until Mrs kansasdad showed me how to slip its foot into position in the floor, locking it into position. At the time of her rescue I was about ready to throw in the towel and pay the trip charge and the hourly rate on something so easy.