Our dryer is having issues at the moment. It is an electric Kenmore dryer which I have been told is manufactured by Whirlpool. When you run the dryer in a timed dry situation, and come to the end of the cycle, the drum stops spinning. However, the heater element seems to stay on as the top of the dryer gets extremely hot and the timer continues to run. I thought it was a bad timer and replaced it but the same problem still persists. I took the heater element off and it looks very good, nothing shorted out and the resistance between the element and the frame is infinite and the element’s resistance seems to be around 10.8 ohms which I have read is normal.
So the question I have is, how is the element staying hot and the timer running as well? What could cause such a situation? I have also attached the wiring diagram that came with the unit. Any assitance anyone could provide would be greatly appreciated.
When you say that the timer continues to run does it get to the off position and then keep going?
Does it work OK in auto modes?
I am assuming that the unit used to run OK and that it is not a used unit that is new to you.
I am not sure it is actually getting to the end of the cycle.
When the motor stops can you restart it right away.
My thinking here is that perhaps the motor is overheating and tripping it’s internal thermal protect. You then have to wait for it to cool down so the protect resets before the motor will run again.
One scenario that fits some of your symptoms is if there is a problem with the centrifugal switches on the motor.
There are two of them, they are activated when the motor gets close to operating speed.
One of them connects in the heater. This ensures that the heat does not come on until there is air flow. It sounds like this switch is not de-activating when the motor stops.
The other has two purposes. It disconnects the start winding which if left in circuit would cause the motor to overheat. It also provides an alternate/parallel circuit path for the start switch so that you can release the start switch and the motor keeps running. This switch sounds like it is working as you can release the start and it does keep running. If it was stuck in the activated position the unit would start as soon as you closed the door. Some units will actually start with just the main motor winding.
So my theory only fits some of the symptoms.
Thanks for your reply. When you use it in the timed mode, the timer moves past the off position and continues going. The heating element does stay on but the drum is not spinning.
When the motor stops, I pressed the start button and it would not start, only the buzzer would sound as it was at the end of the cycle. If you move the timer to the start of a cycle it starts up without issue.
When you do the knit cycle, everything works as normal. I haven’t tested the others as of yet.
How would I test the motor switches and where would they be located?
I cannot find parts for your unit but the following is probably what is in your unit.
The parts people at AppliancePartsPros will most likely have the correct motor for your unit. Your unit has a c in it and this often stands for Canada , unfortunately AppliancePartsPros does not ship to Canada.
Click on the picture for more views and info on this part.
As you can see the switches are built into the motor.
The heater switch is usually the one with the two heavier gauge red wires going to it.
Unplug the unit and one of the red wires at the switch. Then measure it with a meter, should be infinite ohms.