Dryer was working fine this morning but just added clothes and dryer won’t turn on. The light is on inside and I made sure all the vents were clean. When I shut the door and push the button to start it doesn’t turn on but you can see in the back where it looks like the heating element is heating up - the dryer won’t run. When you open the door you can feel the heat. Thoughts? Husband very handy and we are very broke so can’t afford a new dryer. Thanks!
The element being on when the machine is not running indicates that the heating element is likely shorted to ground and has opened the thermal fuse in response to the overheating. Do you have a meter to test continuity with?
My husband does. After he tests for continuity then what?
Excellent! With the dryer unplugged, remove the rear access panel and locate the heating element (number 17) and the thermal fuse (number 7) and remove the wires from both parts. Test the heating from both of the terminals to ground, looking for continuity. If it shows continuity, the heating element is shorted and will likely need to be replaced. It is possible that the shorted coil can be repositioned so it no longer touches the metal casing if you want to save a few dollars. Then, retest for continuity to ground. If it does not read shorted to ground any longer, move to that thermal fuse. If it tests open for continuity, it will need to be replaced and is available below. Let me know what you find.
http://www.appliancepartspros.com/whirlpool-dryer-thermal-fuse-3392519-ap3132867.html
Oh my gosh - you are awesome! Thank you so very much and once he gets up and tackles this I will let you know! Again, thank you!
You are very welcome, let me know how it goes!
There was part of the coil touching the metal casing. He’s going to jump the thermal fuse to make sure that’s what it is but have one on order.
Great, it sounds like you got it, nice job!
Thanks again for all your help!
You are very welcome!