Maytag clothes dryer flame won't stay lit

Dryer Repair
,
1
  1. The ignitor glows orange
  2. The gas fires and an impressive blue flame is produced
  3. The flame burns for about 5 seconds and then goes out

Please help. :smiley:

3

[COLOR=#000000][SIZE=3]If you leave it on and wait will it come back on a light again the next time it cycles? If not I am almost certain the coils or the valve are bad. [/SIZE][SIZE=3]Typically they will heat up and quit working until they cool off then they will work again until they get hot. Hope this helps! http://www.appliance-repair-it.com/gas-dryer-repair.html[/SIZE]
[/COLOR]

4

Hey, yea it does try to cycle up again and it quickly has the flame go out after about 5 seconds. I’m thinking it might be the cycling thermostat.

5

That is a good possibility start with that.

6

Just to add my 2 cents…

You may want to make sure there is no any obstructions in the vent line and the dryer blower wheel works fine. Possible the dryer overheats due to insufficient air flow and the high limit thermostat turns the flame off.

Here are the breakdown diagrams and http://www.appliancepartspros.com/partsearch/model.aspx?model_id=5177053

Gene.

7

— Begin quote from Gene;159207

Just to add my 2 cents…

You may want to make sure there is no any obstructions in the vent line and the dryer blower wheel works fine. Possible the dryer overheats due to insufficient air flow and the high limit thermostat turns the flame off.

Here are the breakdown diagrams and Replacement parts for MAYTAG MDG308DAWW Dryer - Gas | AppliancePartsPros.com

Gene.

— End quote

I probably should have mentioned that I removed the vent line from the dryer to test and and it did the same thing. I’m getting a cycling thermostat tomorrow (12/16) so I’ll update once I get it unless anyone else has more ideas. Thanks for your help though!

8

A broken blower wheel is very common problem with Maytag dryers.

Gene.

9

[SIZE=3]Yes it is very common for the fan to break on these dryers usually they will make a terrible noise when this happens. In any case check to be sure there is good airflow at the back of the dryer. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Another thing I not sure I was clear on. The fact that the flame comes on again on the next cycle doesn’t completely rule out the coils it just makes it more unlikely. Another thing is the operating thermostats don’t give a lot of problems but could cause what you are describing. Let us know what you find. [/SIZE]

10

[SIZE=3]Are you saying that the flame stays on for a minute now rather than 5 seconds or that it heated ok for a minute and now it will not heat at all? [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Yes the timer will not turn unless there is heat. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Did you check airflow as Gene suggested?[/SIZE]

11

— Begin quote from applianceman;159423

[SIZE=3]Are you saying that the flame stays on for a minute now rather than 5 seconds or that it heated ok for a minute and now it will not heat at all? [/SIZE]

[SIZE=3]Yes the timer will not turn unless there is heat. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=3]Did you check airflow as Gene suggested?[/SIZE]

— End quote

The very first time with the new thermosostat it ran the flame for a minute or so and now it just is back to the original problem.

12

I’ll update on Thursday whether or not the flame is still coming on.

13

[SIZE=3]I won’t have time to respond anymore today so.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=3]A weak hi-limit can cause this.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=3]Weak coils can cause this but like I said typically they won’t cycle until they cool down.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=3]If the dryer is connected to LP and set for natural gas the flame will be too big and would cause it to quickly overheat and cut off. I am not sure if this is even a possibility but its just a t[FONT=Times New Roman]hought . [/SIZE][/FONT]

[SIZE=3]Poor airflow can cause it to quickly over heat as we have already said. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=3]These are the only things that I know of that will cause your problem. If I think of anything else I will let you know. Post what you find. [/SIZE]

14

So now it seems the flame comes on for a few minutes and then goes out, but never tries to get going again.

15

[SIZE=3]If that is the case I would lean more toward the coils. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]http://www.appliance-repair-it.com/gas-dryer-not-heating.html[/SIZE][SIZE=3] This link describes how this guy was able to check the coils by heating them with a heat gun and then checking them with an ohmmeter. [/SIZE]

16

I think it turned out to be the coils. I just got finished putting a load of clothes in and it came out nice and warm! Thanks applianceman for helping out! I’ll definitely be returning here for more future projects. I’ve actually got a dishwasher that doesn’t work which I may work on sometime in the near future.

17

Hi, I get the same symptoms. I’ve tried most of the suggestions I’ve seen online, i.e. replaced solenoid coils, flame sensor, cycling thermostat, and hi-limit thermostat. I’ve also cleaned the exhaust, removed the exhaust tubing, cleaned out the air flow. So, at this point, I am out of ideas.

Here are the symptoms:

  1. I would start the dryer using timed dry (30 mins) and regular heat.
  2. The ignitor will glow
  3. In a few seconds, it would click, and the flame will go on
  4. In about 5 seconds, the flame would go off
  5. In about 20 seconds, the ignitor would glow again, and flame would go on in few seconds
  6. Then flame would go off again in about 5 seconds.
  7. I think it cycles —flame would go on and off — until it finishes

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks

18

Oh, BTW, I’ve also tried bypassing the hi-limit thermostat by connecting the two wires together and the flame stayed lit. I didn’t want to leave it like that though.

19

btw - I’ve also tried bypassing the hi-limit thermostat by conecting the wires and the flame stayed lit.