No start, but heats just by timer knob

The dryer will not start. The motor does nothing, no hum, no click, nothing. It turns freely as does the drum. However the heating element starts heating as soon as the timer knob is turned into a heating cycle without pressing the start button. It does so on the low heat and both of the high heat cycles, but nothing on the air dry cycle. The motor does nothing on any of the four cycles. Any ideas? :confused: