Dryer all of a sudden wont turn on any more?

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JEDI

JEDI

Lifer
Sep 25, 2001
29,391
2,738
126
dryer is the original that came with the house.
house was built in 1993.

it worked fine last week. no signs of anything wrong.
wont turn on today.
checked the breaker and its fine.

any ideas?
 
C

C1

Platinum Member
Feb 21, 2008
2,404
117
106
Check the dryer unit itself for any fuses or circuit breaker it may itself have. (Try to down load a user manual for your model.)

Best bet is that it's the function switch. Another possibility is a faulty relay. (Often it is possible to start the unit by manually over-riding the main power relay. However, the relay is either defective or is not receiving energizing current to close it, hence, a defective function switch.)
 
M

Mike64

Platinum Member
Apr 22, 2011
2,108
101
91
JEDI said:
any ideas?
Click to expand...
Does it make any kind of sound at all when you try to turn it on? If nothing at all, that would at least suggest a switch or relay problem, rather than a bigger issue like a burned-out/seized-up motor or something... If it "clicks" but/or whines or hums when you try to turn it on, that would tend to augur a bigger, more expensive fix (if worth fixing at all...)
 
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M

Micrornd

Golden Member
Mar 2, 2013
1,378
234
106
shabby said:
But this dryer came out before the internet, doubt you'll find any info on it...
Click to expand...

Highly unlikely!
I have many pre-30s manuals for power tools in my collection that have come from the 'net, and even some from the early 1900's, that have been scanned and posted.
All you need is the make, model #, and the time to look for them.
Knowing how best to search helps too. :)
 
M

Mike64

Platinum Member
Apr 22, 2011
2,108
101
91
Micrornd said:
Highly unlikely!
I have many pre-30s manuals for power tools in my collection that have come from the 'net, and even some from the early 1900's, that have been scanned and posted.
All you need is the make, model #, and the time to look for them.
Knowing how best to search helps too. :)
Click to expand...
The availability of documentation that wasn't originally published on the web really depends on the nature of the item in question, and manuals for ordinary household appliances (and run-of-the-mill consumer electronics, etc) that hold no interest for any sort of "enthusiast" population (and aren't widely sought after by regular users, even ones willing to pay for them) tend to be pretty scarce... I have a (very average) Philips receiver, a model that was officially sold only in Europe in the early 90s, that I bought here (back then) as gray-market goods, and you can barely find a mention of the model number on the Web, let alone the full specs or user's manual, God forbid any sort of service manual or schematics, for example...
 
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M

Micrornd

Golden Member
Mar 2, 2013
1,378
234
106
Mike64 said:
The availability of documentation that wasn't originally published on the web really depends on the nature of the item in question, and manuals for ordinary household appliances (and run-of-the-mill consumer electronics, etc) that hold no interest for any sort of "enthusiast" population (and aren't widely sought after by regular users, even ones willing to pay for them) tend to be pretty scarce... I have a (very average) Philips receiver, a model that was officially sold only in Europe in the early 90s, that I bought here (back then) as gray-market goods, and you can barely find a mention of the model number on the Web, let alone the full specs or user's manual, God forbid any sort of service manual or schematics, for example...
Click to expand...

Don't forget to search non-English sites, especially for European goods.
Many times it starts with simply a picture and then tracking that back to the original poster.
It never hurts to ask the poster if he can help, even if they don't speak the same language. ;)

What is the model # of your Philips receiver?
 
pauldun170

pauldun170

Diamond Member
Sep 26, 2011
9,510
5,734
136
To open up the dryer, clean it out and replace the parts wasn't time consuming at all.
Primary suspects will be a thermal fuse and thermal cutout switch.
Both are cheap.


Turn around time from repairclinic was only a couple of days,ordered it Monday and got it by end of the week.
 
Thump553

Thump553

Lifer
Jun 2, 2000
12,839
2,625
136
I've successfully repaired my dryer a couple of times-they are remarkably simple.

There are two good info sources I'm aware of -Parts Select will give you percentage estimates of what part is causing your problem and they have good prices/availability for the parts PS-I'm just a happy customer, no financial interest in them). http://www.partselect.com/Appliance-Parts.htm

Secondly, youtube (and also Parts Select) has a lot of good videos on how to disassemble/reassemble your dryer-greatly increases the comfort level for a newbie who never did it before. and good for those little tricks not obvious to someone who never tackled the job before.

Finally your dryer is probably the equivalent of a Rolls Royce compared to what they make today-fix it if possible.

Look around for the nameplate for your dryer-mine was hidden away on the inside of the door, as I recall. The parts sites/google may give some ideas where to look..
 
pauldun170

pauldun170

Diamond Member
Sep 26, 2011
9,510
5,734
136
JEDI said:
what do u mean?
my dryer is 25 yrs old!

was thinking of buying this since my current dryer also isn't drying as well as it used to:
http://www.sears.com/kenmore-7.3-cu-ft-electric-dryer-w-sensor/p-02681182000P
Click to expand...

I have an old 90's era Kenmore.
In 2011 I spent $40 (including shipping) to replace all pulleys and belts. One of the rollers was shot and noisy. I ordered the full pulley\roller kit instead of just the one bum roller because "why not. I have this thing open and kit was cheap"
Took less than 30 minutes and the end result was a nice quiet dryer/

In 2014, after a few years of declining performance it had the same issue as yours. Wouldn't turn on.
Replaced a $12 Thermal Fuse and $24 Thermal cutoff switch (Can't remember which one was the culprit but I order both because "why not? The dryer is open and the part is cheap")
That fixed the no start issue.
Replaced the heater element for $70 while I was at it
That fixed the drying performance.
Works beautifully. Dries everything quickly and quietly.
The time and money to fix it was significantly less than to go out and shop for a replacement, install the replacement and then dispose of the old one.
 
N

natto fire

Diamond Member
Jan 4, 2000
7,117
10
76
JEDI said:
what do u mean?
my dryer is 25 yrs old!

was thinking of buying this since my current dryer also isn't drying as well as it used to:
http://www.sears.com/kenmore-7.3-cu-ft-electric-dryer-w-sensor/p-02681182000P
Click to expand...
I think they were implying that an older dryer is a robust machine with mechanical timers and simple circuitry. Not sure why they would choose a horribly unreliable British car manufacturer as the analogy, but it translated for me.

I just got a dryer with the same specs, had to have a mechanical timer. Only had it a month, but was glad to find a new one with no circuit boards.
 
Torn Mind

Torn Mind

Lifer
Nov 25, 2012
12,078
2,772
136
Power is not getting there, but it is a matter of where. A non-contact voltage tester is your first step to finding the fault safely.

Could be a faulty switch, but it also could be a motor that has finally had its brushes fail.

Generally speaking, parts diagrams are readily available for most dryers at sites like RepairClinic, PartSelect, AppliancePartPros, etc with just a model number. Montgomery Wards appliances are likely lacking in documentation due to their early closure.
 
pcgeek11

pcgeek11

Lifer
Jun 12, 2005
22,387
5,003
136
The Thermal switch normally only cuts off the heaters and the drum will run.

Door safety switch is where I would start, but it is old and it could be anything.
 
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