Dryer Help

[vvvvvvv]

Probably a simple fix, but wanted to ask advice before I start throwing parts at it.

Dryer stops after approximately 4 minutes. Very hot inside, outside is cool to the touch.

I'm thinking thermistor. What needs to be checked?

 

[Istandalone]

Probably your upper limit therm.

 

[vvvvvvv]

Probably your upper limit therm.

Would that cause it to stop running?

I can start it right back up, but then it stops again after another 4 minutes or so.

 

[Istandalone]

I'm stumped. I just usually throw parts into it and check for online solutions.

I guess you checked the exhaust vent and filter screen to make sure that was not clogged. How old is it? What brand? Could your motor be over heating because of lint or dust around it? Does it run on the no heat or low heat setting without stopping?

 

[inactive]

On most dryers, if the thermostats (one or both) are shot, it will turn all day long but you get no heat. If the thermal fuse for the motor is blown, it stays dead until the fuse is replaced.

IMHO this sounds like the motor is shot, and overheating.

 

[vvvvvvv]

It's a 1995ish model Whirlpool. I thought lint or dust (or really, cat hair), but after a thorough ShopVaccing it still does it.

It doesn't do it on the low heat that I'm aware of. We always run high. Without a load, it took 10 minutes to shut off.

I think it started doing this about a month ago, or at least we have noticed. But we had been writing it off as "routine", you know, where you're busy and you swear you pressed it but you must not have... except today is when it started doing it persistently. Before, you could just go back in there, start it, and it'd run a full cycle. I noticed this morning that the load I had put in last night had stopped at the "less dry" mark (we always start at "very dry" because the * has never been enough).

 

[finnimus]

Did you check the vent to make sure it's still clear to the outside? That can cause a lot of odd issues. It sounds ridiculous, but it's a common cause of issues.

 

[cowzrul]

Did you check the vent to make sure it's still clear to the outside? That can cause a lot of odd issues. It sounds ridiculous, but it's a common cause of issues.

+1 Happened to me before. Now I check ducting about once a year.

 

[Powerman620]

Take a look here, has helped me before
http://www.applianceblog.com/mainforums/

 

[elwoodtrix]

I use my leaf blower to blow through the lint trap