We have a 7-year-old Whirlpool electric clothes dryer which worked
perfectly until today. It will run for a few minutes, then shut off.
The lint filter is clean and the exhaust is getting outside without
any blockage; good flow at the exhaust. It is heating, the clothes are
warm although still wet. When it shuts off, it starts right up again
when we push the start button but only runs for a few minutes again.

This is one of those with the moisture sensor, where you can set the
dial on a dryness range. We've used that feature for seven years with
normal dryness on high heat. Since the trouble started, I've tried the
straight timed drying cycle and it still shuts off. Same thing with
the low heat moisture sensor setting. I guess I'll have to put it on
the fluff cycle, air dry with no heat, just to complete the set.

My guess is that the motor is overheating, flipping a breaker inside
the dryer. When it's been off for a while, it resets and the dryer
will start. Either that or the safety switch that turns it off when
the door is opened is going crazy and sending the signal that the door
is opened even though it isn't.

Any ideas before we go buy a new one?

Paul

"Pavel314" wrote in message
...
We have a 7-year-old Whirlpool electric clothes dryer which worked
perfectly until today. It will run for a few minutes, then shut off.
The lint filter is clean and the exhaust is getting outside without
any blockage; good flow at the exhaust. It is heating, the clothes are
warm although still wet. When it shuts off, it starts right up again
when we push the start button but only runs for a few minutes again.

This is one of those with the moisture sensor, where you can set the
dial on a dryness range. We've used that feature for seven years with
normal dryness on high heat. Since the trouble started, I've tried the
straight timed drying cycle and it still shuts off. Same thing with
the low heat moisture sensor setting. I guess I'll have to put it on
the fluff cycle, air dry with no heat, just to complete the set.

My guess is that the motor is overheating, flipping a breaker inside
the dryer. When it's been off for a while, it resets and the dryer
will start. Either that or the safety switch that turns it off when
the door is opened is going crazy and sending the signal that the door
is opened even though it isn't.

Any ideas before we go buy a new one?

Paul

First... Check to see if the drive motor is covered with lint. This will let
the motor over heat and trip the reset motor overload. WW

On Sun, 7 Nov 2010 13:13:57 -0800 (PST), Pavel314
wrote:

We have a 7-year-old Whirlpool electric clothes dryer which worked
perfectly until today. It will run for a few minutes, then shut off.
The lint filter is clean and the exhaust is getting outside without
any blockage; good flow at the exhaust. It is heating, the clothes are
warm although still wet. When it shuts off, it starts right up again
when we push the start button but only runs for a few minutes again.

This is one of those with the moisture sensor, where you can set the
dial on a dryness range. We've used that feature for seven years with
normal dryness on high heat. Since the trouble started, I've tried the
straight timed drying cycle and it still shuts off. Same thing with
the low heat moisture sensor setting. I guess I'll have to put it on
the fluff cycle, air dry with no heat, just to complete the set.

My guess is that the motor is overheating, flipping a breaker inside
the dryer. When it's been off for a while, it resets and the dryer
will start. Either that or the safety switch that turns it off when
the door is opened is going crazy and sending the signal that the door
is opened even though it isn't.

Any ideas before we go buy a new one?

Paul
I have a dryer that stops at a specific point in the total drying
cycle about once every three months. I just reset by flipping the
dryer circuit breaker at the main for about 20 seconds. Try it. Sort
of like ctrl.alt.del

On Nov 7, 3:52*pm, "WW" wrote:
"Pavel314" wrote in message

...





We have a 7-year-old Whirlpool electric clothes dryer which worked
perfectly until today. It will run for a few minutes, then shut off.
The lint filter is clean and the exhaust is getting outside without
any blockage; good flow at the exhaust. It is heating, the clothes are
warm although still wet. When it shuts off, it starts right up again
when we push the start button but only runs for a few minutes again.

This is one of those with the moisture sensor, where you can set the
dial on a dryness range. We've used that feature for seven years with
normal dryness on high heat. Since the trouble started, I've tried the
straight timed drying cycle and it still shuts off. Same thing with
the low heat moisture sensor setting. I guess I'll have to put it on
the fluff cycle, air dry with no heat, just to complete the set.

My guess is that the motor is overheating, flipping a breaker inside
the dryer. When it's been off for a while, it resets and the dryer
will start. Either that or the safety switch that turns it off when
the door is opened is going crazy and sending the signal that the door
is opened even though it isn't.

Any ideas before we go buy a new one?

Paul

First... Check to see if the drive motor is covered with lint. This will let
the motor over heat and trip the reset motor overload. WW- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

The cover on the dryer probably comes off by pushing in on two clips
located at the front top corners of the cover and then hinges up on
two clips located at the back of the top cover. once the top is up,
vacuum everything in sight, especuially around the motor. The fact
that it stops no matter how the heat is set is a good clue that it is
the motor. You don't say if it restarts immediately or if some time
elapses before you restart it. My guess is that you find it stopped
and then restart it, rather than sitting there waiting for it to
stop. If there is a time lapse, then the motor has time to cool off.
Of you restart it immediately after it stops, I would expect that it
woudl stop again very shortly as the motor is already close to the
overheating tripping point.

Try jumping out the door switch and see if it still happens. This will
eliminate if its the door switch or not. Just don't open the door
while its drying.

Cut the power at the breaker first before doing this obviously.

On Sun, 7 Nov 2010 13:13:57 -0800 (PST), Pavel314
wrote:


My guess is that the motor is overheating, flipping a breaker inside
the dryer.

Isn't it likely that the breaker is in the motor itself?

When it's been off for a while, it resets and the dryer
will start. Either that or the safety switch that turns it off when
the door is opened is going crazy and sending the signal that the door
is opened even though it isn't.

Any ideas before we go buy a new one?

Paul

Pavel314 wrote:
We have a 7-year-old Whirlpool electric clothes dryer which worked
perfectly until today. It will run for a few minutes, then shut off.
The lint filter is clean and the exhaust is getting outside without
any blockage; good flow at the exhaust. It is heating, the clothes are
warm although still wet. When it shuts off, it starts right up again
when we push the start button but only runs for a few minutes again.

This is one of those with the moisture sensor, where you can set the
dial on a dryness range. We've used that feature for seven years with
normal dryness on high heat. Since the trouble started, I've tried the
straight timed drying cycle and it still shuts off. Same thing with
the low heat moisture sensor setting. I guess I'll have to put it on
the fluff cycle, air dry with no heat, just to complete the set.

My guess is that the motor is overheating, flipping a breaker inside
the dryer. When it's been off for a while, it resets and the dryer
will start. Either that or the safety switch that turns it off when
the door is opened is going crazy and sending the signal that the door
is opened even though it isn't.

Any ideas before we go buy a new one?

Paul

I have a 38 year-old Maytag dryer.
the element is around the periphery of the drum.
The element broke and sprung itself against ground.
So, part of the element was running on 120V.
Just by luck, it almost worked, although not very hot.
Overcurrent can pop a thermal cutout. Element can
change shape as it gets hot and disconnect itself.

Some other culprits is the timer, which has contacts inside that can
wear out causing an open, which will turn off the dryer.

Also some dryers have a tensioner pulley for the belt with a
microswitch on it. The purpose of it is if the belt breaks, the switch
on the pulley assembly opens and shuts down the dryer.

On Sun, 07 Nov 2010 13:13:57 -0800, Pavel314 wrote:
Any ideas before we go buy a new one?

Take it apart - could be any number of sensors (ours has airflow and a
couple of overheats, along with the door switch). I expect that the top
and rear panels come off easily, same with any internal exhaust ducting
(our elderly machine was choked inside with debris and lint that had
gradually made it past the filter, despite seeming to have good exhaust
flow - cleaning it out improved dry times no end)

Yes, it might be the motor or timer - but it could just as easily be
something obvious such as a loose wire or busted component.

cheers

Jules

On Nov 8, 1:09*pm, Jules Richardson
wrote:
On Sun, 07 Nov 2010 13:13:57 -0800, Pavel314 wrote:
Any ideas before we go buy a new one?

Take it apart - could be any number of sensors (ours has airflow and a
couple of overheats, along with the door switch). I expect that the top
and rear panels come off easily, same with any internal exhaust ducting
(our elderly machine was choked inside with debris and lint that had
gradually made it past the filter, despite seeming to have good exhaust
flow - cleaning it out improved dry times no end)

Yes, it might be the motor or timer - but it could just as easily be
something obvious such as a loose wire or busted component.

cheers

Jules

I opened it up last night. Like yours, the fan was packed with dust,
lint, pumpkin seeds and a couple of nails. It was very dense and must
have put quite a strain on the motor to keep it moving. I cleaned
everything and put it back together for a test run with some damp
clothes. Unfortunately, it still shuts off after about five minutes. I
guess the motor must have been permanently damaged by all that extra
weight over the years and gave out. Time for a new one.

Paul