Anyone know a thing or 2 about dryers..... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Plantman · #1 11-29-2004, 10:41 PM

I have an out of warranty, 3 year old Whirlpool electric dryer.

It turns and turns but no heat.

I can't seem to find anyone to come before Thursday and then it will be a 75.00 minumum labor charge.

I am thinking that it is the thermal fuse according to the service tech I spoke to.

Anyone have any idea where it may be located or what it looks like? I have the back off and see all sorts of plugs, etc..but have no idea what a drier fuse looks like. The troubleshooting guide says likely the fuse, but no pic.

I'd hate to buy a new one considering it's not that old and the replacement is about 475.00. Especially if it something simple like a fuse.

Thanks

GottaDiesel · #2 11-29-2004, 10:45 PM

The best advice...

Go to www.doityourself.com and post in the Appliance forum there are 3 people there that REALLY know they stuff! They have helped me to fix my dishwasher, and my microwave.

Make sure you go in the correct forum when you post, NOT the small applicance one... you'll see what I mean when you get there.

Good luck,

Pete

#3 11-29-2004, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plantman

I have an out of warranty, 3 year old Whirlpool electric dryer.

I am thinking that it is the thermal fuse according to the service tech I spoke to.

Thanks

Take the rear cover off find the wire that go's to the heater, one of them go's to the thermistor it's usually a silver round thing.

Piece of cake.

#4 11-29-2004, 10:59 PM

Gotta's link is the one I learned about dryers on BTW.

Plantman · #5 11-29-2004, 11:03 PM

The internet is a wonderful thing. I googled dryer repair and got a site called fixitnow.com

Great info. at least I was able to ID the thermal fuse. Now I gotta check continuity????? Will check out the other suite as well.

Thanks

LK1 · #6 11-29-2004, 11:32 PM

Go to Whirlpool's website, if they have one. Most likely they will have an exploded view of your dryer (get the Model and serial number, etc off the dryer first) and you should be able to order the parts. I have Kenmore appliances and Sears has a great website (they may have Whirlpool parts).
I have fixed both my dryer and washing machine myself for something llike $15 each. Hell, if I can work on a car I can certainly fix an appliance with many fewer moving pieces! Take your time, take pictures with your digital camera if your not sure you can remember where all the pieces go and it's a cinch. Good luck.
PS, unplug it first!

LK1 · #7 11-29-2004, 11:35 PM

http://www.applianceaccessories.com/thirdlevel.asp?MapID=26&Category=Whirlpool%20Brand@Repair@Laundry%20Repair

Here's your link

wbain5280 · #8 11-30-2004, 01:33 AM

I did some work on a previous dryer and the thermal breaker/fuse broke apart into many small pieces. I bought a replacement. I also put in a new belt. Those repairs were fine but the wife wanted a new washer and dryer.

Vacuum out all the lint, make sure the vent tubing is clear of any lint, they do have to cleaned periodicaly, and number 1 on the list is to unplug the dryer!

#9 11-30-2004, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plantman

The internet is a wonderful thing. I googled dryer repair and got a site called fixitnow.com

Great info. at least I was able to ID the thermal fuse. Now I gotta check continuity????? Will check out the other suite as well.

Thanks

Use a multimeter set on ohm's and place the probes on each contact. If the meter reads 000.0 the fuse is good. You can get mulitmeters at radio shack for $10 and once you learn how to use it it will pay for itself 1000 times before the battery dies.

G-Benz · #10 11-30-2004, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wbain5280

I did some work on a previous dryer and the thermal breaker/fuse broke apart into many small pieces. I bought a replacement. I also put in a new belt. Those repairs were fine but the wife wanted a new washer and dryer.

Same here! Coulda fixed the ailing unit, but my wife has been wanting a set of front loaders for awhile now...this was the perfect excuse for her to get them, so I obliged...

...now her friends are envious and are badgering their husbands to replace theirs!

nellotare · #11 11-30-2004, 12:27 PM

The fixitnow site lead me to the hilarious Samurai Appleance Repairman and eventually http://fixitnow.com/beerfund.htm

hilariously honest!

Plantman · #12 12-01-2004, 12:18 AM

After some investigating, I pulled the element out and noticed a broken spring. 45.00 later and she's good as new.

Very easy fix if you know what to look for.

Thanks for the tips.

unkl300d · #13 12-01-2004, 12:26 AM

Front loaders don't seem to have much space inside and you have to bend over to load and unload.

I've read alot of complaint sites that mention the neptune series as junk full of problems.
My opinion is to keep away from logic boards and busy electronics.
Simple is better.
Good luck !!

BrierS · #14 12-01-2004, 06:22 AM

Getting more-and-more off subject yet since the original problem has now been fixed . . . I just purchased the Neptune "stackers" which are both front loaders. Not that I had a problem with room (I have a dedicated laundry room on the first floor) but because of their design. I researched and read about the class-action lawsuit and settlement yet those were problems with earlier models. As the local Maytag repair person said to me, "it did them good to get sued because it woke them up. They now make a product that I can sell w/o having to revisit it time and time again." He told me he has already seen a reduction in repair calls. Time will tell but so far these are the best washer/dryer I have owned.

Gilly · #15 12-01-2004, 08:59 AM

My brother had nothing but trouble with his Neptunes (this was early production though) and the appliance place would give him trade-in on them, but could NOT take them back physically because their warehouse was already full of them, both new and defective/returned units!
OK, this was actually just the washers (leaking) I think he still has the original drier, but went to a top-loader washer. That's what we bought a few years back, a "matching" top loader washer and front-loading drier. You can get into some really nice cavernous stainless steel washers and driers these days, hardly ever need the laundromat anymore, only once or twice a year for thick bedspreads. And even then we can still dry them at home, just a little too big for the washing machine.

Gilly