If a Kenmore dryer’s start switch button is constantly engaged but the machine won’t turn on, it may be an indication of either a defective power cord or a defective control panel. The most common reason for such problems is an overloaded outlet or circuit.
Kenmore Dryer Won’t Start / Turn On
The thermal fuse or thermistor is responsible for breaking the circuit when the temperature within the dryer gets too high. This is achieved by the fuse itself breaking, preventing continuous flow of electricity.
Once the fuse is blown, the dryer will no longer turn on. However, the thermal fuse is very easy to locate and replace. Once you have purchased a replacement, follow the steps below to install the new thermal fuse.
Step 1: Turn off the electricity or unplug your dryer from the power.Step 2: Remove the screws from the back panel and lift the panel off.Step 3: Locate the thermal fuse (follow the wires).Step 4: Unplug the two wires from the fuse.Step 5: Remove the screw from the fuse to detach it from the dryer.Step 6: Replace the old fuse with a new one by reversing these steps.
The drive motor is what rotates the belt to turn the drum, and also what drives the fan blade in the blower. When this is broken, no air will flow through the dryer and the drum will not rotate. You should still see lights on the dryer when the drive motor is broken, but the dryer will not turn on.
The drive motor is more complicated to replace, but is located in the front of the dryer housing. You will need to remove both the front and back panels of the dryer to detach the motor from the drive belt and blower fan blade. You will also need to open the top of the dryer so that you can lift the drum out of the way.
The drive belt winds around a series of pulleys and the dryer drum, rotating the drum as it circulates around. This is powered by the motor and monitored by the belt switch. If the belt slips off its pulleys or breaks, the belt switch is activated, stopping the dryer.
If the drive belt is broken or has slipped out of place, the dryer would still blow hot air into the drum, but the drum would not rotate to circulate your clothes. However, if there is a belt switch, which is the case in Kenmore dryers, the whole dryer will turn off when this happens.
For this reason, the dryer will not turn on if there is something wrong with the drive belt, or if the belt switch is faulty. You can manually inspect these components by opening up the front of the dryer and following the drive belt all the way around.
The control board manages all functions within the dryer, supplying voltage to each component when required. This is located behind the control panel, which you can easily remove by removing the end panels and unscrewing the control panel.
Some damage to the control board may not be visible, but other damage can include scorch marks or moisture build-up. When the control board is broken, you will not be able to use the dryer until you have replaced it.
However, not all control board malfunctions are a result of physical damage. Sometimes, such as in a power outage or a short circuit, the control board has an error that can be fixed by restarting the dryer. Follow the steps below to restart your Kenmore dryer.
Step 1: Unplug the dryer from its power source.Step 2: Wait at least five minutes.Step 3: Plug the dryer back into the power outlet and turn it on.
Kenmore dryers have a built-in safety mechanism that will prevent the dryer from running while the door is open. Therefore, if there is any fault with the door switch or the door latch, the dryer will think that the door is open, even if it is closed. You will not be able to start the dryer until the faulty component is fixed.
You can access these components by removing the top of the dryer. If the latch is faulty, you should notice the door does not close as it used to. A faulty door switch is not as obvious, but you can test this for electrical continuity using a multimeter.
It may seem obvious, but if the start switch is not working, the dryer will not start. This is not very common, so it is more likely to be one of the above issues. You can test the start switch by ensuring there is electrical continuity through the switch when using a multimeter.
The start switch can be accessed from behind the control panel. You can remove the front of the control panel by first removing the screws at either end. These screws are usually hidden by two end caps that can easily be slipped off.
Once you have removed the screws, you should be able to pull the control panel forward to reveal the wires. Make sure your electricity is turned off before touching any internal components of your dryer. Unplug the wires from the start switch and test it for continuity with the multimeter.
The heating element is part of the electrical circuit within your dryer, heating up as electricity flows through it. This is what warms the air flowing into the dryer to dry your clothes. If this heating element is faulty, this can cause the whole dryer to short circuit, tripping your breaker.
You can see if the heating element is faulty by removing the back panel of your dryer and removing the heating element. Make sure you have turned the power off beforehand, but the heating element should be the silver box on the right side. Once removed, check the element for any broken wires that could be causing the short circuit.
A faulty drive motor, which I mentioned is found in the front and bottom of the unit, can also cause a short circuit in your dryer. You can check whether or not the motor is faulty by using a multimeter. If the motor does not demonstrate continuity, it is likely the cause of the breaker tripping, and it will need to be replaced.
A damaged power cord can short circuit your dryer. If this is the case, you should be able to see the damage or burn marks, and you may even smell burning or hear popping or buzzing prior to the breaker tripping. This is true for any damaged wire within the dryer unit, including small wires on the control or circuit board.
A thermostat is different to a fuse in that a fuse will only work once to shut off the power. Once the fuse is blown, you must replace it to run your dryer again. A thermostat, on the other hand, runs continuously and can turn the power off several times.
The high-limit thermostat will break the circuit if the temperature reaches dangerous levels. However, if this thermostat is broken, it may switch off the power prematurely, thinking that the dryer is overheating when it is not. This would cause the dryer to turn off at moderate or even low temperatures, giving the impression that it keeps turning off shortly after running the cycle.
There is another type of thermostat used in your Kenmore dryer, known as the cycling thermostat. I will discuss this further down, but this can also contribute to the dryer turning off prematurely.
The dryer’s timer allows you to set the length of time that you want your clothes to be drying. This timer contains switches that have the ability to break the electrical circuit within the dryer when it reaches the end of the allotted time. If this timer has malfunctioned, the switch may turn off too soon, causing the dryer to keep turning off.
How much does it cost to replace a dryer switch?
If your dryer switch is broken, your dryer might not start at all. The door switch has the important function of detecting whether the door is open or closed. It won’t give the go signal to the control panel when the door is open. With a defective switch, the control panel might think that the door is still open, that’s why it won’t run.
The good thing is that the door switch is relatively cheap to replace, and it’s easy to fix. It’ll cost you around $50 to $150 to have your dryer restored to good working condition.
To determine if a faulty switch is really the culprit for why your dryer won’t run, you need to contact a technician. The switch has to be taken out and tested using a multimeter.
To remove and replace the door switch, the technician will:
The door switch is one of the components that the technician will check when your dryer isn’t working. If it is defective, have it replaced so you can have your dryer running again, and you can leave your clothes to dry and have them ready for use again.
Getting stuck with a broken dryer in the middle of laundry day can put a damper on anyone’s mood. Troubleshoot why your dryer won’t start with these tips about what may have gone wrong.
By Brie Greenhalgh | Updated May 20, 2022 4:11 PM
FAQ
Why is my Kenmore Elite dryer not turning on?
What would cause a dryer to have no power?
Where is the fuse on a Kenmore Elite dryer?
