[Hawki39]

I returned from work to find out that my dryer stopped working.
The dryer stopped running in the middle of drying a load of clothes.
No circut breakers were kicked and a friend checked the dryer and determined that there was power to the circuts but the drum light does not go on. The friend seems to think it is the timer assembly? but he cannot understand why the light won't work.
Any help would be greatly appreciated, Thanks

Butch

[denman]

Here are your parts includes a wiring diagram
Replacement parts for MAYTAG PYET344AYW Dryer - Ele | AppliancePartsPros.com

If power is good then odds are the thermal fuse is blown.
You will see that it is before the door switch in the circuit and so if it is blown the light will not work.

If it is blown you have to find out what caused it to go.
Note: that sometimes they do just blow on their own but changing it without checking other things is a gamble.

Check the heating coil.
Unplug the unit and both wires to the coil.
Check it with a meter, should be around 12 ohms.
Then check from each side of the coil to the case/frame, both should be infinite ohms (open). If not the coil may have sagged or broken and is touching the case. This can cause it to run on high and the thermostats cannot regulate it so the thermal fuse blows.

If the above is OK then you will also have to replace the hi-limit as it should have regulated the temperature so the fuse did not blow.

You still have to find out why it blew.
Check that the belt is OK.
Check the seals (drum etc) in the unit. The air is pulled over the heating coils, through the drum and pushed out the exhaust. So any large seal leak will pull in room air and the cycling thermostat on the blower will run the unit hot.
Check that the lint filter is not coated with fabric softener residue which greatly reduces air flow.
Check/clean your vent system.
Check/clean the blower wheel.

If all OK you may want to replace the cycling thermostat as it's contacts may not be opening (welded shut).

[kayakcrzy]

Originally Posted by Hawki39

I returned from work to find out that my dryer stopped working.
The dryer stopped running in the middle of drying a load of clothes.
No circut breakers were kicked and a friend checked the dryer and determined that there was power to the circuts but the drum light does not go on. The friend seems to think it is the timer assembly? but he cannot understand why the light won't work.
Any help would be greatly appreciated, Thanks

Butch

Very common problem. The part # is a LA-1053. It is a thermal fuse kit. Here is what you do. Get a putty knife, and slide it under the top on the right side, and pop the top up on that side, and then do the same on the other side. Then raise the top, and rest it on the back wall. Be sure the dryer is unplugged when you do this repair!!! Then up top, in the middle, you will see the heating element, and the thermostat sitting on top of it. Take the 1/4 inch screw holding the bracket of the thermostat off, and just move the thermostat out of the way, with the wires on it. Then take the 2 wires off of the heating element, and then remove the long 1/4 inch screw holding it in place. Then remove the element. Now to find the thermal fuse, follow the two white wires, and they will lead you to it, on the right side of the heating element housing. Slide you screw driver down there, and pop the bracket off, and then remove, and replace. Look at that bracket that the thermal fuse sits in, and you will see the indentation where the long 1/4 inch screw will slide in. So put the new thermal fuse in with the blue dot on it, and then put the element back in, and with your right hand, hold the bracket with the thermal fuse in place, and then put the long 1/4 inch screw, in, and it will hold the element in place, and the thermal fuse bracket. Once that is done, In the kit I told you to buy, will have the thermostat in it. Replace it, and put the bracket back on. Now, what you need to do is take the front off, because it is most likely full of lint. So, up top, on the inside of the front, on the right and left side, there is a 1/4 inch screw. Remove them both, and then lift up on the front and it will come off. Remove the door switch wires, and remember where they go, and then look on the bottom of the front, where the vent housing is, and clean out all the lint. Stick your arm up there, and get out all you can. Put it back together, and then turn it on, and make sure the vent is clear to the outside, and Happy Drying to you. What do you think, have I done a few??? LOL!!! Tom Appliance Educator, Appliance Parts, Washer and Dryer Parts, Refridgerator and Freezer Parts, Stove and Oven Parts