[NWHomebody]

Today we noticed something that seems strange with our dryer while cleaning the laundry room. Even though the door was open and everthing else was in the off position, while wiping the top of the dryer down with a Lysol wipe the timer setting dial got turned to a run position.

While the motor did not run (the door was open and the start button did not get pressed), all of a sudden the heating element kicked in. We probably wouldn't have noticed it, but for the faint clicking and the fact it got very hot real quick.

The dryer door can be open or closed, the motor doesn't turn on, and as long as the "heat selector" is on any heat setting, just turn the dial to any "on" position and the heater core will turn on. Not the dryer...it doesn't run or start spinning, just the heater. And if you then turn the heat setting to "Fluff - No Heat" the element will turn off.

And we ran a test load...when the dryer is supposed to go to cool down mode where it just spins but the heat element is supposed to shut off, it doesn't. It only shuts off when the timer finally get to the off position.

[denman]

Sounds like the heating element is grounded.
It has broken or sagged and is touching the case.

Check the heating coil.
Unplug the unit and both wires to the coil.
Check it with a meter, should be around 10 to 12 ohms.
Then check from each side of the coil to the case/frame, both should be infinite ohms (open). If not the coil is grounded. This can cause your symptoms.