Insufficient drying is usually a blocked or obstructed air flow. If you have cleaned out the outside vent, the problem is probably in your lint chute or airflow intake/outakes.

Take off the back and take out the two screws that are on the inside of the lint filter door. Then take off the lint chute and clean it out along with the air intake/outflow vents. You will probably find a lot of lint, some coins and a a lot of other debris.

Put it back together, make sure you have a strong air flow out the back of the machine before the outside vent is hooked up and you should be all set.

This may also fix your auto drying problem.

If this does not work, post the results and we will try something else.

I just wanted to let you know if you're still around this forum that I had the same problem as the original poster, and your suggestion worked perfectly! I spent not quite an hour, cleaned a plastic shopping bag full of lint out of my vent hose and lint trap, and the dryer IMMEDIATELY went back to working like new!

I don't want to know how much money I saved by not having to call someone to fix something so simple!

Many, MANY thanks!

I may have spoken too soon, however. The air flow was much, much better, but it appears the bigger problem is that the heat shuts off after about 5-10 minutes.

I start the dryer, it tumbles fine, I'm getting great air flow (at least what I'm feeling at the external vent), and it's hot for 5-10 minutes. I can hear the gas pilot start up and light, and definitely feel the heat.

At some point, however, the heat is shutting off and not coming back on. My assumption is that if it was the thermal fuse failing, I would get *no* heat, and it clearly works to some degree because it kicks on; it just doesn't stay on.

I have a repair person coming today, but any tips as to what it might be (so that I can help direct the repair person and perhaps save myself some time/money) would be great.

Many thanks again!