Is this a problem that cannot be fixed? It has been two weeks since my post with no reply.

Perhaps my experience will help someone with the same problem. I have a Kenmore Elite Gas Dryer (made by Whirlpool). It is about 5 years old.

Several years ago, it stopped heating, and by sheer luck, I replaced the circuit board, and solved the problem.

Recently, the dryer again stopped heating. I used my very basic ohmmeter skills to determine that the heating element, thermal fuse, trimister, etc. were all in working order.

One gas valve was somewhat out of spec, so I replaced both--no luck. The heating element ended up crumbling in my hand, so I replaced it--no luck. Finally, since the circuit board was the cause earlier, and was now $45 instead of $95 (and had been redesigned) I replaced it--no luck.

Although I suspected that the heater relay was bad, I could not figure out how to test it. By this time, my wife was begining to balk at not having a dryer for two weeks, so I called a repairman. After a quick visit and a bill for $179, the dryer worked--it was indeed the heater relay located on the control panel. The repairman, because of his experience, simply crossed the two red wires on the relay and the dryer began to work.

While it killed me to have to pay $179 to replaced a $29 part, I can see that in the end, what one pays for when calling a repairman is his or her diagnostic experience.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!