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cjwojcik  
#1 Posted : Sunday, May 29, 2011 1:22:10 PM(UTC)
cjwojcik

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Whirlpool Dryer GEW9250pwo stopped heating and stopped turning on but we had power. We cleaned out the vents, etc etc etc. and then replaced the thermal fuse, thermal cut-off, high temp thermostat, and thermister. Still not heating but now it tumbles and turns. We ordered the heating element thinking that went bad but still no heat. Then bypassed the thermal cut-off and it started heating. Could we have received a bad thermal cut-off part? I know it's usually not the new part but ..... Should the thermal fuse have an infinity reading... could that be bad too? For safety reasons we don't want to operate the dryer without the thermal cut-off being operable but want to know where we should start next... any suggestions?
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denman  
#2 Posted : Monday, May 30, 2011 7:41:41 AM(UTC)
denman

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Here are your parts
Replacement parts for WHIRLPOOL GEW9250PW0 ELECTRIC DRYER | AppliancePartsPros.com

See the attachment for the tech sheet.

We may have a semantics problem.
The thermal fuse (Item 59 in Section 3) kills power to the motor.
From your post it sounds like this is OK.
The most common cause of this blowing is a dirty or malfunctioning vent system.

The thermal cut-off (Item 47 in Section 3) kills power to your heating coil.
Here is my usual blurb if this one is blown.
Check the heating coil.
Unplug the unit and both wires to the coil.
Check it with a meter, should be around 8 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 may have sagged or broken and is touching the case (grounded). This can cause it to run on high and the thermostats cannot regulate it so the thermal cut-off blows.

The hi-limit should have regulated the temperature so the fuse did not blow, that is why there is a new one with the thermal cut-off..
Note: That unless there is another problem in the unit the hi-limit should never have to open. It is just a safety device with the fuse being a backup safety device.

Just in case it is not a grounded element.
With all the below the high limit will also have to be replaced.
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 check the thermistor for resistance.
Also there is a possibility that it could be the control board.

I am guessing that you may have had a grounded element. This blew the thermal fuse and perhaps the thermal cutout. You then replaced these.
It then blew the thermal cutout. Now that the heating coil has been replaced perhaps all you need is a new thermal cutout.
The above is just a guess on my part.

If you do not own a meter, I would suggest you purchase a one. You can get a decent digital multimeter for under $20.00. You do not need fancy though it is nice if the leads are a couple feet long.
If it saves ordering one unnecessary part it has paid for itself and you end up owning a useful tool.
Most places will not let you return electrical parts so if you order it, you own it.
A couple things to watch when measuring ohms and continuity
1. Always remove power from the machine otherwise you could blow your meter.
2. Always disconnect at least one side of any device you are checking. This eliminates the possibility of measuring an alternate/parallel circuit path.
3. When checking for closed contacts and continuity use the lowest scale (Usually 200 ohms). Then try higher scales. This scale is 0 to 200 ohms so if the device you are measuring is 300 ohms this scale would show an open circuit which it is not, you are just measuring outside the scale's dynamic range.

There is a good STICKY at the start of this forum about it's use.
File Attachment(s):
GEW9250.pdf (357kb) downloaded 23 time(s).
THIS FORUM IS DEAD!!!!!!!
cjwojcik  
#3 Posted : Monday, May 30, 2011 9:25:29 AM(UTC)
cjwojcik

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Sounds like a great plan and I'm sure the initial blowing out of the thermal parts had to do with the amount of lint build up in the venting system. I do own a meter (had it for years) and had checked what you said. The weird thing to me is the infinite reading I get on the thermal fuse.
I'm replacing the cutout again and we'll see. Thanks for your help- this is a great forum!
denman  
#4 Posted : Monday, May 30, 2011 11:17:14 AM(UTC)
denman

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Well I am stumped, the motor should not be able to run with an open (infinite resistance) thermal fuse.

If I were you I would spend some time and investigate this further.
By the sound of it the thermal fuse is not doing what it should which is provide over-temperature protection and this is the fuse that protects the unit from lint fires which can turn into house fires.
THIS FORUM IS DEAD!!!!!!!
cjwojcik  
#5 Posted : Monday, June 13, 2011 5:46:39 PM(UTC)
cjwojcik

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Well the good news is that the dryer is now fixed. Replaced the thermal cutout again and this time all is good... 9 days now and still strong. The bad news is I'm still not sure if the first replacement cutout was bad (unusual) or it blew again from something else (?).

All is working now and will be more mindful in the future about checking the vents for lint build up- perhaps I will go ahead and replace the flex vent more often and run that wet-dry vac up the line and throughout the dryer itself more than once a year. Really is not a great system when the dryer vents through the roof. THANK YOU SO MUCH for your help.
denman  
#6 Posted : Wednesday, June 15, 2011 2:10:12 AM(UTC)
denman

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You are welcome, glad to hear you are up and running.

And thanks for getting back to us. Now when others search for a similar problem they will see what actually worked instead of just suggestions about what could be the cause.

Yes, roof vents are a royal pain and should be avoided where ever possible.
THIS FORUM IS DEAD!!!!!!!
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