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ddraker  
#1 Posted : Monday, July 11, 2011 11:07:19 AM(UTC)
ddraker

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My Maytag Performa Dryer will not run. I'm currently in the process of testing several components. Came across the Control Thermostat on the blower housing. It's a Therm-O-Disc 69T11. It has four terminals and four wires connecting to it. How do you test it to see if it's bad or not?
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denman  
#2 Posted : Monday, July 11, 2011 12:06:54 PM(UTC)
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Here are your parts includes a wiring diagram.
Replacement parts for MAYTAG PYE3300AYW DRYER- ELE | AppliancePartsPros.com

What you are looking at is the cycling thermostat. It is not in the motor start circuit. It just controls the heating element. @ of the connectors are the thermostat's contacts the other two are a built in heater. This is turned on for lower heat settings. The contacts should be 0 ohms and the heater about 30,000 ohms at room temperature.

A more likely cause is the thermal fuse (Item 5 in Section 4).
It should be 0 ohms at room temperature.

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 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.

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 fuse kit.
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 replace the cycling thermostat as it's contacts may not be opening (welded shut).

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.
4. When you start always short the meter leads together. This will tell you that the meter is working and if there is any 0 offset.

There is a good STICKY at the start of this forum about it's use.

Could also be a power problem.
Set the timer to timed dry, if the timer advances then you have the correct power to at least run the motor.
If not.
Try flipping the breaker off/on slowly a couple times.
Sometimes you can loose half the line without actually tripping the breaker.
If this does nothing, check the voltage at the plug
L1 to L2 should be 240 volts
L1 to Neutral and L2 to Neutral, both should be 120 volts.
If OK
Unplug the unit and check the wires at the terminal strip in the machine to make sure none are loose or burned out
If OK
Check the power at the terminal strip.
Do this with the heater off and on.
[COLOR="Red"]Be careful as 240 volts is lethal !!![/COLOR]
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ddraker  
#3 Posted : Wednesday, July 13, 2011 9:00:03 AM(UTC)
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Denman,

Thank you for your assistance. The cycling thermostat tested fine. The problem, just as you suggested, was the thermal fuse.

Replaced the thermal fuse, the hi-limit thermostat, and cleaned out the lint filter and vent system. It's running perfectly now.

Thanks again.
denman  
#4 Posted : Wednesday, July 13, 2011 10:10:54 AM(UTC)
denman

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You are welcome

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.
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thorning  
#5 Posted : Monday, October 22, 2012 10:42:30 AM(UTC)
thorning

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I have a Maytag electric dryer model PYE3300AYW with s/n 10116666YH that refuses to turn the drum or heat . I have checked all of the normal things such as the door switch, the heating coil, the safety thermostat at the heating coil, the regulating thermostat at the front end of the blower and all of these components are showing the proper readings. The timer is advancing when on a timed dry and the push to start button was also temporarily bypassed with a jumper wire. There is 220 volt power to the unit as the interior light comes on when the door is open and there is 220 volt power at the terminal strip . The drum turns fairly easy and the fan is not bound up. However I did have to clean out a lot of lint down inside the lower section . I am not sure where to go next and am wondering if the motor is bad and how can I test it.
denman  
#6 Posted : Tuesday, October 23, 2012 12:37:03 AM(UTC)
denman

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I am assuming that the unit seems to be totally dead (no noises)

The parts link above does have a wiring diagram.
You may as well check the full motor start circuit.
Attach one meter lead to Neutral and leave it there. Could use the line cord plug if you want.
Set the timer to timed dry mid cycle and use the most sensitive meter scale.
Now check both sides of the Thermal Fuse, both should be 0 ohms.
Check the White wire at the motor , should be 0 ohms.
Check the Purple wire at the motor, should be a couple ohms (motor windings)
All the following readings should be a couple ohms.
Check the Purple wire at the timer (S).
Push the start button and check the Orange wire (M) at the timer.
With the start button pushed, check the L connector at the timer.
Also check the L1 at the end of the line cord.

The above should help you find the fault.
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thorning  
#7 Posted : Tuesday, October 23, 2012 1:59:52 AM(UTC)
thorning

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I decided to remove the drum and take a look at the motor area. As soon as I removed the drum I found a broken wire on a device that is attached presumably by adhesive to the side of the motor. This device, I believe is called a motor protector. The Faston connector was replaced and its wire was repaired and cemented back in place. Reassembled the dryer and plugged it in and it works fine. The wire is a blue wire but I could not find it on the schematic which was taped on the inside of the control panel. This broken wire is not on a moving part as far as I can tell and may have broken due to a less than adequate crimp at time of mfg. The other wire connection to this device was checked and found to be sound.
denman  
#8 Posted : Tuesday, October 23, 2012 3:09:33 AM(UTC)
denman

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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.
[COLOR="Blue"]
This device, I believe is called a motor protector.[/COLOR]
Yes that is what it would be. It is supposed to open if the motor overheats killing power to the motor's windings, protecting it from burning up. Once the motor cools down it will reset.
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