Two weeks ago our dryer made an intermittant squeeling noise. Just last night I turned the dryer on and the drum barely moved then it stopped. I tried it again, it buzzed, drum barely moved then it quit. By the 3rd try nothing! Let it sit and repeated with the same results. I've removed the back and pulled apart the lint vent and it was clean. Tried turning it on by keeping the start button pressed and again the drum barely moves then it quits.....plus I get a 'burnt' smell coming from the dryer. Where do I start or is this an obvious motor problem?

Two weeks ago our dryer made an intermittant squeeling noise.
This could be the motor bearings but there are a number of other possible causes.

Just last night I turned the dryer on and the drum barely moved then it stopped.
Try turning the drum by hand, it should turn fairly easily. If you can, do this on a couple other dryers to get a feel for it. Could be it is jammed.


plus I get a 'burnt' smell coming from the dryer.
The burning smell / overheating may have taken out the motor. Does not take much to cook the motor's winding insulation. You then get shorts within the winding in other words the motor is toast. But the motor may well have already been shot. As "beenthereagain" said a new motor is a high probability.

Where do I start or is this an obvious motor problem?
Open it up and check it out.
Besides the motor make sure to check the belt, the idler wheel , the rear support rollers, the felt seals and the front glides. Replace as necessary.
This way you will at least know your total cost. Often it is not worth putting the dollars into an old unit.
If you do decide to fix also clean and check your vent system.

Following is a link which may help.
http://www.applianceaid.com/dryers.html