We recently purchased a new home which came with this Kenmore electric dryer. However, the timer does not advance in the auto dry or timed dry settings. I had a repairman come and he was $60 to tell me the timer needed to be replaced, which would be another $200 in parts and labor. Instead of having him return, I bought the part myself and replaced the timer. However, the new timer does not advance either. The dryer continuously runs until we open the dryer door.

Any other suggestions about what could be going on here? Should I call it a loss and just install a gas dryer instead?

Other things to note:

Even the the timer doesn't advance, the clothes dry fine. However, I am skeptical about whether there is much of a heat difference between the high and low heat settings (even on "low" the clothes feel very hot).

About 4 times in the last month the dryer HAS advanced when in the timed dry setting, but it happens completely randomly.

For some unknown reason the previous homeowner wired the dryer directly into the breaker box. So there is no plug to unplug... just a breaker to flip.

Thanks.

Here are your parts
Parts for Kenmore Dryer 11069532800 - AppliancePartsPros.com

See the attachment for the tech sheet.

Could be you have a grounded element. This would explain why there seems to be only one heat setting and no timer advance.

Flip the breaker off.
Disconnect both wires from the heating element.
Measure the coil with a meter. Should be around 8 to 12 ohms.
Then measure from each element connector to Neutral or ground (the frame/heater case if it is a 3 wire hook up).
Both should be infinite ohms.
If not replace the heater.

Also check for 240 at the terminal strip in the unit.
If there is no 240 this would explain no timer advance sa the heater and timer motor use 240 (if I have the correct wiring diagram).
This does not explain why the timer advances once in a while so I think you have 240 but the heater un-grounds itself once in a while which is unusual.