I have a Samsung electric dryer. It spins but won’t heat. The coil and components all test OK. If I let the coil touch the housing it sits in then it will heat. That is the only way I can get the coil to energize is by grounding it to the shield. Any idea what is going on? I removed the coil from the ceramic holders and it is definitely NOT broken.

Sorry but it is a Samsung so finding any tech info on it is difficult.
Do you have a wiring diagram?

All I can give is general info on how most units work.

Usually there is a timer or a control board on one side of the heater. This often goes to the L1 side of the line. So a timer contact set or a relay's contacts have to close for you to have heat.
Also on this side are the hi-limit thermostat and a thermal cut-off and sometimes a cycling thermostat.

The other side of the heater often goes to a centrifugal switch on the motor. Then to the L2 side of the line. This switch closes when the motor gets close to operating speed ensuring that the heater does not come on till there is air flow.