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Replacement parts for WHIRLPOOL LER8648LW0 | AppliancePartsPros.com

What in the heck happened!?
This may have been a problem from day one. If the power cord was not installed correctly (a loose or poor connection) then as power travels across this, heat is generated. This makes the connection worse which generates more heat and so on and so on till the connection heats up so much that it fails.

I am assuming that the power cord that is on the unit is an approved cord and that it is properly connected (4 wire or 3 wire hook up)

A couple things to check when installing a new line cord
1. Make sure the units wiring is good, if over heater (discolored and/or pitted). You may have to put on a new connector on it. Be sure to cut back the wire till you get to nice clean copper.
2. If using a 3 wire hook up check that the ground strap is OK.
3. It is a good idea to also replace the terminal block.

I now use connector goop on all my connections. Basically this is a conductive grease that was originally designed for aluminum wire connections to prevent corrosion. You do not want to use too much as it is conductive a very light coat is sufficient.

Are you saying that if it is properly connected to each individual connection point (black to black red to red and white to white) and it has a even a somewhat- not even noticable bad connection, that is could generated heat and melt that wires?
Yes. It could start out with a very small amount of heat and as I said get worse over time.

Someone else I was talking to was saying that it is more than likley either a bad connection (like you said) or bad power cable and more than likely is nothing else wrong with the dryer since it happened at that particular location on the dryer. That sound right?
Yes I would say that is correct.