Here are youe parts with wiring diagrams.
Replacement parts for MAYTAG PYET444AYW Dryer - Ele | AppliancePartsPros.com

Do not know if I understand you correctly.
But white is usually Neutral and red is L2 (power) so shorting them together should cause a huge spark and blow your breaker and scare the livin out of you.

Sounds to me like you may have a house wiring problem.

Put the wiring back to the way it is supposed to be.

First try flipping the breaker off/on slowly a couple times. Sometimes you can loose half the line without actually tripping the breaker and the heating coil requires the full 240 volts.
If this does nothing.
Measure 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 unit's terminal strip to ensure they are properly connected and none of them have burned off
If OK
Plug the unit in and check the voltage at the terminal strip. This is just in case you have a bad line cord.
Be very, very careful 240 volts is lethal!!!