My dryer runs great but the auto-shutoff, using the dryness indicator on the dial does not work. The dryer just runs forever and the clothes get really hot. I believe this means the moisture sensor is bad or needs to be cleaned, but I cannot locate where this is on my dryer. I was told it is in the drum, but I have looked carefully and it is nowhere inside the dryer drum. Can you tell me where it is and how to replace (if in fact this is the problem). As an aside, the timer works fine… just the auto dry won’t shut the dryer off.
Your model doesn’t use a moisture sensor. Does the timer advance at all in the auto dry cycle or does it just fail to go to OFF at the end?
Eric
The timer does not advance at all in auto-dry. It advances if you set it on timer mode, though.
Does the burner cycle on/off normally in auto dry? In auto dry, the operating thermostat is used to advance the timer. In one position of the thermostat, power is applied to the burner and the timer does not advance. When the temperature gets hot enough, the thermostat cycles and removes power from the burner and applies it to the timer motor.
Eric
Thanks for the reply, Eric. No, the burner does not cycle on/off in auto dry. The burner stays on and the timer never advances.
Then there may be an air flow problem or the thermostat is faulty. Have you tried both temperature settings? There is a separate thermostat for regular and low temp. If the burner doesn’t cycle at either setting then you need to check all internal and external ducting for lint blockage.
Eric
Thanks Eric. I’ll check to see if the burner cycles at either setting. Many thanks. Will let you know.
So it turns out that on both heat settings the burner still cycles on and off. What is not happening is the the timer dial is not advancing (turning counter-clockwise) to eventually turn the machine off.
Check the orange wire that runs between the two thermostats on the blower housing and the timer. When the thermostat activates and removes power from the burner, it should apply power to the orange wire which then powers the timer motor.
Eric
I can check to see if it is there and physically connected, but not sure I have the skill to check to see if there is power on that wire. Assuming it is there and connected, does this indicate another part has failed?
Well, you should probably call in a tech as you really need to check voltages to see why your not getting power to the timer motor when the thermostat cycles.
Eric
could it be caused by a bad thermostat(s)? If I’m going to take it apart to check the wires, I’m thinking it would be worth it just to replace the thermostats if they could be the cause.
Possibly, but I think unlikely that both of them are bad.
Eric
Here’s some more info I should have had to start with: on low temperature, the auto shut-off works fine. So it’s only on the regular temp setting does it fail to auto-shut off. Does this make it more likely that the high temp thermostat has failed? If so, can you tell me which part number? I’m thinking if I’m going to take it apart, I might as well replace it while I’m there. Unit is 20+ years old… thermostat won’t last forever. Thanks.
Yes, that would make it more likely the problem.
Whirlpool Y304474 Cycling Thermostat 15 - AppliancePartsPros.com
Eric
Awesome. Thanks a million Eric.
It’s on order. Any tips on replacing? It looks like I need to access from the back of the machine. Is there any easy way to tell the high temp thermostat from the low temp? Thanks again.
Access is from the front. Remove the two screws near the bottom of the front panel, tilt it out at the bottom and pull down to release it at the top. Unplug door switch or just move panel to the side. The stats are on the blower housing on the left. The regular stat operates at 150° and the low stat at 140°. They should be marked, L150 L140.
Eric
So I replaced the thermostat, but it still won’t shut off automatically. Any ideas on what else to do?
Thanks,
Greg
am having same problem [ timer won’t advance when using moisture control but will advance when using timer side of control] thanks for all thought on this problem.