Little heat in dryer if at all. Ignitor glows but not sure how long it should be on. No gas smell. What parts should I consider

Dryer Repair
1

Brand:Frigidare
Model Number:fsg748gfs0
Main Symptom:little heat
What happens & when:little heat when turning on the cicle

Error Code (if any):
Parts or tests already tried:ignitor
Photos / video link:

2

Hi Ikosova, have you checked the heating element to make sure it isn’t burned out? Sometimes when it produces little or no heat, the element may be damaged, making contact with metal, or the thermal fuses may be failing. I would start by pulling out the heating element and inspecting it for any damage or signs that it’s touching metal. Also, check for any burned wires or faulty thermal fuses.

3

Not sure how. It glows but seems fine but I can check. I don’t know how long it is suppose to “glow” for. Or does it just glow to catch the gas to make a flame? We didn’t see a flame per se. I didn’t see it make a flame and the tub got warm but then cooled down. Not sure if the gas valves or sensor are going? I can order another ignitor but it seems to glow as stated. My knowledge is limited but I have been able fix it and the dryer for years with your assistance.

can you suggest parts if needed. I the take it out and inspect but the ignitor is so fragile and due to big hands harder for me to put in but I did…

I have no issue ordering some parts and sending back what wasn’t needed.

Hope this makes sense.

4

OK. I see how to do it on the thermal fuse but now have to locate it.

5

question. If the thermal fuse was faulty I would not get a glow on the ignitor that I am getting correct? So if I get a red/orange glow the fuse should be fine I would guess? If it is fine what would be the next logical step?

6

Hi, I also just ran the dryer for 10 min and it’s warm inside so the ignitor has to be working. But it wasn’t staying warm/hot. ???

7

Hi, sorry for the late response.

Based on what you’ve described, you’re correct that the thermal fuse is working. Since the igniter is glowing and the dryer is producing heat initially, the thermal fuse is not the problem. On a Frigidaire gas dryer, a blown thermal fuse would prevent the burner circuit from operating at all, so the igniter would never glow.

The most likely cause is a failed set of gas valve solenoid coils. These coils (typically sold as a two-pack with one 2-terminal coil and one 3-terminal coil) are a very common failure on gas dryers that heat normally at first but stop heating after a few minutes.

Here’s what happens:

  • When the dryer is cold, the coils are strong enough to open the gas valve, allowing the burner to ignite.
  • As the coils heat up, the internal windings begin to fail and lose their magnetic strength.
  • The igniter will continue to glow, but the gas valve won’t open, so no flame is produced.

I recommend replacing the gas valve coils first, as they are the most common cause of this symptom.

If replacing the coils doesn’t resolve the issue, the next items to check would be:

  • Restricted exhaust vent: A clogged vent can cause the dryer to overheat, forcing the high-limit thermostat to shut the burner off prematurely.
  • High-limit thermostat: A weak thermostat may open at a lower temperature than designed, interrupting burner operation.
  • Flame sensor: If the flame sensor fails to detect that the igniter is hot, it won’t signal the gas valve to open.

If you’d like to confirm the diagnosis before purchasing parts, you can observe the burner operation:

  1. Start the dryer on a high-heat cycle.
  2. Watch the igniter glow and the burner ignite with a blue flame.
  3. After a few minutes, the burner will shut off once the dryer reaches temperature.
  4. Watch for the next heating cycle. If the igniter glows again, you hear a click, but no flame appears, the gas valve coils have failed and should be replaced.
8

Thanks. I couldn’t wait and ordered it. Hopefully this will be the fix. Thx.