Brand Maytag Model Number:MEDB855DC3 Main Symptom: Noise What happens & when: When heating screech noise occurs
Error Code ):
Parts or tests already tried:
Photos / video link:Maytag MEDB855DC3 Screeching Noise During Heating Cycle
I have a Maytag MEDB855DC3 dryer that develops a screeching noise roughly 75% into the heating cycle. The noise gradually gets louder and stops immediately when I open the dryer door.
The noise seems to be coming from the left side of the dryer.
I have not yet tested the dryer on the Air Only/No Heat cycle.
What component should I inspect first, and what would be the best way to determine the source of the screeching noise?
Since your Maytag MEDB855DC3 dryer only makes the screeching noise during a heated cycle, that gives us a good starting point. The fact that the noise gradually gets louder and stops when you open the door suggests something may be expanding as the dryer heats up, causing friction.
I’d start by checking the drum support rollers and idler pulley, but I wouldn’t rule out the blower wheel or drum seals just yet.
Here’s how I’d narrow it down before replacing anything.
1. Try a heated cycle with an empty drum. See if the noise returns around the same point in the cycle. If it does, that helps rule out the clothing load.
2. Run Air Only immediately after the noise develops. If the screeching continues briefly and then fades as the dryer cools, that would support a heat-related mechanical problem.
3. Inspect the drum rollers and idler pulley. Unplug the dryer, remove the necessary panels, and check each roller and pulley by hand. They should turn smoothly without grinding, squealing, or binding. A worn bearing can become noisy as it heats up.
4. Check the drum seals. Look for worn felt, rubbing marks, or areas where the drum may be contacting the cabinet. Metal expansion during heating can sometimes cause a rubbing or screeching sound.
5. Inspect the blower wheel. Check for lint buildup, rubbing against the housing, or a loose wheel. A blower wheel rubbing against its housing can also make a high-pitched noise.
Maytag also identifies worn pulleys, rollers, and blower components as common causes of squealing.
Maytag
+1
For your model, the drum roller is WPW10314173, and the idler pulley assembly is W10837240. Both are worth inspecting before ordering parts.
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One other thing I’d check is the exhaust vent. Make sure it isn’t restricted, since excessive heat could make a rubbing problem worse.
One question: When the screeching starts, does it sound like a high-pitched metal-on-metal squeal, or more like a rubber belt slipping?
That distinction, along with the fact that it only happens with heat, should help us narrow down which component to inspect first.
