6 Reasons Why Maytag Dryer Won’t Start – Let’s Fix It

Maytag dryers are designed with many features to provide convenience and optimal performance. However, problems can occur with dryers. The dryer won’t start can be caused by several factors. This article will walk you through the process of diagnosing the problem and repairing it.

Maytag dryers are built with a number of innovations that make it easier to dry clothes. But sometimes things don’t go as planned — be it a laundry mishap or a power outage. If your Maytag dryer isn’t starting when you press the start button on the control panel, check out the reasons below and their solutions.

Maytag Dryer Won’t Start – Troubleshoot and Diagnosis

Maytag dryers are a great appliance for your laundry room, but there are times when they might stop working. We’ve provided a list of the most common Maytag dryer problems and how to fix them.

Incoming Power Problem

If your Maytag dryer is not turning on, the first step is to check power. Maytag dryers have a switch you need to flip and an indicator light to confirm power is on. Some recent Maytag models have a green power light that indicates power is supplied through the electrical cord. Make sure the switch isn’t turned off and that this light is illuminated.

See if the power outlet is working by plugging in another device. If it doesn’t have this issue, the issue lies with the dryer. Next, check if the dryer’s electrical cord is free from damage, and that it’s properly plugged into a working outlet.

Don’t use an extension cord to power your dryer. This won’t provide enough voltage, causing the machine to shut down.

If your lights won’t turn on, or your dryer stops working, the problem could be a tripped breaker. A circuit breaker is a switch-like device you have in your electrical panel that feeds electricity to specific wires throughout your house. If one of those wires gets overloaded, the breaker flips and disconnects power to that wire.

Incorrect Dryer Settings

If your Maytag dryer lights up yet will not start, first check your settings. A common problem with an older appliance is that the wrong setting is selected for a load and prevents it from starting. For example, you probably don’t want to use the “Heavy Duty” setting on every load of laundry, no matter how heavy-duty it is.

For example, if you select Wrinkle Reduction there’ll be a slight delay before the dryer starts. Similarly, if Control Lock is engaged you won’t be able to start the dryer until the Control Lock light illuminates. But if it’s off, and you choose Automatic or Timed Dry, you’re almost certain to get immediate results.

Door Not Latched Properly

Make sure you close the door completely to engage the door latch. This latch secures the door during the drying cycle, and opens when it is time to remove clothes from the dryer. A complete door closure engages the dryer door latch, securing the door during drying and activating the door switch to begin a drying cycle.

Your Maytag dryer won’t start unless the door latch is engaged. Be sure the door latch is fully closed before you push the Start button.

Place your hand on the dryer door and try opening and closing it. If the latch is stuck, proceed to the next step. Open the dryer door and remove any clothing that’s overlapping the dryer opening. When you close the door again, make sure to give it a firm push as if you were trying to close it with a big shirt or coat inside.

If your Maytag dryer won’t turn on, check the door for any loose parts like hinges or a broken latch. If your dryer still won’t start, use a multimeter to test for continuity from the door switch to the dryer. If you don’t find continuity, you need a new door switch.

Blown Thermal Fuse

If a dryer is overheating repeatedly, then the thermal fuse may have been blown. This is a safety device that has been installed to prevent fires due to overheating. If the thermal fuse is blown, the dryer will not work even though it is not overheating. In order to avoid this situation, check the air vent or exhaust pipe as they may be blocked or clogged with lint.

The location of the dryer thermal fuse is important, as the fuse will be either at the blower housing or near the heating element. The fuse basically keeps your dryer from overheating, and if it’s damaged in any way, you can easily replace it yourself.

To test the dryer thermal fuse, you will need to use either a multimeter or continuity tester. If there is no continuity, then the fuse has blown. For most people, using a multimeter is more convenient than a continuity tester because multimeters are usually included in integrative tool kits.

If your dryer’s thermal fuse is blowing, you may have a vent issue. When the dryer can’t vent, the air inside the dryer becomes hot and humid, which can cause lint to build up. Eventually, this buildup can cause the thermal fuse to blow. To prevent this from happening, be sure to clean the lint trap once a month, as well as routinely check for clogs in any vents and wall openings near your dryer.

Defective Dryer Start Switch

The start switch on the machine is located behind the start button. When you press the button, it connects with the electrical wires behind it and tells the machine dryer to begin working. The switch is a necessary component of your dryer, without which it won’t work.

If the start switch on your dryer is faulty, it will prevent the motor from running, even if it is getting power. This could trigger a fault code or shutdown the dryer, forcing you to investigate and make a repair.

When testing the dryer’s start switch, make sure that there is no humming sound from the dryer. If the unit has been unplugged for an extended period of time, it may take a few tries to start. If the unit has not been started up in a while and there’s no humming sound, then the switch is not bad.

If the start button fails to make a sound when you push it, and if the dryer does not move at all, then the start switch could be to blame. You’ll need to call a service technician.

To test if the Start switch is faulty you can use a multimeter and connect it to the start switch terminals. With the power grid on, then test for continuity between the start terminal and ground terminal. If there is no continuity then you will need to replace the starter switch.

Bad Belt Switch

The Belt for this dryer is an important part that connects to the motor and turns the drum or tumbler which helps the clothes dry. When it breaks, you might notice that your dryer still has power but not tumbling. The belt switch is a safety feature in many modern dryers. If the belt comes off and the dryer continues to run, the switch will shut off power to the dryer to prevent overheating or injury.

If the belt switch is bad, you will need to get it replaced before your machine will work again.

If you discover that your dryer’s belt switch has no continuity, it may need to be replaced. This is an inexpensive component, and you can probably find the replacement online. When you attempt to repair your dryer, be sure to double-check that the voltage powering the unit is turned off before proceeding.

Faulty Drive Motor

If your dryer won’t start, you may have a bad drive motor. Drive motors rotate a drive pulley, which causes the drum to turn. If the drive motor is faulty it will not start your machine, even if it has power. To repair your dryer, you’ll need to remove the front of the machine and replace the drive motor.

If your dryer isn’t working, it could be that one of the parts that make up the belt — the idler pulley, the motor pulley, or the motor housing — is damaged. You can check to see if any of these parts are broken by removing the dryer belt: If your belt is broken or severely worn out, you can purchase a replacement belt from your local hardware store or order one online.

If you have completed the steps outlined above on how to test a dryer belt, and you still hear an unusual noise, then your motor may be broken. Consider diagnosing your dryer or replacing the motor if you think it’s faulty.