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

The Kenmore Dryer Won’t Start? The dryer won’t turn on, or the timer doesn’t advance, or your clothes are still wet after you’ve run a cycle. If this is the case, you’re not alone. This is a common problem with many dryers, and it’s pretty easy to fix.

You’re having a hard time finding an answer to this problem, aren’t you? When the dryer won’t turn on and isn’t heating up, it leaves you feeling helpless. But you don’t need to be. You can narrow down the problem to just a few components that could be responsible for your dryer not starting.

Problems with a Kenmore dryer can be caused by many issues, including a faulty start switch. This is part of the Kenmore dryer’s safety mechanism and is designed to prevent an overloaded machine from being turned on. It’s important to troubleshoot problems and test the fuse, gasket, belt and door switch before replacing the entire dryer.

Kenmore Dryer Won’t Start – Troubleshoot and Diagnosis

A dryer might not be something you think about on a regular basis, but it’s an essential piece of laundry equipment that gets a lot of use. And it’s the last thing you want to fix when you’re in a hurry and don’t have time to take it to the repair shop. So when your Kenmore dryer stops working right, it can be a major problem.

Incoming Power Problem

If a Kenmore dryer’s start switch button is constantly engaged but the machine won’t turn on, it may be an indication of either a defective power cord or a defective control panel. The most common reason for such problems is an overloaded outlet or circuit. The first step in troubleshooting is to unplug the unit and check the outlet to ensure that it’s supplying electricity.

If your dryer control panel isn’t lighting up, it usually means that something is wrong with the dryer’s electrical wiring. Before you begin troubleshooting, make sure that the power switch on the outlet box is in the “on” position and that there’s power coming through the outlet by plugging in a lamp or other electrical device. If the light works, then you likely have a problem with your dryer.

You forgot to plug in the dryer: Make sure that the dryer’s electrical cord is connected to a working outlet on the wall or in the back of the dryer.

We do not recommend using an extension cord to operate your dryer. The high voltage required for the operation of the dryer cannot be transmitted safely through a standard extension cord. This is a safety hazard, and can result in the dryer cutting off power, which is why we don’t recommend it.

When your home’s wiring trips a breaker, the resulting power outage can be inconvenient in more ways than you expected. Here’s what to do: (If you have multiple breakers on a single circuit, check every one.) If a breaker trips while an appliance is on, an overload has occurred. Remove the appliance and reconnect it. If the breaker trips again, too many devices are plugged into that circuit.

Incorrect Dryer Settings

It’s possible that the Kenmore dryer is lit up but won’t start, but before you dive into troubleshooting, check your settings. As with any appliance or home device, something as simple as selecting the correct settings for your load can save you time and help prevent problems. When it comes to troubleshooting your Kenmore dryer, make sure the settings are correct. Setting the wrong dryer setting can result in a long wait for a laundry load to complete or it not starting at all.

With the control lock feature, you can lock the dryer’s control panel so that it is not possible to start or stop the dryer. Conversely, with the delay start function, you can delay the beginning of a making cycle. This will give you more time to prepare clothing or accessories and ensure that clothing is properly dried without wrinkles or creases. You need to disable both of these settings.

Door is Not Properly Latched

If your Dryer Door Won’t Close, it could be a variety of issues, but luckily there are a few simple fixes you can try before calling your service provider. Check the door latch that keeps the dryer door from opening during operation. The latch should be closed completely when the dryer is operating and laundry is drying. If it is not, close the latch and then re-open the dryer door to ensure it opens freely.

The door latch is the main thing that prevents the door from opening during a drying cycle. If the door latch isn’t engaged and your dryer won’t start, it’s likely that the problem is in the door latch assembly or spring.

If your clothes dryer door failed to close, check the latch for mechanical or electrical damage. If the door’s closure switch is damaged or if it fails continuity testing with a multimeter, you need to replace the latch.

Blown Thermal Fuse

The thermal fuse, also known as a safety cutoff fuse, is located in the dryer and is responsible for shutting the machine off if there is an overheating issue. An overheating issue might be caused by worn-out elements or a clogged vent, preventing the dryer from properly cooling down.

Sometimes, the thermal fuse will be located inside of your dryer. This is to protect the heating element from overheating. There will be a problem with your dryer if there is a melting of the fuse or if it has been damaged. You can check the fuse by unplugging the dryer and visually inspecting it. If there is any damage, you need to replace it before using the dryer again.

To test the fuse, you will need to open the case on the dryer. There should be a wire that runs from the heating element to a thermal fuse. The wire may be connected with a black electrical tape and will be a little smaller than most wires. When the wire has continuity, then the thermal fuse is working fine. If there is no continuity, then the thermal fuse has blown and needs to be replaced.

With an air restriction, you need to take measures as soon as possible. For example, you can clean your dryer and check the vents for any blocking or obstructions that may be causing air restriction. If you find any of them, then you should remove it immediately.

Defective Dryer Start Switch

If your dryer isn’t starting at all, it’s likely there’s something wrong with the switch. We do recommend that you test the switch by pressing it. The dryer’s motor turns on when it gets power from the start switch. If the switch is faulty, the dryer will still have power but won’t run — even if it gets proper voltage.

If the motor is making a humming sound but the dryer doesn’t start, then probably the start switch is not bad. Check the wiring and make sure the connections are tight. If they are damaged, then you will need to replace them.

If you press the start button and don’t hear any noise, if there is no movement in the dryer, and you do not get any lights or sounds from the dryer, then it is likely that the start switch has gone bad. To troubleshoot this issue, you can use a multimeter to test the start switch. If your multimeter reads no continuity when connected to this switch, it is likely that the door switch needs to be replaced.

Belt Switch Issue

A belt (a toothed rubber belt) is part of the dryer that makes it tumble. If this belt breaks, and your dryer still has power, it will not work properly and may cause damage to clothes.

Kenmore dryers have a built-in safety feature that shuts off power and alerts you before serious damage is done to the dryer belt. If the belt is damaged or slipping, the belt switch will automatically shut off the power and display an error code.

If a belt switch is bad, it will cut the power to the dryer, whether or not the belt is broken. Check for the belt switch in your particular Kenmore dryer in the dryer’s user manual and be sure to disconnect power to the dryer before proceeding.

Belt switches on dryers are one of the most common problems. If your dryer has a belt switch, you need to test it for continuity to ensure that it is still working. An open belt-switch puts the dryer into your machine into a protection circuit, preventing it from operating completely.

Faulty Drive Motor

If your dryer motor stops turning the tumbler, you will have to replace the drive motor. As with some other laundry parts, this one can fail without warning and without any visual clues — so it’s important to learn how to fix it yourself. A failed motor usually results in a dryer that hums but doesn’t tumble.

First, check if you have a problem with the belt that stops the motor from spinning. If you’re sure that you don’t have a problem with the way your dryer belt is installed, and no part of it is obstructing rotation, then there’s a good chance that the motor itself has been damaged. However, if the belt is intact and you’re still unable to hear the motor humming, then there may be a problem with the motor itself.

Sometimes dryer drive motor failure means that the dryer needs fixing. When this occurs, you need to contact a professional service company to help you fix it properly.