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How can I get my Sears Kenmore clothes dryer to start?

This 12 year old dryer will not turn on. There was no "warning": an hour ago, it worked fine; now it will not start. Before I took anything apart, I noticed that, when I pushed the start switch, I could hear some sort of slight mechanical "click" in the timer but the dryer would not start. I took out the push-to-start switch (part # 279173) and can see evidence of damage (burnt contact) inside the clear plastic housing. Becasue (inspite of the burnt contact), the push-to-start switch DOES appear to still make electrical contact, I am wondering whether or not the timer (part #3398194) may (also) be bad. Should I replace one or the other or neither or both? At Sears the swith costs $37.59 and the timer goes for $80.27. Can these parts be found for less somewhere other than Sears? [For about three times the cost of these two (minor) spare parts I can buy a NEW dryer!!]

Johnny Wells
January 2006

Kenmore Household Appliances, Tumble Dryers Kenmore Dryer Start

This job had a happy ending: I fixed the dryer by replacing a thermal fuze. It was hard to locate. I found it by going to Sears' parts website and entering the dryer's model number and then looking through the parts lists there until I found a part called "thermal fuze". There is a cross reference to a diagram that shows where the thing is located inside the drier. It is hard to get to. The thing is a little piece of white plastic with a cylindrical bulge visible only after it has been removed. There are two (yellow) wires connected to it. It looks like something that should cost about 50 cents but I had to pay over $20 for it at my local appliance repair store. Still, I was relieved to put the dryer back in service for no more than that.

Johnny Wells
January 2006

Hello,

If you think the trouble is in the start switch I would start by taking off the wires to the switch and checking for continuity. Why buy a timer now? I would check one thing at a time. There are other places that sell parts. Any appliance parts store in your area should have them.

JP
January 2006