Maytag gas dryer won't heat up unless bottom front panel is removed

[ah3000bj8]

Hello, I have a Maytag gas dryer model SDG3606AWG. It wasn't heating up very well. Took a long time to dry and the timer wasn't advancing on any setting. The top of the dryer was barely above room temp. I put in a new cycling thermostat and still the same problem. When I took the bottom front panel off to check out the burner, it was lit. I watched it a while and it seemed to work fine. I then noticed that the top of the dryer was warm like it should be. I let it go and it worked fine for several loads. Put the bottom panel back on and it won't dry again. Take the panel off and it works good. Help! Thanks in advance.

[Repair-man]

Take the vent off the back and see what happens.

[ah3000bj8]

Sorry, I should have mentioned that I did that and still had the same problem. I also cleaned made sure the lint filter passage was very clean. And I checked the blower fan - it was good too.

[jumptrout51]

Repair-man is correct.
You have a airflow problem somewhere.
Your fresh air makeup changes when you open the inspection cover and it works OK.
If not the exhaust vent, then incoming air is blocked or not circulating.

[ah3000bj8]

It works ok with the exhaust vent hooked up and just the front panel removed. So, you'd think it was an incoming air restriction, right? Where does it get the incoming air? Is there an inlet somewhere?

[Repair-man]

What we do is set a thermometer in the vent outlet in back and run the dryer normally (no vent attached). If it maintains 145-155 degrees, the dryer is OK.

The drum seals must be intact to form a good combustion environment for the gas burners, otherwise it will cycle off on hi-limit. Be sure you inspected the entire blower housing with the front panel removed.

and no, I do not think it is an incoming air issue ...

[ah3000bj8]

Thanks, I'll check that out. How about if the felt seal around the lint filter element is missing - would that do it?

[Repair-man]

The only thing a worn filter seal would do is allow lint to escape onto the load. The entire filter housing is enclosed within the drum, so air pressure would be the same  whether the filter was in place or not.

Questions:

Has this dryer successfully run in this same location for some time?
When you chaged the thermostat on the blower housing, did you check that the seal was in place on front of the housing where it covers the fan?

[ah3000bj8]

Hello, Yes, the dryer has been in the same spot since new - at least 2 yrs. If you're talking about the sponge type seal between the front cover assembly where it mates to the fan housing, yes, that's in place and in good shape. I haven't checked the temp in the vent outlet yet, I'll do that when I get home. Should I have the front panel installed when I do that?

[Repair-man]

Yes

[ah3000bj8]

Hello, Got about 140 degrees with wet load. Front panel installed and vent open. Ran it for about 1/2 hour and still didn't work. Control didn't advance, clothes still wet, and top of dryer was stone cold. When I took the front panel off, after about, 3 minutes, the top of the dryer was very warm to the touch and the clothes dried normally. Any other thoughts?? Appreciate your help very much! Tom

[Repair-man]

Yep, get used to running it without that panel from now on

[theoldstoveguy]

Check the louvred slots in the rear of the dryer & make sure they aren't full of lint

[ah3000bj8]

Yes, the louvres are clear. I also took out the housing that transfers the air / heat from the burner up into the drum. It is clean. I see no restriction anywhere. What's baffling is how much of a difference it makes - panel on it could take 3 hrs for a load to start to dry (even without the vent hooked up). Panel off, load is completely dry in a 1/2 hr (even with the vent attached). It seems simple, that logically there must be a restriction, but, I've had this thing apart down to the bones and everything's clean.

[JWWebster]

With panel on the coils get hot and become intermittant with the panel off they stay cooler and keep working. Replace the coils.