LG gas dryer flame won't stay lit.

[MD]

In case anyone else follows this thread:

Dryer is now working very nicely, and mama bear is happy.  Once I had the new control board installed correctly, front panel and the door in place, and filter washed out with hot water, it lit and stayed lit.  Note, even if the filter doesn't look dirty, using fabric softener sheets over time seems to create a film that obstructs flow--hot water is cheap and easy.  I'm pretty sure the controller was bad, and I have at least one spare gas valve solenoid now.  Mission complete, and it was still less expensive than getting the repair guys out again for the quoted $520 replacement part plus labor.

RepairClinic--Thank you very much for your help.  I highly recommend RepairClinic and ApplianceJunk for your home appliance repairs.

[AJ]

Glad to hear you got it repaired.

Thanks for the update.

[tileman2010]

Congrats MD. Can you give me either the item number or the picture of the control board that you replaced.I'm having the same problem.Is it the control board or control panel.Thanks.

[MD]

Hi Tileman2010,

The controller board part number is 1359865 on Appliance Clinic.  If you go back to the first page of this thread, down toward the mid-bottom, there is a picture of the board.  If you click on the picture, the Appliance Clinic webpage and will pop up. 

Make sure you check out all of the info in this thread.  There was a bit of "shotgunning" here, just because I wanted it done.  You have to have the door and panels installed to get the right air flow.  And wash out your filter with hot water.

Good luck!

MD

click on picture

[tileman2010]

Thank you MD. I will give an update after I replace the part.


Tileman20210.

[john63]

IF YOU USE FABRIC SOFTNER THAT WILL MAKE THE SENSOR TRIP!!!!!!! I SPENT ALOT OF TIME FIGURING THAT OUT.  IT TAKES ABOUT 3 LOADS TO CLEAR OUT ALL THE SOFTNER THEN IT WILL STOP TRIPPIN.


CAPPY

This has no impact on the function of the burner in any way/shape or form.

If an LG gas dryer burner "lights" then "goes out" after a few seconds---99 percent of the time this is caused by poor venting.
A manometer test is required to verify if the vent sytem is adequate before any attention is given to checking the dryer components.
The manometer water-column information is located in the owner manual.

Fabric softener sheets *do* coat the moisture sensors with a wax residue. This shows up as a symptom of NOT DRYING LAUNDRY COMPLETELY.
It is also more common to get this complaint when heavy fabrics are  in the dryer. Lighter loads will dry in spite of the wax interference on the sensors because less time is needed to dry light fabrics anyway.
Towels/denims and blankets will be the type of laundry adversely affected by wax-coated sensors.
Although the owner manual *does* state that it is not advisable to use fabric softener sheets--cleaning the 2 stainless steel sensors on the drum-side of the lint filter housing with a SCOTCHBRITE Pad after every load will allow the dryer to function adequately.

[the mad scientis]

The fix is in...!! First, I must thank "MD" for allowing me to catch a glaring error...I, too, have a "7188", rather than a "3788"...I copied the number off the manual facing page, rather than off the dryer. My humblest apologies to anyone confused. As it turns out, they're almost exactly the same, so no harm done. Back to the "fix"... I ordered a thermistor: the one that resides within the blower housing, accessable from the back side, and difficult to install without removing the drum (but not impossible). I've now replaced most everything but the motor, gas valve (they all test fine!), the drum and the housing. The problem lingered on. At others' suggestion, I disconnected all venting to remove back-pressure possibilities, cleaned it out totally (it was, already; and... my 'fat-old-wife' doesn't use fabric softener, either)...still no change! So, there was but one final part that needed to be replaced...and a trip to Sears completed that!!! Yes, a new Whirlpool with extended warranty has allowed me to move the  two-year-old L.G. "POS" into the garage 'for further movement to a donation center near me'. No more "black hole" for my money! No more frustrations. No more L.G...! The Sears guy mentioned problems with L.G., and said their people DO have testing parameters and methodologies to allow them to locate the problem and fix it...without my having to pay for replacement parts that aren't needed. Unfortunately, I didn't have an 'extended warranty' through them for the L.G. Bottom line: it'll become someone else's challenge, no doubt more capable and knowledgeable than I. I hope my experience is of help to someone else in a similar situation, and that other's suggestions have allowed them to fix their unit. As for me, the new dryer I bought probably was cheaper in the long run than having the repair guy keep throwing good parts after good, at my expense. Thanks, all!! "The Mad Scientist" (well, not as mad as I once was!)

[john63]

Date of issue: 22 Jan 2008
Effective Date: 01 Feb. 2008
Subject: Gas Valve Quick Cycling

SERVICE BULLETIN

 1. If, while repairing, you can see a flame, the machine is okay. Check the vent and its installation.DO NOT exchange the thermostat assembly and gas valve. (About 70% of gas valves returned for factory evaluation are normal. The problem had been diagnosed incorrectly.)
2. With the dryer running, check for air flow through the outside exhaust hood. If there is little or no air flow, clean or replace the exhaust vent and clean the entire exhaust system.
3. DO NOT use a foil vent or a plastic vent.Use a rigid metal vent. (If a flexible section is necessary to align the dryer with the exhaust vent, it must be metal and as short as possible).

SYMPTOMS:

The Gas Valve cycles on and off frequently.

The drying is poor and ineffective.

Hi-Limit thermostat tripped

CAUSES:

If a servicer runs the dryer with the door open or the front removed, outside air can be sucked in. This disrupts the airflow into the burner housing, creating an abnormal flame size and resulting in the Hi-Limit thermostat being tripped.

The vent or lint filter is clogged.

[jumptrout51]

This remark may have nothing to do with your problem but is worth stating.
A friend of mine purchased a new LG gas dryer.
It would not work correctly after installation.
Four LG authorized service calls later it still did not work correctly.
Due to another issue with his gas appliances,the gas company found incorrect water column pressure in his system. A new regulator solved all his problems including the gas LG dryer issue.
Seems the LG gas dryer has internal sensors that shut the machine down if too high or low pressure is sensed.
His range started heating erratically causing him to contact the gas company.
His range was hissing and blowing too large a flame in the oven.
His pressure was way too high.
Perhaps John63 can confirm or deny this.

[JWWebster]

Jumpy let me get this straight. Replacing the gas pressure regulator at the meter fixed the problem right? So the appliance was fine when the gas pressure was equalized for the house?

[john63]

LG gas dryers have a gas pressure regulator at the gas valve but no sensors for monitoring gas pressure.

Compared to most other brands of gas dryers--the LG *gas*dryer is VERY temperamental if the exhaust vent system is longer than 8 feet and having more that (2) 90 degree vent elbows/turns. The gas burner will short-cycle and drying performance becomes unacceptable.

LG *electric* dryers are far more "forgiving" in homes with long vent runs.

Several customers of mine that switched from an LG to a Samsung gas dryer (or other brands) reported that drying performance was vastly improved--in homes with longer-than-should-be venting.

I've had (I think) two cases of incorrect gas meter-to-appliance pressures. Both were propane gas arrangements in new home construction.

In one warranty case--I've seen a brand new LG natural gas dryer in which the flame ignited in the burner and then shut-down after 2-3 seconds. The home was about five years old and the vent system was "buried" in the wall ( These are tough to inspect). The customer had a vent cleaning service check the dryer venting--it was severely restricted.
After the venting was completely cleaned---the dryer functioned perfectly.

Just yesterday I had a gentleman with an LG electric dryer--he insisted that he successfully cleaned his vent system in the 2nd floor laundry room. The dryer was taking approximately 2-3 hours to dry laundry.
The vent system was about 12-16 feet length (again-buried in the wall)
I asked if he was able to reach the entire length of the vent.
Somewhat annoyed--he responded that the REAL problem was with the dryer and not the vent.
We placed a small load in the dryer & disconnected the vent behind the dryer. After 23 minutes the load was completely dry. Surprised at this--he called his wife and told her to feel the laundry to verify that the dryer was indeed working correctly.
I then gave the customer a number to contact a (reputable) vent cleaning service.
Sometimes it is VERY,VERY difficult to convince consumers of the paramount importance for a clear/clean vent. The shorter length the better (not too short--but that's another story altogether).