Amana dryer sometimes won't turn on and sometimes stops during cycle.

[blondejon]

Model# LG8319w2

I'm more familiar with Whirlpools, but here's the issue:  The dryer will sometimes not turn on.  There has also been times when the dryer will completely stop during a cycle, no heat, no motor turning.  The start switch and the timer is all in one.  Does the timer need to be replaced or do I have a bad thermostat or both or something else?

[JWWebster]

Have you bypassed the door switch to see if she stays going?

[whirlpooltech]

Never seen a intermittent door switch on a dryer, but I guess anything is possible.

If you can't find anything wrong with the door switch I would go ahead and replace the timer.

Your model uses timer part # 502963

Please keep us updated on the repair. 

[AJ]

There has also been times when the dryer will completely stop during a cycle, no heat, no motor turning.

This could be the motor overload kicking the motor out.

The dryer will sometimes not turn on.

If the dryer will not start for the first time after it's been sitting for awhile I would lean toward the timer then.

If the dryer will not start after it has been running for awhile maybe the overload on the motor is kicking the motor out and resetting after the motor cools.

[blondejon]

I didn't suspect the door switch since it is so intermittent.  At first I thought it could be a thermostat because it would sometimes fail to start up after a load as if it was too hot.  But then it began to stop during cycles here and there.

[AJ]

At first I thought it could be a thermostat because it would sometimes fail to start up after a load as if it was too hot.

A thermostat just cycles the heating element on and off, it would not kill the dryer.


A thermo fuse would kill the dryer, but it would not reset itself.


The motor overload that is built into the motor would kill the dryer and then reset itself after it cooled down.


Have you taken it apart and looked for lint build up around the motor? The motor maybe over heating if it's covered in lint.


If you can catch it when it quits you could also take it apart and see if the motor is hot and ohm out the motor overload to see if it's open.

[blondejon]

Yeah, I've taken it apart a couple of times to clean out lint.  It really isn't all that dirty.  But from what you are all saying, I would bet it is the motor.  If it was the timer it would keep going without stopping correct?  This dryer is my personal dryer, but luckily I have another dryer that's a Whirlpool in my basement that I was fixing to sell.  I'm cautious to buy timers and even more cautious to buy motors.


Thanks!