SarahwwW
Aug 9, 2010, 05:53 PM
My kenmore dryer (model 110.96093100) abruptly failed to start after fifteen years or so of perfect performance.
I can't figure out what the matter is. It will no longer start.
The dryer gets power. My drum light burned out years ago, and I never bothered to replace it, but the door switch is apparently working. If I engage the timer in any cycle, and press the start button, nothing will happen at all if the door is open. If I CLOSE the door, however, the start button seems to be receiving power. There is the faintest hum, clearly felt as a constant vibration if the button is depressed. This vibration does not occur if the door is open or the timer cycle is in the off position.
I tested the push to Start button with a multi tester. Both the contacts for the PTS and the PTS relay made the needle swing over. I did notice that the PTS contacts made the needle swing even when I was not depressing the button... not sure if THAT is normal.
I then opened up the toe plate and used the multi tester on the thermal fuse (good) and the adjacent thermostat thinger ( good). I made the lamest attempt to reach into the cabinet ( I have thin arms) to test the motor windings.
There was no smell of burnt windings, it all looked normal enough so far as I could see.
I found a white wire I assumed was the common lead, and touched one of the multitester probes to it's connection at the motor. I put the other probe on the copper wires.
The needle did not swing to zero, but it did swing way over.
That is the extent of my motor testing, I quit because I was not sure I knew what I was doing.
The belt is fine, of course. There's supposed to be a belt switch, but I haven't located it yesterday on the exploded diagrams for this model at the sears website.
One thing I did not bother to test was the timer, because it ticks as though advancing in the timed cycle, and because the PTS button does not make any hum unless it it in a cyle, but does if I do put it into a cycle.
The door switch, as I said before, must also be working because this hum will not occur if the door is open.
It's not apparently a hum From the motor, the noise is barely perceptible, and it's really the vibration whe the button is depressed that is noticeable.
j
I did not check timer or door switch but relied on the fact that the timer must be on and the door must be closed for the hum to begin.
Is there anything else I could troubleshoot? I'm not keen to pull the machine apart to test the motor if I don't have to.
If you happen to know where the belt switch might be that would be nice to know.
There has been no overheating or gradual deterioration of performance noticed by me, the failure was very abrupt.
I can't figure out what the matter is. It will no longer start.
The dryer gets power. My drum light burned out years ago, and I never bothered to replace it, but the door switch is apparently working. If I engage the timer in any cycle, and press the start button, nothing will happen at all if the door is open. If I CLOSE the door, however, the start button seems to be receiving power. There is the faintest hum, clearly felt as a constant vibration if the button is depressed. This vibration does not occur if the door is open or the timer cycle is in the off position.
I tested the push to Start button with a multi tester. Both the contacts for the PTS and the PTS relay made the needle swing over. I did notice that the PTS contacts made the needle swing even when I was not depressing the button... not sure if THAT is normal.
I then opened up the toe plate and used the multi tester on the thermal fuse (good) and the adjacent thermostat thinger ( good). I made the lamest attempt to reach into the cabinet ( I have thin arms) to test the motor windings.
There was no smell of burnt windings, it all looked normal enough so far as I could see.
I found a white wire I assumed was the common lead, and touched one of the multitester probes to it's connection at the motor. I put the other probe on the copper wires.
The needle did not swing to zero, but it did swing way over.
That is the extent of my motor testing, I quit because I was not sure I knew what I was doing.
The belt is fine, of course. There's supposed to be a belt switch, but I haven't located it yesterday on the exploded diagrams for this model at the sears website.
One thing I did not bother to test was the timer, because it ticks as though advancing in the timed cycle, and because the PTS button does not make any hum unless it it in a cyle, but does if I do put it into a cycle.
The door switch, as I said before, must also be working because this hum will not occur if the door is open.
It's not apparently a hum From the motor, the noise is barely perceptible, and it's really the vibration whe the button is depressed that is noticeable.
j
I did not check timer or door switch but relied on the fact that the timer must be on and the door must be closed for the hum to begin.
Is there anything else I could troubleshoot? I'm not keen to pull the machine apart to test the motor if I don't have to.
If you happen to know where the belt switch might be that would be nice to know.
There has been no overheating or gradual deterioration of performance noticed by me, the failure was very abrupt.