I have a GE Dryer that's about 8 years old. When on the timer mode it works properly. When in the Auto Cotton or Permanent Press mode it runs forever. Any ideas would be much appreciated.

There should be a sensor that tells dryer to shut off

There is nothing called a sensor. Any other name the part could have?

I apologize for not completing my post -- got distracted and finally got back

It seems to run forever

If your dryer seems to run forever, it could be because of a clogged vent or internal ductwork. Your dryer may have an automatic cycle that turns off the dryer when the clothes are dry. It does this with a special thermostat or moisture-sensing system.

Normally, this is what happens during an automatic cycle:


The thermostat tells the dryer to heat until the interior of the dryer reaches a pre-set temperature--say 135 degrees.


When the dryer reaches the pre-set temperature, the thermostat tells the timer to begin advancing. (If there's a moisture sensor, the timer advances only if the moisture content of the clothing is low enough.)


The timer advances until the interior cools, then the thermostat tells the timer to stop advancing, and tells the dryer to start heating again.


This cycle continues until the clothes are dry. But…if the vent is clogged, the dryer may never reach the proper operating temperature, so it doesn't send the signal to the timer and the dryer continues to run indefinitely, even if the clothes are completely dry. To fix the problem, clean the vent and/or internal ductwork.

The duct is not clogged. I also checked the parts list and there is no moisture sensor. There were multiple thermostats. Do you know which one it would be?

Thank you