Laundry Center: Why won't my laundry center dryer start?

If the dryer doesn't start when you push the start button, make sure the door is shut completely. If the dryer still won't start, a failed door switch, faulty push-to-start switch, wiring failure, bad dryer drive motor, blown thermal limiter fuse, bad electronic control board or failed dryer timer could be preventing the motor from running.

First, unplug the laundry center and check the wires connected to the dryer door switch. Reconnect any loose wires and repair any broken wires.

If the door switch wires are okay, check for continuity through the dryer door switch using a multimeter. Replace the dryer door switch if you don't measure continuity through the switch with the dryer door closed.

If the dryer door switch is okay and your laundry center uses an electronic control board to manage dryer functions, check the wiring connections between the electronic control board and the dryer drive motor (with the dryer still unplugged). Reconnect any loose wires and repair any damaged wires. The dryer electronic control board typically signals an error code when the board detects a component problem and doesn't send current to the dryer drive motor. If you see an error code on the dryer display, look up the error code on the error code chart and troubleshoot the cause. The dryer drive motor will likely run again after you find and fix the cause of the error code.

If your laundry center uses a timer to control dryer functions, check the wiring connections between the timer, push-to-start switch and dryer drive motor (with the dryer still unplugged). Reconnect any loose wires and repair any broken wires.

If the timer wiring connections are okay, check for continuity through the push-to-start switch with the start button pushed in. Replace the push-to-start switch if you don't measure continuity through the switch while pushing the start button in.

If the push-to-start switch is okay, check for continuity through the dryer timer. Use the wiring diagram for the laundry center as a guide for checking continuity through the timer. You can typically find the wiring diagram stored in the console (also known as the control panel) of the laundry center or on the parts list diagram. Replace the timer if you don't measure continuity through the timer contacts that send current to the dryer drive motor.

Many electric dryers in laundry centers use a thermal limiter or thermal fuse to shut off the dryer motor if the laundry center overheats. With the dryer still unplugged, check for continuity through the thermal limiter or thermal fuse and replace that limiter or fuse if you don't measure continuity. A clog in the exhaust vent system for the laundry center often causes the thermal limiter or thermal fuse to blow, so check the dryer's exhaust system for a clog if the thermal limiter or thermal fuse is blown.