If you’re facing issues with your Maytag dryer starting or stopping awkwardly, emitting strange noises, and certain functions not working like they’re supposed to, this article will help to clarify most of your doubts.
Your Maytag dryer might not start due to a faulty start switch, which can be checked for continuity using a multimeter and easily replaced if needed. If your dryer fails to start but emits noise or light, the thermal fuse is likely blown.
Most of the issues you face in your daily life with your dryer can be easily resolved without needing to call a technician and spend money.
What if the Maytag Dryer Won’t Spin?
Your dryer might not be spinning due to drive belt issues. This item is wrapped around the driver drum, allowing the drum to spin during cycles. To check if your belt is broken, simply spin the drum yourself on a turned-off machine; if it spins with no resistance easily, that means the belt is broken. You need to be getting a replacement belt part and hiring a technician to fix this problem for you.
Another reason why your dryer isn’t spinning is caused by the drum roller parts getting worn out. These rollers need to spin freely to work as they should, and prolonged use means they are getting worn out and won’t spin properly. To determine if the rollers are faulty, remove the drive belt and turn the drum by hand. If it doesn’t spin freely, check if your rollers are spinning normally without wobbling.
When they aren’t, that means you will need to replace those particular rollers, along with their axles if needed.
What to Do if the Maytag Dryer Won’t Turn On?
If your Maytag dryer won’t start, with no noise or light generated after you press the ‘start’ button, the mechanism for this button is probably faulty. However, before you can do anything about this problem, you need to verify that it is faulty by checking for continuity with a multimeter.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Ensure that the machine is turned off and not plugged into a power source.
- Unscrew all the screws.
- Remove the top panel to get access to the start button.
- Remove the two wires from the start button. These should pop off easily.
- Connect the two prongs of your multimeter to the two terminals where the wires were previously connected on the start button.
- Set your multimeter to Ohms.
- Press the start button.
- Your multimeter screen should show flickering numbers and change and emit a beeping sound to indicate that voltage is being passed through the terminals, and there is continuity. If there is no change in the screen, your start switch is faulty.
If you have more than two terminals for your start switch, just test two at a time.
If you have a push-to-start button on your dryer, you can try repairing it yourself! Simply follow these steps:
- Purchase a new switch that is appropriate for your dryer’s model number. You can find this part online.
- Wear gloves to prevent accidental electric shocks.
- Turn the machine off and ensure that it is not plugged into a power source.
- Remove all the screws from the top panel and remove the top panel.
- Take a picture of the way that all the wires are connected to the start switch.
- Remove all wiring from the start switch.
- Pop the start switch out by prying up the locking clip and turning the switch to the side.
- Put the new start switch in.
- By referring to your image, connect all the wires back to the switch correctly. If this is done imperfectly, you could fry your new start switch or your dryer, so you need to be careful.
Sometimes, the start switch might fail to work because it has been slightly dislodged from its position. This way, you might not be able to push it. Resolving it is as easy as making simple manual adjustments to get rid of this problem.
What to Do if the Maytag Dryer Won’t Start but Lights Up or Clicks?
If your Maytag dryer has power but refuses to start, you have a blown thermal fuse that you need to get replaced instead of producing clicking noises. The thermal fuse works as a safety measure to prevent your dryer from catching fire if it overheats by opening the circuit so that electricity cannot flow freely.
Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on December 5, 2020.
Some causes for the thermal fuse blowing would be an exhaust vent blocked by lint or lint being wrapped around the fuse in the blower wheel, trapping heat, and increasing temperatures inside the dryer. Another reason could be that the relay switch has burned out.
Here’s what you need to do to replace the thermal fuse:
- Wear work gloves.
- Unplug the dryer.
- Remove screws from the back panel.
- Pop off the back panel.
- Take an image of the way that wires are attached to the thermal fuse.
- Remove the wires from the thermal fuse.
- Remove the mounting screw attaching the thermal fuse to the dryer. You would likely need a ¼” nut driver for this step.
- Remove the fuse and attach the new one in place.
- Screw the mounting screw back on.
- Replace the wires as they were previously.
- Put the back panel back in place.
To prevent the thermal fuse from blowing again, you need to clean your ducts and exhaust vents thoroughly, ensuring that they are free from lint.
A blown thermal fuse could also be the reason why you’re getting lights on the control panel, but your dryer isn’t starting. However, before you check the thermal fuse, you should try checking if the door switch has continuity.
What to Do if the Maytag Dryer Won’t Start and Says Check the Lint Screen?
Most Maytag dryers display a specific light or text telling you to ‘check lint screen.’ This light is meant to turn off automatically once you start a cycle or open a door. The light just serves as a reminder to ensure that your lint screen is both clean and inserted properly into the machine to ensure proper airflow and faster drying time.
If you face this text and your dryer won’t start despite all your attempts to make it start, the most obvious thing that you need to do is ensure that there is no lint trapped in the lint screen, exhaust ducts, or in the dryer itself.
If this has already been completed and the dryer still doesn’t want to work, check the door switch. Your cycle won’t start if the door is open, so close the door properly and try flicking the door switch a few times to ensure that it is properly set in place. Otherwise, you will need to unscrew the panel where the door switch is located and fix the part properly in place with a screwdriver.
What to Do if the Maytag Dryer Won’t Start but the Timer Runs?
In this case, you are likely facing a motor problem. The motor might not be connected to the circuit properly, resulting in the motor for the timer running without the corresponding cycle going off beside it.
Final Thoughts
Some mechanical issues you might be able to fix yourself, but for others, you will have no choice but to hire a technician. When making repairs, don’t attempt to do something if you’re unsure what the exact process is because that could result in an even more defective machine.
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ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on December 5, 2020.