Gas dryer won't start troubleshooting video

Tools and parts needed

• Screwdriver

• Multimeter

• Work gloves

• Door switch

• Push-to-start switch

Hi, this is Wayne with Sears PartsDirect. Today, we're going to talk about troubleshooting a gas dryer that won't start. If your dryer won’t start, the most likely causes are a lack of power, a defective door switch or a bad start switch.

First, let’s rule out a power issue. Open the dryer door and check if the light inside the dryer turns on. If it doesn’t turn on, check the house circuit breaker. Try resetting the breaker to make sure it’s not tripped. If that doesn’t work, check your power cord and make sure the power socket works.

Door switch

Once you’ve confirmed that the dryer is getting power, with the dryer door closed, set a Timed Drying cycle and listen for the faint sound of the timer motor running inside the console. If the timer motor runs and the light comes on when you open the door, you know that the door switch is okay. You can skip ahead to the next segment where we’ll show you how to check the start switch.

If not, we’ll check the door switch with a multimeter next. For safety, always make sure to disconnect the power before you check continuity. To access the door switch, pull out the lint screen. Remove the screws that secure the lint screen housing to the top panel. Release the clips and lift the top panel to access the door switch. Unplug the door switch from the wire harness.

With the dryer door closed, put your meter leads on the door switch wires that connect to the blue and white wires on the other end of the plug. You should measure near 0 ohms of resistance. If you measure no continuity, on this meter that’s an “OL,” then the door switch is broken and needs to be replaced. Here’s a video that will walk you through that process.

Push-to-start switch

The next thing we’ll look at is the start switch. Reassemble the dryer and then plug it back in. Open the door and push the door switch in. While holding the door switch in, push the start switch. You should hear a click as the relay engages. Then release the door switch and you should hear a click as the relay disengages. If you heard the clicks, the start switch is probably okay.

If you didn’t hear the clicks, let’s check continuity on it. With the dryer unplugged, remove the console back panel. Unplug the wires from the start switch. Have someone hold the start switch in and check resistance on the spades for the light blue wires. You should measure near 0 ohms of resistance with the start button pressed in. If you measure no continuity, then you’ll need to replace the push-to-start switch. Here’s a video for you.

If all of the components have checked out okay, then the motor windings or internal centrifugal switch could be defective. You should get a qualified technician to check this out.

Hey thanks for watching. Check out our other repair videos here on the YouTube channel, and if you like them, subscribe.