My dryer only works for about 5 minutes.. help!?

Question

we just got this dryer from an old man that claimed it worked.. its a really nice dryer.. well we got it yesterday and plugged it up and started doing laundrey.. and it just shuts off.. the clothes were getting warm.. so i dont what is going on.. so i unplugged the cord plugged it back in.. moved the clothes around and gave it a few minutes.. than it turned back on.. but 5 minutes later shut off again.. i have cleaned the vent also.. and switch the breaker.. what is wrong?? do we have the ground cords.. not connected right.. i would like to find a website that shows a picture of how to and where to put the cords.. can u plz help??

Answer 1

My dryer started doing this last week, but it was just that the door pops open slightly.  I started putting something in front of the dryer door, and that keeps it closed.  Now it dries through the entire cycle.

Answer 2

I had the same problem last year with my Roper dryer.  It turned out to be the THERMAL FUSE (very cheap!).

Unplug the unit, turn it backward, remove the vent hose, then take off the panel (10-20 screws).

Behind the switch panel, you should find the WIRING DIAGRAM.   Find the thermal fuse(s) by reading.  See what color wires go into each side of it/them, as this is how you will find it/them inside the unit.  (mine had 2)

A thermal fuse looks like a grey/black block of clay, with metal tabs on the ends (or on one side)

CAREFULLY take the wires off each end of one thermal fuse at a time.  connect the wires together, and tape them off (to keep from touching metal).  

Start the unit.   When it runs longer than normal shut-off time, you found the problem.  Go buy one, take it with you.

Answer 3

maybe u can go to www.sears.com  and see if they have a dryer like yours and compare and see whats wrong

Answer 4

Definitely sounds like a safety feature. You should contact the manufacturer, online, not just a repair website, as safety features may be both universal in nature while individual in design and maintenance.

Good luck.