Author Topic: Frigidaire dryer, freakin block to my fun project (Read 2588 times)

edwardmorris · « **on:** November 13, 2013, 08:27:59 AM »

Hey guys,

The only thing this post has to do with bikes is that I'm not able to work on mine because my damned dryer is ruining things. I can't figure out what is wrong with it, it turns on and runs but no heat. I took apart the front lint mesh and vacuumed every bit of escaped lint I could find and it is now super clean. Still no heat, I see that the burn unit comes on heats for about 5 seconds and shuts off, then comes back on in about 2 minutes and shuts off in 5 seconds. Clothes aren't drying at all. I did all the googling I could and I see that the dryer is fairly simple to take apart, but what part of it is broken? The solenoids? The thermostat? The flame sensor? Any help would be appreciated.

City Boy · « **Reply #1 on:** November 13, 2013, 08:33:26 AM »

Hi.Assuming the heat element is working as you receive short duration heat,I would look for any thermostat or safety shutoffs in circuit then bypass them TEMPORARILY one at a time to see if heat element stays on.If so a fairly simple fix but if not maybe there is faulty timer . Good luck

City Boy · « **Reply #2 on:** November 13, 2013, 08:35:25 AM »

PS.I am assuming this is an electric dryer,if not please ignore everything I said.

edwardmorris · « **Reply #3 on:** November 13, 2013, 08:52:32 AM »

It is a gas dryer unfortunately.

70CB750 · « **Reply #4 on:** November 13, 2013, 08:56:36 AM »

I bet it is some kind of a safety circuit.

Damfino · « **Reply #5 on:** November 13, 2013, 09:02:09 AM »

By doing this...

http://www.google.com/search?num=100&newwindow=1&nord=1&site=webhp&source=hp&q=frigidaire+gas+dryer+not+heating&rlz=1R2GZAG_enUS471&oq=fridgidaire+gas+dryer&gs_l=hp.1.1.0i10l10.1967.15445.0.18665.21.21.0.0.0.0.1126.3510.0j20j7-1.21.0....0...1c.1.31.hp..0.21.3504.-knQ4Q4ekSg

....I eventually fixed mine. It takes time (if you're not an expert) to figure out the solution. Mine turned out to be a twenty dollar part (don't remember right now what it was...getting old is a #$%*!) behind the switch panel.

It can also help to use your model # in your Google search. Sometimes these appliances have identical issues. Good luck!

City Boy · « **Reply #6 on:** November 13, 2013, 09:03:07 AM »

If it has a thermocouple I would suspect it first.If electronic start no.My work on gas devices is limited and I never touch the gas distribution unit. Good luck.

edwardmorris · « **Reply #7 on:** November 13, 2013, 10:25:59 AM »

Found a very detailed video here on how this dryer works, surprisingly simple.

http://www.repairclinic.com/RepairHelp/How-To-Fix-A-Dryer/8-2-625758-/Frigidaire-Dryer-doesn-t-heat-GLGR642AS2

and I think I know what part to replace. Based on the video, the symptom I'm observing is closest to where the igniter heats up but a flame is never established. This means those solenoid coils are done for. I think I'm gonna give it a crack again tonight, take it apart and test out all the parts I can see easily for continuity.

Thanks for the input. Will post results when I have some good ones.

jgmmgood · « **Reply #8 on:** November 13, 2013, 11:54:07 AM »

I had a similar situation with mine and it turned out I had to replace the solenoids. It wasnt really apparent with typical troubleshooting, but I found some guidance online and that did it.

Steve F · « **Reply #9 on:** November 14, 2013, 04:19:14 AM »

My gas dryer had a problem where it would run for about a minute and then wouldn't heat up again. Turned out there are 3 sensors in the hot air tube where the hot air goes into the drum. These were covered in a coating that was from using DRYER SHEETS that prevented them from seeing the heat that was supposed to be there, and the safety circuit would shut off the flame, probably thinking the system was clogged. It was a simple fix;
A) STOP USING DRYER SHEETS
B) CLEAN OFF THE SURFACES OF THE HEAT SENSORS
C) USE THE SPIKEY RUBBER DRYER BALLS INSTEAD OF DRYER SHEETS

edwardmorris · « **Reply #10 on:** November 14, 2013, 10:07:22 AM »

Quote from: Steve F on November 14, 2013, 04:19:14 AM

My gas dryer had a problem where it would run for about a minute and then wouldn't heat up again. Turned out there are 3 sensors in the hot air tube where the hot air goes into the drum. These were covered in a coating that was from using DRYER SHEETS that prevented them from seeing the heat that was supposed to be there, and the safety circuit would shut off the flame, probably thinking the system was clogged. It was a simple fix;
A) STOP USING DRYER SHEETS
B) CLEAN OFF THE SURFACES OF THE HEAT SENSORS
C) USE THE SPIKEY RUBBER DRYER BALLS INSTEAD OF DRYER SHEETS

Thanks for that! I'll hold off on buying parts just yet and try cleaning the surfaces with an electrical parts cleaner. My wife DOES use them pesky sheets every time so I hope its just that......

edwardmorris · « **Reply #11 on:** November 17, 2013, 03:11:41 PM »

So I removed the front panel, only to find out that the entire inside is coated with lint. Cleaned it out as best as I could, put it back together and flame roared up for a little bit, then back to square one. Stuck on the bike, so I will start taking apart each of these sensors in here to clean and test them one by one.

honda_dog · « **Reply #12 on:** November 17, 2013, 03:36:41 PM »

It's hard to tell, but it looks like the air shutter after the gas valve is closed. It should be open approx. 50% to allow air for combustion. You might check that.

jdubyaj · « **Reply #13 on:** November 17, 2013, 05:01:40 PM »

Can you post the model no. of the dryer? Aluminum foil balled up works great in place of dryer sheets and one ball can last months.

edwardmorris · « **Reply #14 on:** November 23, 2013, 07:02:05 PM »

Made time to work on it again, and all the sensors checked out when testing continuity. The cycling thermostat was coated with crap, but it pass the hot pan on-off test. The only thing I haven't found on this dryer is the thermal fuse. That is the last thing that could be bad. Still the same thing after putting it back together, flame only comes on once and never after. Starting to suspect the solenoid now.

honda_dog · « **Reply #15 on:** November 24, 2013, 08:42:02 AM »

Did you take the orifice off and check for a random speck of dirt or crud that could plug the orifice, intermittently or after the initial firing?

edwardmorris · « **Reply #16 on:** November 24, 2013, 08:14:30 PM »

Quote from: honda_dog on November 24, 2013, 08:42:02 AM

Did you take the orifice off and check for a random speck of dirt or crud that could plug the orifice, intermittently or after the initial firing?

Is that the long gas flow tube? No I haven't. I stumbled into one of those "Related videos" while watching the ones from repairclininc and it explained in detail how to test the the 4pronged cycling thermostat correctly which I NOW think is the problem. The repaiclinic merely said check for continuity on the outer two terminals, and that checked out fine. The other video explained that the inner two prongs are for the High-Med-Low heat settings. There should be nominal resistance between the inner prongs (under 10ohms I think), where as mine is showing as infinite, as in no continuity at all. There is a local parts store that I plan to take it in tomorrow and have them confirm it and buy a new one. Hopefully that will be the end of this mess.

honda_dog · « **Reply #17 on:** November 25, 2013, 04:00:55 AM »

That's good, that shouldn't be too big of a cost to replace the thermostat. I hope it works out for you.

edwardmorris · « **Reply #18 on:** November 30, 2013, 10:43:51 PM »

Thermostat checked out fine the second time (ugh) took a shot in the dark and replaced the coils and voila, dryer is heating up fine and clothes are drying. Thanks for all the advice, learnt a lot more than I'd have ever imagined knowing about an appliance...

70CB750 · « **Reply #19 on:** December 01, 2013, 04:17:26 AM »

About time, the suspense was killing me

Congrats!

honda_dog · « **Reply #20 on:** December 01, 2013, 05:27:33 AM »

Good news.

ogsmakdade · « **Reply #21 on:** December 01, 2013, 06:50:22 AM »

Quote from: edwardmorris on November 23, 2013, 07:02:05 PM

Made time to work on it again, and all the sensors checked out when testing continuity. The cycling thermostat was coated with crap, but it pass the hot pan on-off test. The only thing I haven't found on this dryer is the thermal fuse. That is the last thing that could be bad. Still the same thing after putting it back together, flame only comes on once and never after. Starting to suspect the solenoid now.

third picture down is your hot surface ignitor. hope you didn't touch the element with your fingers or touch the element to anything else. The oils from your fingers/ dust and dirt will severely shorten the life of this part.

edwardmorris · « **Reply #22 on:** December 01, 2013, 09:35:48 AM »

Quote from: ogsmakdade on December 01, 2013, 06:50:22 AM

third picture down is your hot surface ignitor. hope you didn't touch the element with your fingers or touch the element to anything else. The oils from your fingers/ dust and dirt will severely shorten the life of this part.

Nope, I was a nervous nelli when touching any of it. I wonder how paranoid I'm going to be when I start tearing my engine TODAY! Fingers crossed that no more family or household blockers from today. My workshop in the basement had no power or outlets, so I pulled some new conduit down to it. Just gotta pull some wire today and land it on the main bus and I can use power tools inside and not freeze out in the garage.

ogsmakdade · « **Reply #23 on:** December 01, 2013, 04:16:56 PM »

awesome.

even guys in my trade (HVAC) make the mistake of touching the ignitors.

good luck with your electrical.

edwardmorris · « **Reply #24 on:** December 01, 2013, 10:32:36 PM »

Thanks! this is where I left it as I ran out of small parts. Will wrap this up tomorrow hopefully.

ogsmakdade · « **Reply #25 on:** December 02, 2013, 06:42:05 AM »

nice work on the conduit, most people just run bare romex which is unsafe IMO

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Author Topic: Frigidaire dryer, freakin block to my fun project (Read 2588 times)