Kenmore Overheating and Thermal Protection Cycling

Dryer shuts off after a few minutes and will restart after cooling down

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Safety Warning

This repair may involve working with high voltage components or water connections. Always unplug the appliance before removing any panels.

If you are not confident in your ability to perform this repair safely, we strongly recommend contacting a professional technician.

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Possible Causes

Restricted venting, failing drive motor overheating, clogged lint passages, weak high-limit thermostat

How to Fix / Troubleshooting

Safety First: Unplug dryer and shut off gas. Overheating can be a fire hazard.

Steps:

  • Clean vent and lint path: Thoroughly clean the lint filter, lint chute, blower housing, and exhaust vent.
  • Check drum movement: Ensure the drum turns freely; binding can overload the motor and cause it to overheat and trip its internal protector.
  • Inspect motor: If the motor is extremely hot to the touch after shutdown and the vent is clear, the motor may be failing and should be replaced.
  • High-limit thermostat: Test the high-limit thermostat for proper operation and replace if it trips at too low a temperature.
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Repair Difficulty

Medium 3/5

Required Part

Drive Motor
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