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GE Electric  Dryer Older Style Diagnostic Chart

Symptom Solution  
Clothes are not completely drying or take too long to dry.
  • Check all air flow ducts for blockage
  • Check all thermostats
  • Check blower fan for proper air flow
  • Check for belt slippage.
  • Check heat selector switch
  • Check heating elements for breaks or short to ground
  • Check lint screen
  • Check switch mounted on motor
  • Check timer
  • Check the vent. Make sure it's not blocked. - Make sure the flexible vent hose between the dryer and the wall isn't too long and getting a kink in it, not letting the dryer exhaust the moist air into the vent pipe in the wall. Also check that the vent pipe in the wall isn't stopped up all the way to where it exists the house. Make sure there are no screens etc on the flapper on the outside of the house where it exits as the lint will build up on the screen blocking air flow.

Tip:  You can pull the dryer a few  feet from the wall and  unhook the vent hose from the back of the dryer, and do a load of clothes with NOTHING attached to the vent pipe on the back of the dryer to determine if the problem is in the vent or in the dryer  To Clean the Vent pipe in the wall....You can use a vent cleaning brush as seen on our parts page, or a fish tape, garden hose, drain tape , with a rag secured to the end of it and pull it through. I've also seen people use leaf blowers.

Older Style GE/Hotpoint  Dryer

gedryold1.jpg (91350 bytes)

Clothes are too hot
  • Check all thermostats
  • Check heating element for shorts against surrounding can
  • Check the vent. Make sure it's not blocked. - Make sure the flexible vent hose between the dryer and the wall isn't too long and getting a kink in it, not letting the dryer exhaust the moist air into the vent pipe in the wall. Also check that the vent pipe in the wall isn't stopped up all the way to where it exists the house. Make sure there are no screens etc on the flapper on the outside of the house where it exits as the lint will build up on the screen blocking air flow.

Tip:  You can pull the dryer a few  feet from the wall and  unhook the vent hose from the back of the dryer, and do a load of clothes with NOTHING attached to the vent pipe on the back of the dryer to determine if the problem is in the vent or in the dryer  To Clean the Vent pipe in the wall....You can use a vent cleaning brush as seen on our parts page, or a fish tape, garden hose, drain tape , with a rag secured to the end of it and pull it through. I've also seen people use leaf blowers.

gedryold3.jpg (55332 bytes)

gedryold4.jpg (58613 bytes)

Drum will not turn
  • Check blower fan for frozen bushings.
  • Check door switch
  • Check drum belt.
  • Check drum bushings
  • Check idler arm and wheel.
  • Check motor for power
  • Check support rollers or pads.
  • Check timer
  • Check the motor, make sure it isn't locked up
  • Check the thermal limit (some models) on top of the element.
gedryclip.jpg (85553 bytes)
Dryer will not heat
  • Check all thermostats
  • Check circuit breakers or fuses (in the house)
  • Check heat selector switch
  • Check heater element for breaks (Most Popular Problem)
  • Check switch mounted on motor. Two of the terminals are for the heater element operation
  • Check terminals going to heater elements
  • Check timer
gedryold5.jpg (81442 bytes)
Dryer will not run
  • Check PUSH TO START switch on console
  • Check connections from power cord to terminal block
  • Check door switch
  • Check power at outlet. Should read 110 or 220/240 volts
  • Check timer for power
  • Try door switch for action or clicking noise
  • Check the thermal limit (some models) on top of the element.
  • Check motor for seized bearings
  • It wont run ---- when I shut the door and set the timer it automatically buzzes I don't even turn the start button and it buzzes has soon has turn the timer  ---  Sounds like the motor switch may be hanging up. Reach in the drum and give it a spin by hand and see if it works after that. If so your motor may be going out or the motor switch is full of lint.
gedryold6.jpg (104484 bytes)
Dryer Runs for awhile then shuts off 
  • Check for excessive lint build up on and around the motor. Clean as necessary 
  • Check for seizing bearing in motor.
Dryer will not shut off
  • Check for power to timer motor
  • Check sensors (on some models)
  • Check thermostats
  • Check timer motor for advancing
  • Check timer switch leads to timer motor
gedryold2.jpg (85791 bytes)
Dryer Making Noises
  • Check glides
  • Check Rear Drum Bearing
  • Check Idler Pulley
  • Check motor
  • Check for debris in blower wheel
  • Check for debris in front felt seal
gedryold7.jpg (77634 bytes)

Larger picture of rear drum bearing

  gedryold8.jpg (73543 bytes)
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All of the information is provided FREE OF CHARGE. No liability is assummed by American A/C & Appliance, any of it's employees, or it's provider for the accuracy of the contents or damages caused by the use of these procedures.

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