# Electric dryer runs for a minute or two then shuts off - Dead Dryer?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-dryer-runs-for-a-minute-or-two-then-shuts-off-dead-dryer/693043
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [July 14, 2014, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-dryer-runs-for-a-minute-or-two-then-shuts-off-dead-dryer/693043 "2014-07-14T02:50:21Z")
**Posts on this page:** 12
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2014, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-dryer-runs-for-a-minute-or-two-then-shuts-off-dead-dryer/693043/1 "2014-07-14T02:50:21Z")
Re my 220V electric dryer I googled up this run then quit scenario and the main answer seemed to be that the dryer vent hose was probably clogged. Pulled the dryer out and pulled the vent hose (no lint clog apparent) and ran it directly into the room without the vent hose attached. Strong warm air push and drying action out the bottom air exist vent for about a minute then stops dead even with hose detached.
I cleaned the lint screen about ever other dry and given the air push it doesn’t seem clogged on the interior. Dryer came with the house and is 20 years old or so, so I will be replacing not repairing, but would like to try to see if there is a simple solution before doing that.
Any ideas appreciated.
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### Author:  [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2014, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-dryer-runs-for-a-minute-or-two-then-shuts-off-dead-dryer/693043/2 "2014-07-14T03:03:02Z")
Does it restart immediately after it quits?
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### Author:  [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2014, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-dryer-runs-for-a-minute-or-two-then-shuts-off-dead-dryer/693043/3 "2014-07-14T03:14:23Z")
No quits and stops completely and will not immediately restart even if manually re-set to start drying again until it “rests” for a bit.
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### Author:  [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2014, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-dryer-runs-for-a-minute-or-two-then-shuts-off-dead-dryer/693043/4 "2014-07-14T03:21:15Z")
> [@astro](#):
>
> No quits and stops completely and will not immediately restart even if manually re-set to start drying again until it “rests” for a bit.
Sounds like the motor may be overheating - make sure all the vents in the motor are clear of lint.
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### Author:  [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2014, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-dryer-runs-for-a-minute-or-two-then-shuts-off-dead-dryer/693043/5 "2014-07-14T03:22:25Z")
There should be a thermostat in there somewhere that shuts it down in case of overheating.
I’d try replacing that. You should be able to google around with the make and model # to find instructions.
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### Author:  [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2014, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-dryer-runs-for-a-minute-or-two-then-shuts-off-dead-dryer/693043/6 "2014-07-14T03:23:50Z")
It’s likely the thermal fuse. Cheap and easy replacement. Just google it
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### Author:  [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2014, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-dryer-runs-for-a-minute-or-two-then-shuts-off-dead-dryer/693043/7 "2014-07-14T05:46:46Z")
Thermostat is my first thought, especially if only 5 minutes. To piggyback - what if dryer is completely clean, but after a hour of so either stops similar to OP, or makes loud grinding sound?
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### Author:  [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2014, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-dryer-runs-for-a-minute-or-two-then-shuts-off-dead-dryer/693043/8 "2014-07-14T05:51:48Z")
> [@am77494](#):
>
> It’s likely the thermal fuse. Cheap and easy replacement. Just google it
The thermal fuse is a fuse. It either works, or it doesn’t. It’s not the thermal fuse.
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### Author:  [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2014, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-dryer-runs-for-a-minute-or-two-then-shuts-off-dead-dryer/693043/9 "2014-07-14T06:55:01Z")
It’s probably the thermostat. [How to check it](http://www.wikihow.com/Check-a-Thermostat-in-a-Dryer)
very simple and cheap fix. look on youtube for your brand of dryer. There’s several videos for replacing dryer thermostats.
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### Author:  [@48Willys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/48Willys)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2014, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-dryer-runs-for-a-minute-or-two-then-shuts-off-dead-dryer/693043/10 "2014-07-14T21:08:12Z")
> [@aceplace57](#):
>
> It’s probably the thermostat. [How to check it](http://www.wikihow.com/Check-a-Thermostat-in-a-Dryer)
>
> very simple and cheap fix. look on youtube for your brand of dryer. There’s several videos for replacing dryer thermostats.
Did you read the OP? Did you read your linked how to?
The drier runs for a bit then turns off. After a cooling period it will run for a bit. If the thermostat is bad, as in the linked how to, then it would not run, EVER!
The OPs problem is not likely to be the thermostat. It is much more likely to be the thermal switch(s) that prevents an overheat condition. There may be two of them. One on the motor & one in the drier vent system downstream of the heating unit. Either one (likely) or both (very unlikely) of them could be bad. I would check the one on the motor first.
If you have any mechanical skill at all you can find out the problem & fix it. Be sure to unplug the drier prior to working on it. 220 Volts can zap you pretty good, it hurts like mad! Trust me on this.
I agree that there are lots of links on the web that gives how to information for your specific make and model of drier. Google drier repair and your make and model. You should be able to safely fix this problem.
At worst you will need to replace the motor, or have the motor repaired. Much cheaper than a new drier.
IHTH,48.
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### Author:  [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2014, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-dryer-runs-for-a-minute-or-two-then-shuts-off-dead-dryer/693043/11 "2014-07-16T04:47:30Z")
Thank you for all the suggestions. I went to youtube and surprisingly there are tons of how to’s for diagnosing my model of dryer (older Kenmore) which is apparently carried under a number of brand names.
It my testing of it has gone from intermittent to completely dead now. I did pull a bunch of dusty junk from way up in the vent housing next to the lint filter. Lots of screws and metal pieces.
[This video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZY9CQ_CqvY)was the most useful. Using a multi tester I walked the entire suite of tests he did and everything checked out the way he said it would re the measurement specs he indicated - EXCEPT that for the specific test he does from 5:00 to 5:37 it did not yield .3 or any reading at all just a “1” when set on “OHMS 200” so I’m assuming the thermostat might be bad.
I called around locally but the local parts distribution store wants 42.00 for the thermal fuse + thermostat pair kit. [It's 7.00 shipped on ebay]([http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=141343514956](http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=141343514956)) so I ordered one to try it out.
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### Author:  [@HipGnosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HipGnosis)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2014, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-dryer-runs-for-a-minute-or-two-then-shuts-off-dead-dryer/693043/12 "2014-07-16T17:48:43Z")
Pardon for being persnickity, but you are not ‘assuming the thermostat might be bad’. You tested it and it failed.