I have been experiencing some problems with my Amana dryer. It runs for a few minutes and then shuts off. It starts back up once it has cooled down. If I try to start it up before it has cooled down, it sort of buzzes, almost like when trying to start a car with a dead battery. If I hold the start button down for, say, 30 seconds, it will quit buzzing altogether, and I will have to wait another length of time before it works again.

One other clue is after the dryer runs for a time, I can detect a faint burning smell, which seems stronger in the back of the dryer then in the front. I opened the dryer up tonight and nothing inside looks burned, and each of the switches seems to be intact. The metal grill in the back of the cylinder (part # 2 in this diagram http://edge.maytag.com/B2C/diagrams/28635.jpg) is darker in the middle as though it has sustained some burns (it could be some burned lent residue, come to think of it; I'm not sure), but it has been there since I bought it, and I don't know if it's related. For what it's worth, I got inside and smelled it and am fairly certain that's not where the smell is coming from.

While I had it on the operating table, I thoroughly cleaned the ventilation system, from the lint trap to the outside vent, and it didn't help.

I bought it used four months ago. I can't tell how old it is, though it appears to be in very good shape, being as I have spelunked virtually every duct and cranny of it now. I noticed the problem almost immediately after I bought it. However, initially it would run fine nearly the entire cycle before shutting off, so I ignored it. Since then, it has gotten much worse. It now shuts off after running for only ten minutes or so.

I Googled the model number and found someone else who appears to have had the same problem (applianceguru.com/forum2/1281.html). However, no one was able to solve her problems. Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

And now, a few keywords to help future Googling Amana owners find their way: amana dryer model number LEA60AW overheat hot shuts turns off shuts down

Something else I thought of which might be help. When I bought the dryer, I had to buy a new adapter, to fit the older dryer power outlet in my house. The original cord for this dryer had four wires into the dryer, while the new one had only three, although I was assured by multiple people that that wasn't a problem.

This problem sounds like the classic: lint clogging the motor vents issue.

Have you opened your dryer to clean out all of the lint from inside and around the motor?

If you cleaned all the lint inside and from on/around the motor, then your motor is shot.

Here is a new motor for your model:
Drive motor assembly with pulley

Jake

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Do you know how to pull the back off of this model? I attempted to last night, but there were two clips (and possibly to screws) holding the top (control panel and lid piece) onto the dryer which seemed to be inaccessible.

The back does not come off, everything is done from the front.

Take that lower panel off below the door, and check for lint build-up inside, on and around the motor. Unplug it first, or turn the breaker off to it, get a flashlight or floodlight to look inside of it.

Jake

__________________
Appliance Repair School 1987-1988
Star Appliance Tech. 2 yrs. 1988-1990
Wards Appliance Tech. 11 yrs. 1990-2001
Sears Appliance Tech. 4 yrs. 2001-Oct. 2005
Jake's Appliance Repair Nov. 2005-present

If you need more repair advice help on your appliance, click Here

Look-Up & Order Parts

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Yeah, I've already done that. No lent anywhere. Looks like I'll be putting myself in the market for a new (used) dryer. Any advice on which makes or models I should stay away from?

Thanks for your help.

Whirlpool and Kenmore are the least I have to repair.

Jake

__________________
Appliance Repair School 1987-1988
Star Appliance Tech. 2 yrs. 1988-1990
Wards Appliance Tech. 11 yrs. 1990-2001
Sears Appliance Tech. 4 yrs. 2001-Oct. 2005
Jake's Appliance Repair Nov. 2005-present

If you need more repair advice help on your appliance, click Here

Look-Up & Order Parts

Shop Home Appliances