I've got an old DE312 electric dryer that's been a great workhorse and troublefree until now. It now has no heat and also the auto timer doesn't advance at all - just runs constantly unless I turn it forward manually to shut it down. Seems like I can put it in any heat position for the auto timer but still doesn't heat up.

The vent is clear. Heater element visually looks fine. I can't spot the thermal fuse on this unit. Any thoughts? Cycle thermostat? The thermal fuse I can't find? The timer itself? In my own mind I'm wondering about the timer because of the loss of timer advance and heat at the same time.
Think I've got the right idea or am I going down a false lead???

Hi RavenNorth,
I have had that issue on some other model dryers and it could be either the door switch or bad thermal fuse. Most of the time it is a bad thermal fuse. I don't know where they are on your model though...hope that helps!

Hi BigJon -
Yeah, the thermal fuse might be possible - IF I could find the darned thing! I found the high temp thermostat and what I'm pretty sure is the cycle thermostat with no problem, but I'm evidently not spotting the thermal fuse. Possibly is it towards the rear of the vent tube? However, the original loss of the timer at the same moment as the heat makes me wonder.......how does that tie in with the thermal fuse?

Door switch is fine so that's not it.

The thermal fuse should be somewhere in the venting tube area. The thermal fuse is a limit control and will break the circuit to the entire dryer if an overheating condition occurs. This is assuming, of course, that you have the power available at the outlet...

Here is a link I found that will show you what the fuse looks like at least...

http://www.repairclinic.com/referral...=1265&N=483890

Hope it works for you!

Okay, I found the thermal fuse (I looked right past it yesterday ) and it seems to test okay. Anybody with other thoughts???

Jeff has a good troubleshooting page for these Maytag's here:
http://www.applianceaid.com/maytag-dryers.html

I would continue to test the other parts involved while the dryer is unplugged.

Jake

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nailed it down. It's the element. Visually, it looks perfect but I did finally check it with the meter and it didn't ohm out. Upon looking really close I found the finest of a hairline break in the element. That'll teach me!

Glad you found it was the heating element.

Here is the parts diagram for your model, in case others need to order it:
DE312

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