DWXR483EB2WW GE Dryer runs for 2-5 minutes and stops

[Jon Kusen]

Model Number

DWXR483EB2WW

Brand

GE

Age

More than 10 years

Dryer is about 16 years old. 3 years ago it started doing this: after starting it sometimes runs for 2-5 minutes and stops completely......timer still runs but element turns off and motor stops.
In Jan 2021 I replaced the motor. Also replaced the cycle control sensor WE4M181 and the Hi Limit T Stat WE4M137. I blew the Hi Limit T Stat because I accidentally had a wire crossed on the new motor. New motor has a different wiring pattern from the original motor.
Heater elements were replaced for the 2nd time 3/25/21. The rear bearing and front bearing and slides have been replaced at the same time....they have been replaced before starting in 2014. Belt replaced as well as belt tensioner pulley. I can easily turn the drum by hand when motor and belt are in place.

Problem still exists.....but it may only happen once a week or it may happen 2 or 3 x a day. And I can always restart it about 5 mins. later.....and it will usually run for the rest of the cycle. I can hear a click when it is ready to restart, but cannot identify exactly which sensor is resetting as the sound echoes inside the unit.
It seems to happen more often if Med. heat is selected, so my wife usually uses Low heat. She never uses Reg. Heat.

I have completely cleaned the vent system of lint.....no lint buildup anywhere....clean all the way to the outside of the house....something I do every year.
Can the drum outlet sensor WE4M216 cause this issue? Cutting off both the motor and the heater?
Any suggestions?

 

[Jon Kusen]

Update:
Tried different dryer setting today .....pic attached. It ran for about 15 mins and then stopped......but restarted in 3 mins. Looking at the diagram in my post, What sensor could cause this? If the motor was overheating and tripping its thermal switch, how could it possibly cool down in 3 minutes and restart?

 

[Dan O.]

it sometimes runs for 2-5 minutes and stops completely......timer still ran but element turns off and motor stops.

Not being able to restart immediately is usually a sign of the internal motor protector cutting out. It takes time for it to cool and reset before the motor can try to run again.

timer still runs but element turns off and motor stops.

The dryer will NOT heat without the motor running. It is a safety design. The element coming ON without the motor running is a fire hazard!

In Jan 2021 I replaced the motor

...

Problem still exists

Did it do the same thing even immediately after replacing the motor??? or it is just doing it again two years later??

And I can always restart it about 5 mins. later

Not being able to restart immediately is usually a sign of the internal motor protector cutting out. It is a common failure. If the motor isn't just plugged with lint, etc, causing it to overheat, the motor may very well need to be replaced again.

LINK > Dryer Motor Kit WE17X10010 / AP4295548


The only other thing I can see that might cause the motor to cut out is a problem with the thermostat identified in the wiring diagram as "Thermo Hi-Limit Right" but by looking at the part (see the following link), it looks to be a fuse and if so once tripped would likely need to be replaced before the motor would run again. It would not reset by itself.

LINK > High Limit Thermostat WE4M137


JMO

Dan O.

 

[Jon Kusen]

Not being able to restart immediately is usually a sign of the internal motor protector cutting out. It is a common failure. If the motor isn't just plugged with lint, etc, causing it to overheat, the motor may very well need to be replaced again.

The only other thing I can see that might cause the motor to cut out is a problem with the thermostat identified in the wiring diagram as "Thermo Hi-Limit Right" but by looking at the part (see the following link), it looks to be a fuse and once tripped would likely need to be replaced before the motor would run again. It would not reset by itself.

I appreciate the detailed reply Dan. It started again within the first month after replacing the original motor. We thought we would just live with it.

My wife does laundry almost every day and it can go days before it happens again. That's what makes it hard to think the motor is the problem......and how can a motor cool down in 3 minutes, like it did today, restart and then run for another hour?

 

[Dan O.]

That's what makes it hard to think the motor is the problem......and how can a motor cool down in 3 minutes, like it did today, restart and then run for another hour?

How could anything else either?

There might be a poor contact in the timer, the belt break switch, the door switch, or power to the dryer (at the outlet or main power connections) that heats with use and opens the circuit temporarily which resets once cooled again. The power needs to be traced to isolate where the stoppage occurs, when it occurs.


Dan O.