FIXED WED9550WL2 Whirlpool Dryer Not Heating

[dunginhawk]

Model Number

WED9550WL2

Brand

Whirlpool

Age

1-5 years

Good evening... So recently my dryer stopped heating.
Now it was over taxed a while due to our builder putting a thin mesh on the roof to keep out critters, but in actuality all it did was clog up the dryer vent and cause issues.
So 6 months after getting that resolved we no longer have heating from the dryer.

Doing a little bit of research i wanted to test the thermostat and the thermal fuse. I used a multimeter set to continuity and get readings of 0 on both. According to research that means they are good???? is that accurate?

So really the last thing I want to test is the heating element itself, right? Its a little tougher to get to than the other pieces i tested, so I wanted to ask you guys/gals before digging on in there. Is there a specific way I should be testing this? Given the thermal fuse and thermostat tested ok (i assume i did that correctly) the element is the likely culprit right?

please advise me.
thank you much

 

[rickgburton]

The heating element wires are right there in front. Always remove at least one wire from the component you're checking for continuity. If the element checks good you may need a new control board.

WP8544771 Heating Element

 

[dunginhawk]

The heating element wires are right there in front. Always remove at least one wire from the component you're checking for continuity. If the element checks good you may need a new control board.

At least one wire from the component you are checking.. but its ok to remove both? for instance, when I tested continuity of the thermal fuse and thermostat i removed both wires, touched my black and red leads, and got a 0... that was the accurate way to do it?
I appreciate your response Rick.. I have a certain set of skills in my life, appliances are NOT it haha.


EDIT: so i did what you mentioned.. disconnected one of the wires leading to the heating coil ... it appears as a 1, and no tone, so I assume continuity has failed... guess i need to buy a new heating element.

 

[dunginhawk]

ok... dryer fixed it was WAY WAY more involved than i thought it would be (i mean seriously, i swear manufacturers purposefully make parts hard to replace so the common man doesnt even attempt it).
It ended up being the heating element.. I found one locally at an appliances parts disti for $100.
Cant imagine what it would have cost if I hired someone to do it..

Anyway, what ended up happening is the metal under the coils buckled (probably over time due to bad ventilation, from the builder putting a small mesh screen) and eventually the coil touched that buckled plate and popped it.

So after an hour or so, its back up and running.
thanks so much for the help.

 

[rickgburton]

Anytime!