Dryer Timer Not Working? Confirm It and Fix It
When your dryer timer stops working correctly, it can throw off your laundry routine.
A malfunctioning timer might prevent the dryer from starting, advancing through cycles, or shutting off properly.
Fortunately, diagnosing and fixing the issue is often straightforward if you approach it step by step.
This guide will help you troubleshoot and repair a faulty dryer timer, starting with simple checks before moving on to more technical solutions.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Start by checking for a cracked or worn timer knob, as this is a common and straightforward problem that can prevent the dryer from starting.
- If the knob is intact, use a multimeter to test the internal timer contacts and motor for electrical continuity. Replace the timer if you detect infinite resistance where continuity is expected.
- If the timer dial advances improperly or doesn’t stop the dryer, test specific internal contacts for faults. If you’re unable to find and fix the timer failure yourself, schedule dryer repair service to have a resolve the timer problem.
Inspect the Timer Knob
You turn your timer knob to a cycle and press the start button but you get nothing. You know the dryer has power because the drum light turns on when you open the dryer door.
In this situation, a worn or cracked dryer knob may not be rotating the time knob stem to the starting point of a dryer cycle.
Examine the dryer knob to see if it’s cracked. Replace the knob if it’s cracked or damaged.
If the front part of the knob isn’t cracked, pull the knob off the timer stem and look at the D-shaped shaft receptacle on the back of the dryer knob. If that shaft receptacle is cracked, broken or worn, replace the dryer knob.
Dryer Won’t Start
When the dryer won’t start and a broken knob isn’t to blame, then a broken electrical contact inside the timer could be preventing the dryer from starting.
Before you condemn the timer, follow the steps in these troubleshooting videos for a gas and electric dryer to rule out other common causes that can prevent your dryer from starting.
Gas dryer won’t start troubleshooting video:
Electric dryer won’t start troubleshooting video:
When you’ve ruled out the common causes for a dryer not starting that are discussed in these videos, unplug the dryer and test the internal timer contacts using this procedure:
- With the dryer power cord unplugged, remove the screws from the back of the dryer console and remove the rear console cover. You’ll often find the wiring diagram taped to the bottom of the console under the timer.
- Refer to the wiring diagram for the dryer to determine the dryer wires and timer contacts that send electrical current to the drive motor when the timer dial is set to run a cycle. In many dryers, the timer supplies current through the black and light blue wires as shown in the wiring diagram in the image above.
- Unplug the wiring harness plug with the black and light blue wires from the back of the dryer timer.
- Set the timer in a cycle so the internal dryer contact between the black and blue wires is set to send current to the drive motor.
- Using a multimeter set to measure ohms of resistance, touch one meter probe to the dryer timer spade for the black wire and the other meter probe to the dryer contact for the light blue wire.
The meter should read near zero ohms of resistance through those two timer spades with the dryer dial set to run a cycle.
If the meter measure infinite resistance, replace the timer because that internal dryer contact is broken.
Here’s a video that shows how to replace a dryer timer:
Timer Dial Advances but the Dryer Never Stops
When the dryer timer dial advances as it should but continues to run straight through the Off portion between dryer cycles, the contact described in the section above may be stuck and providing current to the drive motor and timer motor constantly.
Test the same internal timer contact described in the above section to see if the internal dryer contact is shutting off power to the drive motor and timer motor when the timer dial reaches the Off section between dryer cycles.
With the timer dial positioned on Off, follow the steps described in the above section to check the same internal dryer contact.
With the dial in the Off position, you should measure infinite resistance (signified by 1 in the far left side of some meters as shown in the image above).
If the meter measures near zero ohms of resistance with the dial in the Off position, replace the timer because that internal contact is stuck.
Timer Dial Doesn’t Advance in the Cycle
The timer has a motor that physically advances the dial during the cycle. If the drive motor runs but the dial never moves, the timer motor or an internal timer contact could be broken.
To check the timer motor, unplug the dryer and access the timer as described in the procedure in the first section above.
Unplug the wire harness from the timer motor and check resistance across the timer motor spades. You should measure 2,000 to 3,000 ohms. The resistance of some timer motors does differ, so as long as you measure 2,000 ohms of resistance or more, the dryer timer motor is likely okay.
If the meter measures infinite resistance, replace the timer because the timer motor is bad.
If the timer motor is okay, check the internal dryer contacts that provide current flow through the timer motor in the timed cycle and the automatic cycle.
To test the internal timer contact for a timed dryer cycle, plug the timer motor wire harness back into the motor and position the timer dial in a timed cycle. Unplug the wire harness with the orange, blue/white and black/white wires. Check resistance between the timer spades that connect to the blue/black and blue/white wires.
If you measure near zero ohms of resistance through those timer spades, then the internal dryer contact for the timed cycle is okay.
If you measure infinite resistance, then the internal dryer contact is broken. Replace the dryer timer.
To test the internal timer contact for the automatic cycle, check resistance through the timer spades that connect to the orange and blue/white wires.
If you measure near zero ohms of resistance through those timer spades, then the internal dryer contact for the timed cycle is okay.
If you measure infinite resistance, then the internal dryer contact is broken. Replace the dryer timer.
When to Schedule Repair Service
Troubleshooting and repairing a dryer timer doesn’t have to be overwhelming but some of the diagnostic steps described above are somewhat advanced and may be challenging for you to follow.
Start with the simplest checks, like inspecting the knob, and gradually work your way toward testing.
If you get to a point where you’re not completely confident that you can safely and accurately perform a diagnostic step described above, schedule dryer repair and we’ll send a Sears Home Services technician to your home to fix the dryer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What would cause my dryer timer to stop working?
A cracked or broken knob in a common reason why a dryer timer stops working. The bad knob can prevent you from rotating the timer stem so the timer will seem broken even though you only need to replace the knob. Broken internal electrical contacts inside the timer are another common cause for a dryer timer to stop working. The dryer won’t start if the internal electrical contact that sends current to the drive motor breaks. The timer motor won’t work if internal timer contacts don’t complete the electrical circuit so that current flows properly through the timer motor.
How do I know if my dryer timer is bad?
Proper technical diagnosis of symptoms is the only way to know if your dryer timer is bad. If the timer dial isn’t advancing during the dryer cycle, check for a broken knob. If the knob is okay, unplug the dryer and use the wiring diagram and a multimeter to check the timer motor and internal timer contacts to find the cause of the timer failure. If you’re unable to find and confirm a dryer timer failure on your own, schedule repair service to have a service technician diagnose and fix the timer problem.
How much does it cost to fix a dryer timer?
Most dryer timers cost between $60 and $150 for the replacement part. If you’re able to diagnose the problem accurately and replace the timer on your own, the cost to fix a dryer timer will just be the cost of the replacement part. If you need to have a service technician replace the timer, you’ll typically pay another $100 to $200 in addition the part cost to have the technician visit your home and fix the dryer timer problem.
What causes a timer to fail?
A broken timer knob, bad timer motor, failed internal timer contacts or a wiring failure can cause a timer to fail. Check the timer knob first and replace it if it’s cracked or damaged. Next, unplug the dryer and check the internal contacts using the wiring diagram as a guide. Replace the timer if internal dryer electrical contacts have failed or if the timer motor is bad. A service technician will need to diagnose and fix the dryer if you’re unable to find the cause of the timer failure yourself.
Schedule your dryer repair now!
Count on our knowledgeable technicians to provide thorough dryer repairs, ensuring your appliance operates at peak performance for years to come.
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