Whirlpool dryers are generally reliable and high-quality, but even they can give you trouble sometimes. A typical problem with dryers, in general, is a faulty door switch, which can render the whole dryer useless. If you can’t replace the switch soon, how can you bypass it safely so you can use the dryer a couple more times?
To bypass the door switch of your Whirlpool dryer, unplug the dryer from power, open the lid and remove the switch. You can test it to see if it’s really the problem. If it is, track the wires leading to the switch and join the outer ones with a wire nut. Remember that this is a temporary solution.
If you want to know more about the Whirlpool dryer door switch bypass, read below. I will explain how to bypass the door switch in detail and give you additional tips to be safe.
1. Disconnect the Dryer From the Power
A broken or damaged door switch can be an annoying problem. Every other part of the dryer may be working just fine, but the faulty door switch can’t tell if the door is closed correctly, so the dryer can’t start. A temporary issue would be to bypass the switch.
Before you do anything, you need to unplug the dryer from the power outlet so that you make sure that there’s no risk of shock while you’re working. Bypassing the door switch involves opening the dryer lid and working with wires, so this step is essential.
2. Open the Dryer Lid
To be able to work inside the Whirlpool dryer, you need to take the top lid of the dryer off. Follow these steps to remove the dryer lid:
First, remove the lint screen and then remove the two screws that you find under it.
Once the screws are removed, use a putty knife or a screwdriver to remove the lid.
Lift the lid to open it completely and put it away.
3. Remove and Test the Switch
This is an extra step you can take to ensure you don’t try to bypass the switch when it’s working fine. To test it, you need to remove it and use a multimeter to see if there’s continuity, following these instructions:
The switch is usually located in a corner and has a wiring harness; to remove the harness, pry open the plastic switch clips with a putty knife.
Find the switch and unscrew it to remove it from the door.
Test the switch using a multimeter, attaching the two metal prongs on the switch to the probes on the multimeter.
If the multimeter shows continuity, the switch isn’t the problem.
4. Track the Wires
If the multimeter shows that the switch is the problem, you can bypass it so that your dryer works even if it is broken. This process involves attaching wires, so don’t attempt it if you’re unsure what to do.
First, you need to track the wires to ensure that you’ll work with the right ones. You can find a wiring diagram, usually inside the control panel, or search online. There are three wires leading to the door switch: a wire coming from the control panel, one that goes to the ground, and a wire that comes from the drum light. You’ll be working with the first two wires.
5. Jump the Outer Wires Together With a Wire Nut
After you identify the two wires you should work with, you need to jump them together to close the circuit and allow your Whirlpool dryer to work even with a broken door switch. To connect these wires, you can use a wire nut for a safer and stronger connection.
Strip the wires and then align them together, then put the wire nut on top of both wires and twist it. Make sure the connection is safe, and there are no exposed wires anywhere. If the wires are connected, the bypass is complete, and you can continue to close the lid and test the dryer.
6. Close the Lid and Plug the Dryer Back
All that’s left to do is place the lid on the dryer again, put the screws and the lint screen back and then plug the dryer into power. Turn it on and see if it works, even without the switch. If it doesn’t, the connection of the wires may have been unsuccessful, or the problem is elsewhere.
Keep in mind that the Whirlpool dryer door switch bypass is a temporary solution, and it’s unsafe. There is a reason why the switch exists in the first place, so bypassing it may not be a good idea in the long run.
The best solution is to have a professional replace the switch. You can even try doing it yourself, following some simple instructions. Here’s a video that shows you how to do it:
When the door switch of your Whirlpool dryer is broken or damaged, the dryer won’t be able to work since it won’t be able to tell if the door is open or closed. If you want to use the dryer, you can temporarily bypass the switch.
However, bypassing the switch is not always safe and is not a long-term solution to your problem. Even if you successfully bypass the switch, make sure to replace it as soon as possible.
