A door switch on any dryer is a safety device designed to stop the drum from turning if the door is open. The same applies to Kenmore dryers. Should the need arise, how could one bypass the door switch for a Kenmore dryer?
You can bypass the door switch for a Kenmore dryer by connecting the wires to close the circuit. The switch typically has 2 to 5 wires. Look for the schematic for your machine to find out which wires are for the motor.
This article will give you some troubleshooting tips for your Kenmore dryer door switch bypass. Every homemaker needs some DIY tips for their home appliances. So stay with me as I expound on this and give some troubleshooting tips.
Steps to Bypassing Door Switch for Kenmore Dryer
Since we’re working with electricity, unplug the dryer from the power outlet before doing anything else. After it’s unplugged, follow these steps:
Use a flat-head screwdriver or butter knife to remove the switch from the cabinet’s frame.
Pull the switch out by grabbing onto the tabs on the frame.
Locate the two wires connected to the switch and pull them out. (Note the positions of the wires)
Put the two ends of the wire together and tape them firmly with either electrical or duct tape.
Plug your dryer back into the power outlet and program the setting. The machine should come on if you have connected the correct wires well.
Note that the above is only for emergency purposes. For example, you’d do it if it stopped working in the middle of a drying cycle, and you want it to finish drying your favorite sweatshirt.
You should, therefore, only run your machine with this bypass for a short time. Ensure that you replace the malfunctioned switch as soon as possible.
As we said earlier, running your Kenmore dryer with a bypassed switch for extended periods is not recommended. Now that you’re ready to replace the switch, here are the steps to follow:
As usual, ensure that the machine is unplugged from electricity. Open the control panel with a flathead screwdriver or butter knife. Run it along the edge to The screwdriver or knife will help you release the clips that secure the control panel to the cabinet. Turn the control panel over the back of the machine to show the screws used to hold the top of the dryer cabinet to the body.
Using a nut driver, remove the screws from the cabinet and lift the cabinet to show the wires and connectors of the door switch.
Remember the position of the wires before you pull them out of the switch. It’s best to take a quick photo.
If you bypassed the door switch previously, it’s time to return the wires back to where they were. If you can’t remember the wiring, refer to the user manual.
Connect the wiring harness to the new switch.
You can watch this short video to better visualize the steps:
Troubleshooting Tips for Kenmore Dryer That Won’t Start
Several issues may stop your dryer from starting, but we will discuss only two of them here. And since Kenmore driers don’t have a reset button, this makes troubleshooting very difficult and time-consuming.
These two issues are:
The Start Switch
If your dryer refuses to work, the start switch may be faulty. You can determine if the problem is from the start switch by trying to start the machine — if it hums but doesn’t start, the switch is not the problem. But if the machine doesn’t make any sound or respond in any way, then it’s time to inspect the start switch.
How To Fix It
Use a multimeter to determine whether the start switch has continuity. If there is no continuity, you need to replace the switch. Thankfully, the steps you need to take to replace it are simple. After buying a replacement switch, follow this guide:
The thermal fuse in your Kenmore Dryer ensures the heating element doesn’t overheat by cutting its power if it gets too hot. It’s located either at the dryer’s heat source or the blower housing. This fuse should always have a constant electrical path through it. But if it overheats, it won’t have continuity. This means that the electrical path is broken, likely because of a blown fuse.
How To Fix It
Grab your multimeter to check for continuity in the thermal fuse. If the result shows a lack of continuity, the fuse must be replaced. Note that if the fuse is blown, it may also indicate an exhaust vent restriction from the dryer to the exterior. Therefore, you will also need to check the drying vent when you replace the blown fuse.
Conclusion
We have briefly shared how you can bypass the door switch for Kenmore dryers. We believe the information shared here will come in handy in case of any emergency with your dryer.
