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  1. Repair
  2. Amana
  3. Amana Dryer
  4. Dryer not starting

Amana dryer not starting

Common reasons your Amana dryer is not starting

The most common reasons your Amana dryer is not starting are a faulty thermal fuse, failed door switch or a broken drum belt.

  • 48%

    48% of the time it's the
    Thermal Fuse

  • 27%

    27% of the time it's the
    Door Switch

  • 12%

    12% of the time it's the
    Drum Belt

  • 13%

    13% of the time it's the
    Something else

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    Most common repairs needed to fix an Amana dryer

    Thermal Fuse Replacement

    A faulty or blown thermal fuse can keep the dryer from starting. The thermal fuse is a safety device mounted on the blower housing that trips when the dryer overheats. The thermal fuse in most electric dryers prevents the motor from running. In some gas dryers, a blown thermal fuse will also prevent the motor from running. A clogged exhaust vent system often causes the dryer to overheat and the thermal fuse to blow. When the dryer won’t run, have a Sears Home Services Technician visit your home and fix the dryer. The technician will replace the thermal fuse if it’s blown.


    How to replace a thermal fuse in an electric dryer

    Door Switch Replacement

    If your dryer is not starting, a failed door switch could be causing the problem. The door switch detects when the dryer door is shut. A failed door switch won’t sense whether the door is closed properly. The dryer won’t start even through the door is closed when the door switch is bad. Have a Sears Home Services Technician check your dryer when it won’t start. The technician will replace the door switch if it is defective.

    Drum Belt Replacement

    When your dryer won’t start a cycle, a broken drum belt could be causing the problem. The drum belt wraps around the dryer drum and connects to the drive motor pulley. The drive motor rotates the belt to spin the drum. Over time, the drum belt becomes worn and can break. A switch on the idler pulley prevents the motor from starting when it senses that the drive belt is broken. When the dryer won’t start, have a Sears Home Services Technician check your dryer and replace the drum belt if it’s broken.

    What to expect when you experience an Amana dryer not starting issue

    How is the not starting problem fixed?

    Correcting most not starting problems usually involves replacing the thermal fuse, door switch or drum belt. However, there are many potential causes, so a thorough diagnosis is key to fixing the problem. An accurate diagnosis is essential to understanding how much the repair will be.

    Why is my Amana dryer not starting?

    Amana Gas Dryer Troubleshooting

    When your Amana gas dryer won't start or run, it could have a bad door switch, a broken start switch or an issue with the power supply.

    Follow the safe DIY troubleshooting steps in this video to find and fix the cause of your Amana dryer not starting:

    Check for electrical power

    Open the dryer door and check if the light inside the dryer turns on. If it doesn’t turn on, check the house circuit breaker. Try resetting the breaker to make sure it’s not tripped. If that doesn’t work, check your power cord and make sure the power socket works.

    Test the Dryer Door Switch

    Once you’ve confirmed that the dryer is getting power, with the dryer door closed, set a Timed Drying cycle and listen for the faint sound of the timer motor running inside the console. If the timer motor runs and the light comes on when you open the door, you know that the door switch is okay. You can skip ahead to the next segment where we’ll show you how to check the start switch.

    If not, check the door switch with a multimeter next. For safety, always make sure to disconnect the power by unplugging the dryer before you check continuity. To access the door switch, pull out the lint screen. Remove the screws that secure the lint screen housing to the top panel. Release the clips and lift the top panel to access the door switch. Unplug the door switch from the wire harness.

    With the dryer door closed, put your meter leads on the door switch wires that connect to the blue and white wires on the other end of the plug. You should measure near 0 ohms of resistance. If you measure no continuity, then the door switch is broken and needs to be replaced.

    Here’s a video that shows how to replace the dryer door switch:

    Check the push-to-start switch

    The next thing to look at is the start switch. Reassemble the dryer and then plug it back in. Open the door and push the door switch in. While holding the door switch in, push the start switch. You should hear a click as the relay engages. Then release the door switch and you should hear a click as the relay disengages. If you heard the clicks, the start switch is probably okay.

    If you didn’t hear the clicks, check continuity through the push-to-start switch.

    With the dryer unplugged, remove the console back panel. Unplug the wires from the start switch. Have someone hold the start switch in and check resistance on the spades for the light blue wires.

    You should measure near 0 ohms of resistance with the start button pressed in. If you measure no continuity, then you’ll need to replace the push-to-start switch.

    If all of the components have checked out okay, then the motor windings or internal centrifugal switch could be defective. You should get a qualified technician to check these issues.

    Electric Amana Dryer Troubleshooting

    Several things could keep your Amana electric dryer from starting, including a blown thermal fuse, a bad door switch, a broken start switch or an issue with your power supply.

    This video shows a few easy tests you can run to find out what is causing the problem:

    If you’re unable to find the cause of the starting problem on your own, schedule dryer repair service and we’ll send a Sears Home Services technician to your home to fix your Amana dryer.

    Sears Home Services recommendations for a dryer that is not starting

    When the dryer is not starting it can be for many reasons. To avoid replacing unneeded parts we recommend having a Sears Home Services professional perform diagnostic tests to identify the root cause of the problem. Our technicians are experienced at diagnosing all types of dryer failures.

    What to look out for with a dryer not starting diagnosis

    Diagnosing modern appliances without proper knowledge and training can be difficult. Without using proper diagnostic techniques, fixing your dryer problem will only be achieved through changing parts on a hunch. Appliances, especially in the last 10 years, have become extremely advanced, and many models have electronic parts that are difficult to test. DIY repairs on the latest appliance models are becoming increasingly difficult.

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    Daniel provided excellent service and was very quick to perform the repair. I have nothing good to say about the warranty program and the LACK of customer service and the inability to contact a human being to talk.


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    Excellent technician Very thorough and detail oriented Would be happy to have him work on appliances again He managed to find our ranch headquarters in the middle of the desert


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    Dryer service

    He was professional and polite. I didn't call back later that afternoon, although he replaced a thermostat the smart dry timer doesn't work as I was still having the same issue. The lady said she would email him and have him return. Never heard from anyone else.


    Terry F, Oklahoma City, OK

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    Glossary Terms

    Natural gas is a fossil fuel used primarily for heating, cooking, and electricity generation. It's a hydrocarbon gas mixture consisting mainly of methane, but it also contains smaller amounts of other hydrocarbons and sometimes sulfur compounds.

    A gas dryer is a laundry appliance that uses natural gas or propane to generate heat to dry clothes.

    A dual ice maker is a feature in some refrigerators that includes two separate ice makers: one in the fridge compartment and another in the freezer section. This setup doubles the appliance's ice-making capacity.

    A dual inverter air conditioner incorporates advanced inverter technology with two rotary compressors, providing ultra-efficient cooling with minimal noise and energy consumption. This innovation offers a significant leap in air conditioning technology, providing precise temperature control and longer-lasting performance.

    Additional possible Amana dryer symptoms you may experience

    • Amana dryer burning smell
    • Amana dryer no heat
    • Amana dryer no power
    • Amana dryer drum roller replacement
    • Amana dryer not drying
    • Amana dryer not heating
    • Amana dryer not spinning
    • Amana dryer not turning on
    • Amana dryer not working
    • Amana dryer stopped working
    • Amana dryer won't heat up
    • Amana dryer won't turn off