GE/WP SPACEMAKER DRYER

[cuffs054]

My 240 volt GE (WP) stacked spacemaker dryer has pooped the bed. First symptom was the dryer would run exactly 10 seconds and stop. I would restart and the cycle would repeat 3 or 4 times. Finally it would start, run 10 sec and sound like it was dragging badly and the lights in the cabin would dim noticeably but briefly and then the dryer would run normally and would do multiple loads.
The following week, dryer would do nothing. No click, no hum, nothing. My OCD made me push the start button every time I was near it. On the bizzillenth push it started, ran normally and did multiple loads.
This past weekend, nothing. No matter what I did. The only thing the seems to connect the three episodes is the ambient temp, it was cold in the cabin each time.
I have cleaned the exhaust, reset all the breakers. The washer continues to work perfectly.
Any ideas?

 

[lovestowash]

Probably not the solution, but...

Tom...

I learned quickly with ours not to put any weight, such as detergent, bleach, etc., on the top. It will cause the drum to scrape. Also, ours has a thump, thump, thump sound when first turned on. Otherwise, it's fine.

George

 

[cuffs054]

George,
Ours did the thumping as well but with use has smoothed out. I'm wondering if it's a loose wire issue. The cold may be causing just enough shrinking to cause loss of connection. But I don't see any indications.
Of course on top of that the heat pump got stuck in defrost and ran all week in a/c mode with the heat strips going full blast. Can't wait to see that power bill!!

 

[combo52]

GE SPACEMAKER DRYER

What is the age, model # , picture of machine or something to go by. When asking for repair information it really helps to have as much information as possible.

 

[cuffs054]

Sorry Combo you're right:

GE WSW2420DWW spacemaker laundry center. It's a clone of the WP LTE5243DQ. It's about 4 yrs old

 

[cuffs054]

Having no idea what I'm doing, I've started looking at parts diagrams on line. They show a "capacitor" in the wiring harness for the dryer. Knowing what issues a "capacitor" caused with my HVAC (which has nothing at all to do with my dryer!) I'm wondering if it could be causing start problems with the dryer motor. Any thoughts?

 

[combo52]

GE- WP 24" THIN TWIN

I would look first for loose power connections at terminal block the outlet where its plugged in and even a loose wire at the circuit breaker. Then I would check the dryer door switch, connections at the motor etc. The capacitor you mentioned is for the washer motor and won't affect the dryer. You could have a bad motor on the dryer, overall it is a good machine and should have a 20-30 year life expectancy, and if you like it I would try to fix it.

 

[alr2903]

Could it be as simple as a malfunction with the start switch? alr2903

 

[cuffs054]

Combo,
That was my thought at first but this cap is mounted in the control panel right next to the dryer motor. Checking loose connections makes good sense.
ALR,
that will be my first line of attack when I go to cabin this weekend. I'm taking a meter and test light with me. Of course, we're being threatened with sleet/snow/freezing rain and it is all of 13 degrees this AM so getting to the cabin may require more preparation then I'm willing to give!

 

[combo52]

WASHER CAPACITOR

You might as well disassemble your dishwasher while you are at it but that won't do any more good toward fixing your dryer than checking the washer motor start capacitor which is mounted next to the dryer timer. I GIVE UP LOL.

 

[cuffs054]

Combo,
Really? I assumed (yeah, I know) that the postion would have tied it to the dryer. Can you suggest any other areas to check besides connections, start button? I don't know enough to do much with the motor, so if no luck with above it will be time for the professionals to come. (maybe I'll get lucky and find someone who can fix the DW, dryer and heatpump!)

 

[cuffs054]

How embarassing for me

So I go to the cabin this weekend loaded with test lamp, multimeter, wrench set, screwdrivers, adjustable wrenches and instructions fresh off the internet to test, remove, fix or replace a bunch o' things that could be causing the issue.
First I take off the main access panel between the washer and dryer. I'm getting ready to start surgery when significant other says "are you sure the plug is all the way in"? "What do you think I'm an idiot?!" So after firmly seating the plug back in the socket I sulked off and fixed a cocktail to sooth my pride.

 

[lovestowash]

I knew it!!!

From the moment I met you, I surmised you were the Brawn and the S.O. the Brains...
Now you can finally wash all that dirty laundry you were airing...
Jack mentioned there was a funky odor emanating from across the pond...

George

 

[combo52]

GE- WP 24

I glad you got it working and as I had posted on the 7th post on this thread I said it was likely a power supply problem, we see this type of problem all the time, this often happens when the outlet in the wall is installed upside down. When the cord is going up instead hanging down it tends to pull it self out of the outlet.

 

[cuffs054]

George, didn't you mean "beauty and the brains"? But wait, R is really not that smart!