Maytag DE313 dryer - auto-dry dial not winding down sometimes

[dlb]

I have a Maytag DE313 dryer with the handy dandy auto-dry setting. For a year or so, the auto-dry function has intermittently gotten stuck on, so it just keeps on drying indefinitely. It's slowly getting happening more and more often, now it's doing it about half the time. Is it the thermostat that is likely acting up, and is it something that might just need a cleaning or will it require replacing?

Thanks, all.

 

[qsd-dan]

If you haven't cleaned the vent thoroughly in a while, start with that. A plugged vent will make the thermostat go wonky.

Check the blower by grabbing it and rotating it clockwise/counterclockwise abruptly while feeling for any play. If there is, you'll need to replace the blower (stripped).

 

[dlb]

Which vent is that? Do you mean the lint trap?

I replaced the belt on it last week and vacuumed out the inside while I was in there but didn't notice anything that looked suspicious.

 

[DADoES]

Which vent is that? Do you mean the lint trap?

The exhaust ducting from back of the dryer through to the outdoor hood.

 

[Chetlaham]

Maytag made the mistake of not including the high limit thermostat in the timer advance circuit. So if the dryer ever starts cycling on its high limit due to a clogged vent the timer will never advance.

 

[dlb]

Ah I see. Ok that's good to know. The vent is clear though, I checked that when I pulled the dryer out to replace the belt the other day. Any other possible culprits?

 

[qsd-dan]

What's the length of the hose? Just looking into the the first few inches of the vent line doesn't prove there isn't a clog in the middle or end of the hose.

Wish I had 5 dollars for every time I heard, "Oh yeah, it's clear" then whip out an electric leaf blower, shove it into the hose while shaking the crap out of the hose from one end to the other, spewing 5 grocery bags of lint everywhere. Dryer performance issues solved without putting a tool to the machine.