Maytag Dryer De808--Pilot light???

[volvoguy87]

Thanks.

Thanks for the correction John.

More research...

Also, you mustn't touch the ignitor, skin oils can cause it to fail.
Dave

 

[rb]

Well, then. That might be the problem. I think when the dryer first wasn't working, my husband touched it trying to clear the webs from inside the bottom of the dryer.

 

[rb]

Success?

I think it is indeed the ignitor, because mine is naked--has no black casing at all, but I found the crumbles from it--as this one does:

(PS: Dave, thanks for using "mustn't." As an English teacher, I love it!)

http://www.partselect.com/PS373027-Whirlpool-4392003-Igniter.htm?Inventory=373027&SourceCode=1

 

[combo52]

GAS DRYER IGNATORS

Are not affected by skin oils, in fact you can pour oil on them and it just will just burn off without any harm. Dave I think you are thinking of not touching halogen light bulbs. Dryer ignators are the same as gas oven ignitors and the broiler ignitor in many gas ovens gets splashed with grease and never causes a problem. I don't know where these crazy ideas get started but this is the first time I ever heard this one LOl.

 

[3beltwesty]

Touching the element makes it fail quicker

the do not TOUCH comment is all over the place in consumer and industrial ignitors. Some are fragile. Others warning to avoid Goober from being shocked. Some fail quicker due to oils on ones hand.

"Under normal conditions the Silicon Carbide Igniter should last for 3-5 years and the Silicone Nitride Ignitors will last about twice as long. However, it
will eventually crack and need to be replaced...quicker if the oils from your skin get on the element by improper handling."

http://www.preferredhomerepair.com/HotSurfaceIgnitorTroubleshooting.html

 

[3beltwesty]

For making service calls, Trane and others have found that once an ignitor is first replaced; then tend to replaced more often. Folks touch them and they fail quicker.

The do not touch warning if ignored can be lucrative in field service!

http://www.preferredhomerepair.com/HotSurfaceIgnitorTroubleshooting.html

 

[3beltwesty]

Here a Carrier warning is only about Fragility of the ignite

The murky part is there are many different types of igniters and the common theme of do not touch them gets repeated with little references.

In this Carrier pdf they mention fragility.

I others manuals and parts houses descriptions; the oil on the hands causing a life drop is a common blurb.

The themes of getting burned, fragility, or hand oil causing degradation are all over the web; thus if one is replacing it yourself just avoid touching it or wear thin disposable gloves.

The same thing was known with projector bulbs 1/2 century ago too.

With CFL bulbs; many folks over tighten them by the glass an they fail quicker; in early mid 1990's CFL's that had a removable socket; they stressed tighting the ballisted part first; then plugging in the pinned CFL bulb.

http://www.xpedio.carrier.com/idc/groups/public/documents/techlit/58m-98si.pdf

 

[combo52]

GAS DRYER IGNATORS

Yes 3BW and others I should have said that the ignitors are extremely fragile and they can be easily broken with just finger pressure. But I still maintain that finger oils will not hurt them, years ago I dipped one in old transmission oil and reinstalled it on a dryer to see what would happen and as one might expect it made a cloud of smoke and went on working perfectly. Gas dryer ignitors have a very long life well in excess of 20 years of very heavy use is the norm. In fact I drought that 1 in 20 gas dryers will ever need a replacement ignitor in thier lifetime.

 

[rb]

Fixed!

To all:

I fixed the problem. It was indeed the ignitor. After the feat it was to get to it, I ordered the part, it came in, and I installed it today. The dryer now works! Not too bad for an English teacher and a child of the 90s, I say! Thank you all for your help--it helped so much.

 

[westingman123]

Never underestimate the power of an English major! To think, they said we'd never do anything practical--FEH.

Keith
<grin>

 

[appnut]

Congratulatons.  Proud of ya!!! 

 

[mixfinder]

Plug and Play

I am glad the dryer co-operated.  Sometimes these older appliances jump for a chance to live again.  The beauty of Maytag, once you find your way in the front of the machines you find they are extremely intuitive to repair with only a few components to work with.

 

[goatfarmer]

Good job!