The Virtual Repairman's Appliance Help

revbrewm · Apprentice DIYer Joined: 26 Feb 2011 Posts: 3

I have a GE DDG7180RALWH dryer that will heat up once and not a second time. I just replaced the ignitor, the coils were replaced 6 months ago. the new ignitor fires once and remains working for one load of clothes and will not fire a second time. I cleaned all the lint from the dryer, the heat sensors in the door, the thermostat on the back heat tube; checked the thermostat/sensors and flame sensor and all show conductivity.
When I reassembled everything the ignitor again worked one time and failed to work on the next load.
When the ignitor worked, it seemed to be running cooler than previously.
The ignitor shows about 60 ohms on the meter; is that too low? Is it faulty?
Any thoughts?

Virtual Repairman · Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 7:04 am Post subject: dryer

Frankly for you to have had all this kind of trouble tells me you also have a vent problem. (Please humor me, I do this for a living)

This means that the hi-limit thermostat in the dryer takes a beating due to backed up heat. You would have no way of seeing this failure since the hi-limit resets itself wfter it cools off. For the dryer to heat to temp once then not at all points to one of the thermostats, probably the operating thermostat or the hi-limit. (See item 530 on the drum page below)

I usually start by placing my voltmeter leads at the gas valve so I can monitor the voltage during the irregularity. No voltage after the first cycle means the thermostats have stayed open. If voltage is present but no ignition, suspect the flame switch (#552) on the burner flue.

Diagrams of This Dryer

revbrewm · Apprentice DIYer Joined: 26 Feb 2011 Posts: 3

Since the original post, I have re-tested everything and found out that the new igniter has not continuity. I have sent it back for testing & replacement. Everything else tested the thermostats - two under the lint filter basket and one on the back wall - and the flame sensor; which all show continuity. The coils seem to be working fine. Everything has been vacuumed out and the lint removed. So, until the replacement igniter comes back - is there anything else I can do?

Virtual Repairman · Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2011 5:55 am Post subject: dryer

Let's wait and see how it goes when the ingitor is installed. Have a good weekend!

Virtual Repairman · Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 5:32 am Post subject: dryer

I'm following up after 10 days to see how the dryer saga went...

revbrewm · Apprentice DIYer Joined: 26 Feb 2011 Posts: 3

Thank you for your follow-up. I'm still waiting on the replacement for the defective igniter. I will let you know as soon as I have installed the new one.

Thanks again.