Frigidaire 134969400A, GCEH164FS User Manual

CAUTION: TO SERVICE MACHINE, POWER MUST BE DISCONNECTED!

DRYER TROUBLESHOOTING

PROBLEM

Motor runs but
drum does not
operate

Drum operates
but is noisy

Motor will not
stop

Motor does not
start

Slow drying­improper drying

Clothes not
drying on auto­dry setting

Drum turns but
heat does not
come on

Element burns
out frequently

Broken or loose belt
Loose motor, idler pulley, or
spring

Drum out of shape
Worn idler pulley
Belt squeaking or frayed
Motor (bearing), motor pulley
loose, blower
Drum seals worn

Incorrect wiring
Grounded motor or wiring
Grounded heat element
Faulty timer
Open timer resistor

Blown fuse
Timer or motor inoperative
Housing wiring not properly
connected to dryer
Inoperative door switch
Faulty “Push to Start” switch

Blocked or plugged lint collector,
blower housing or vent pipe
Vent pipe too long
Clothes too wet when put in dryer
Dryer is overloaded
Drum set is worn or out of
position
Door gasket not sealing correctly
Control or safety thermostats
inoperative
House voltage fluctuating or low

Customer selected wrong timer
setting
Inoperative resistor
Inoperative control thermostat
Inoperative heating element

Inoperative heating element
Inoperative timer
Loose terminals-tighten
connections
Inoperative control or safety
thermostat
Inoperative motor switch
Broken wire in wiring harness

Worn drum seals. Replace
Connections not tight at element
terminals
Reduced air flow. Check for
proper installation &
maintenance of duct work. (See
Installation Instructions)

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

CAUTION

THIS MACHINE MUST BE

ELECTRICALLY GROUNDED

It can be grounded thru the ground lead in the 4­prong power cord, if plugged into a properly grounded
appliance outlet or thru a separate No. 12 or larger
wire from the cabinet to an established ground. In all
cases, the grounding method must comply with any
local electrical code requirements.

IMPORTANT - RECONNECT ALL

GROUNDING DEVICES

ALL PARTS OF THIS APPLIANCE CAPABLE OF
CONDUCTING ELECTRICAL CURRENT ARE
GROUNDED. IF GROUNDING WIRES, SCREWS,
STRAPS, NUTS OR WASHERS USED TO
COMPLETE A PATH TO GROUND ARE REMOVED
FOR SERVICE, THEY MUST BE RETURNED TO
THEIR ORIGINAL POSITION AND PROPERLY
FASTENED.

OPERATION - DRYER

On electric model dryers, air is drawn into the heater
housing and across the open coils of the electric
heater. On gas model dryers, air is drawn into the
combustion chamber and over the burner flame. It
then is drawn through the tumbling clothes, picking up
moisture and lint. Lint is filtered out as the air passes
from the drum into the blower where it is discharged
out the vent. The air temperature is controlled by the
biased thermostat according to the setting of the fabric
selector switch. The length of the drying cycle is
controlled by the number of minutes selected on the
timer, or automatically controlled by the timer, in
conjunction with the electronic moisture sensor, for
the type of fabric selected (automatic dry cycle).

To operate the dryer, first check the lint screen and be
certain that the screen is completely free of all lint.
Place clothes in dryer and close door. (Dryer will not
operate unless door is closed.)

1. Select the drying time, or automatic drying cycle,
by turning timer knob to the right.

2. Set drying temperature using timer for the type of
fabric being dried.

3. To start the dryer, turn the start knob to the right
and hold for 2 seconds.

DRUM SPEED

48-54 RPM in a counterclockwise direction as viewed
from the front.

RESISTORS

The resistor, located in the thermostat heater circuit,
causes the thermostat heater to generate varying
amounts of heat. Resistors are connected to the
timer or selector switches. Refer to the applicable
wiring diagram.

Resistors are checked with an ohm meter and
resistor values are marked on the schematic wiring
diagram. A bad resistor will give improper drying
temperatures.

CONTROL THERMOSTAT

The thermostat and bias heater are located on the
blower housing.

CHECKING THE CONTROL
THERMOSTAT

Remove harness wires from the thermostat.
Determine the interior wiring by referring to the wiring
diagram. Use an ohm meter to check the thermostats.

1. Remove the exhaust venting from the rear of dryer.
Place a thermometer (pocket type reading at least
300° F.) in rear of exhaust pipe.

If dryer is installed between cabinets, making rear
access difficult, the temperature can be checked
by placing a thermocouple in the lint trap opening.
Thermocouple shall be located one inch to the
right of lint screen opening center line and extend
three inches below the top of opening.

2. Set timer for 30 minutes, or long enough to permit
cycling of thermostat.

3. Allow thermostat to cycle 3 or 4 times.

4. Check temperature immediately after the third or
fourth cycle of thermostat. The temperatures
(depending on the temperature setting) should
conform to those listed in the Temperature Chart.

- AT EXHAUST DUCT - NO LOAD

OR LINT TRAP

TRIP TEMP

SETTING

HIGH 145-190° F.
MEDIUM 2-10° F. lower than high heat
LOW 2-10° F. lower than medium heat

NOTE: LONG EXTENDED VENTS AFFECT DRUM
TEMPERATURES.

HI-LIMIT THERMOSTAT

The hi-limit thermostat, single-pole, single throw switch
wired in series with the control thermostat and heat
source, is mounted to the top of the heater housing.
Should the control thermostat fail or an air blockage
occur, raising the heater housing temperature to 260°
F. on electric or 240° F. on gas.,the hi-limit thermostat
opens the circuit to the heat source and allows the
heater housing to cool down to 190° F.
To check the thermostat, remove drum. To check for
stuck contacts in the thermostat, start the dryer and
run on HIGH heat with the exhaust duct completely
blocked. The hi-limit thermostat MUST open within
three minutes.
To check for an open thermostat, remove the harness
wires from the thermostat terminals. Test for continuity.
You should have continuity through a good thermostat
at room temperature.

SAFETY THERMOSTAT

The safety thermostat is wired in series with the motor
for ELECTRIC MODELS and the burner for GAS
MODELS. The purpose of the safety thermostat is to
shut down the dryer if the control thermostat and hi­limit thermostat fail to open. Once the safety thermostat
has opened, it must be replaced. The condition that
caused it to open must be corrected.

HEATER ASSEMBLY (ELECTRIC ONLY)

The heater assembly (208/240 volts) is located behind
the drum. Perforations in the drum back allow heated
air to be drawn into the drum.

The heater is an open coil type heater made from a
continuous coil of resistance wire attached to a metal
support plate with ceramic stand offs.

Heater Assembly Testing:

1. Disconnect Laundry Center from electrical supply.

2. Remove drum.

3. Remove leads to the heater element.

4. Connect ohmmeter across heater element
terminals.

5. Check each terminal to ground.

6. If open or grounded, replace heater element.

To Remove or Replace Heating Element:

1. Disconnect Laundry Center from electrical supply.

2. Remove drum.

3. Disconnect wires from safety thermostat, hi-limit
thermostat, and ceramic insulator.

4. Remove four screws securing heating element
assembly to rear panel and remove assembly.

5. Install new heating element.

6. Reverse procedure to reassemble.

IGNITOR

The ignitor is a silicon thermistor. When it attains
approximately 1800 F, the sensor (mounted on the
side of the burner tube) detectes this high radiant
heat and opens its contacts. This energizes the
secondary solenoid valve coil, allowing gas to flow
through the gas valve orifice and impinge upon the
hot glowing ignitor. The total sequence occurs within
15 to 90 seconds. The igniter is mounted to the burner
at an angle with the silicon carbide stem extended
into the flame area. The stem is very fragile and
susceptible to contamination from skin oils. HANDLE
WITH CARE by using the ignitor's insulated support.

To test the ignitor:

1. Disconnect Laundry Center from electrical supply.

2. Remove the dryer access panel and safety cover.

3. Disconnect plug connector from ignitor-to-coil
harness.

4. Check resistance value of ignitor. It should be
approximately 50 to 800 Ohms depending on the
room temperature.

To replace ignitor:

1. Disconnect Laundry Center from electrical supply.

2. Remove burner assembly.

3. Remove burner tube from burner assembly.

4. Remove the 1/4" hex head screw and washer
securing ignitor to its mounting bracket.

5. Reverse procedure to reinstall.

DOOR SWITCH

Whenever the door is opened, the door switch will
open the circuit to the motor and the external switch in
the motor will open the circuit to the heat source.

CHECKING THE MOTOR

The drive motor is 1/4 H.P., 1725 RPM with automatic
reset overload protector.

1. Disconnect electrical current and remove
ventilation panel. Remove harness wires from
motor.

2. Operate motor by connecting a properly fused
service cord to terminals 4 and 5. The motor
should start and run.

3. If motor runs, problem is open circuits in the dryer
electrical or control system. If motor does not
run, check the centrifugal switch.

4. When motor runs and the problem is NO HEAT,
check continuity between terminals 1 and 2 with
the switch button out (run position).

No continuity shows the switch is inoperative. Replace
motor.

DRYER DRIVE BELT

To Remove or Replace Dryer Drive Belt:

1. Disconnect Laundry Center from electrical supply.

2. Remove front panel and air duct assembly.

3. Disconnect belt from idler pulley and motor pulley.

4. Remove belt from dryer drum.

5. Install new belt.

6. Reverse procedure to reassemble.

PART NO. 134969400A