gas dryer

[sonnyG]

My whirlpool gas dryer will not heat up enough to dry clothes, i cleaned the vent from lint, but i noticed when i turn it on the igniter lights. then there is a noise that i never heard before, could that be the gas valve trying to open? it then produces a little heat then the flame goes out, can anyone decipher whats going on with my dryer, thanks.

[richapplyguy]

Does the ignitor still glow when the flame goes out? If so you may have a bad ignitor or bad gas valve coils. If you have an amprobe check the ignitor current, should be more than three amps.
If not your dryer is overheating and turning off the overload thermostat.

[sonnyG]

I've noticed that sometimes it runs fine for about 5 mins. then goes out, then sometimes the igniter glows but doesn't ignite the gas. Its only about 4 or 5 yrs. old but does get alot of use. when the flame goes out, the igniter does not glow, it glows only when trying to ignite the gas. Thanks!

[richapplyguy]

Sounds like you have a combination of a bad igniter and marginal venting. If you can, check the flame for low draft symtoms like a flame more orange than blue and the flame heating up the flame detector, a small box next to the gas nozzle.

[sonnyG]

Thanks, i'll try that.