34 replies to this topic

[THERODMAN]

Good afternoon fellow fixers and alemeisters,
I have a Maytag Neptune Gas Dryer MDG4000BWW that heats up for perhaps 30 seconds but then goes cold. I have removed the front cover and turned the unit on only to see the igniter glow, then the gas comes on and burns just fine, but then goes out shortly thereafter with the drum still spinning. A couple of days ago it had the same problem and there was a gas odor as well. There are so many electrical components connected down there, can anyone pinpoint any one particular one or should I disconnect them all and test them?
Thank you for your time and have a great day!!
Rod

[RegUS_PatOff]

... the gas comes on and burns just fine, but then goes out shortly thereafter with the drum still spinning.

that may be normal ..
how long before the Ignitor starts glowing again ?
Does the Flame appear again after the glow ?

[THERODMAN]

The ignitor glows, lights the gas, but the gas turns off after 30 seconds or so. I've tried letting it continue for an hour, but the clothes are still wet as the gas never comes back on.

[Samurai Appliance Repair Man]

Try running it again with the vent disconnected from the back of the dryer. If the problem remains, then the gas valve coils have probably become heat fatigued and need to be replaced. Here's the part link for the coils ==> http://www.repaircli...mber=MDG4000BWW

And here's how to replace them:

[THERODMAN]

The dryer vent was not clogged at all but I will try that in a few hours and post back -- thanks for responding so quickly.....

[RegUS_PatOff]

... the gas never comes back on.

does the Ignitor come back ON ?

[THERODMAN]

Ok....hours later. Removed the vent hose form the back (again) inspected it as it was cleaned last year and there did not appear to be any heavy lint build up, but I then ran the dryer and shazam, the gas stayed on. Put the hose back on and the gas went off almost immediately. That led me to believe there was no blockage in the vent hose that it was still taking energy to get the air out of the hose and there must be some build up in and around the turbine. Front panel holding the drum removed and the sheet metal housing over the turbine exposed a build p of lint that may restrict air flow. Can the solenoids detect this?
Load is in the washer ready to be switched in a bit.....more to follow upon completion....crossing fingers and finding wood to knock on...hopefully a donation to the beer fund is in order!!!

[Samurai Appliance Repair Man]

Ok....hours later. Removed the vent hose form the back (again) inspected it as it was cleaned last year and there did not appear to be any heavy lint build up, but I then ran the dryer and shazam, the gas stayed on. Put the hose back on and the gas went off almost immediately. That led me to believe there was no blockage in the vent hose that it was still taking energy to get the air out of the hose and there must be some build up in and around the turbine.

Repeat after me:

A dryer vent can be clear of lint and still be bad.

A dryer vent can be clear of lint and still be bad.

A dryer vent can be clear of lint and still be bad.

[THERODMAN]

Ok....so now what. All put back together. All clean. Same result. Heats for 30 seconds then off....ugh

[RegUS_PatOff]

... the gas never comes back on.

Does the Ignitor come back ON ?
Try it with the Vent disconnected

[THERODMAN]

Master Samurai,
I viewed the video that you suggested and it all makes sense, but why after not having any issues with the way the dryer has been installed for 11 years now, are we now having an issue?
Thanks for all of your consideration to what may seem like stupid questions
Rod

[THERODMAN]

Ok final report...before I gas out the family. Took the front cover off to see what the ignitor was doing. It lights the flame originally, goes out after a few minutes, then comes on about every 45 seconds after that attempting to light the gas again. After 3 times cycling through it lit again, then went out, but after that, 5-6 times with no result. I went upstairs from the basement (the windows were open) and the gas smell was overpowering coming out of the outside vent and in through the windows. I went back downstairs and it finally lit, but it appears that the dryer is emitting gas in between the time that the ignitor is trying to light the flame and then going out again. Eeeek.
Thank you all for your help.

[RegUS_PatOff]

... the gas valve coils have probably become heat fatigued and need to be replaced. Here's the part link for the coils ==> http://www.repaircli...mber=MDG4000BWW

[THERODMAN]

Thanks for the advice. I will try the new coils. Would failing coils emit raw gas through the dryer though, even though the ignitor is working?

[RussTech]

Yes. They would. Common symptoms of coil failure.

[RegUS_PatOff]

...maybe... if the Gas Valve is barely opening, and the Gas disperses before reaching the Ignitor
Has this Dryer worked OK for you up till now at this location ?

[THERODMAN]

Yes it has worked fine for 11 years up to this point. The lint screen is cleaned after each cycle and the dryer vent is cleaned regularly. Odd how the unit seemed to work fine with the vent detached in back though. Would that lead you to believe that it is the coils as well?

[RegUS_PatOff]

... the unit seemed to work fine with the vent detached

then it would seem to be a Vent problem ...
Try running it again...
Does it complete a full Dry Cycle with the Vent removed ?
How long is your Vent ?
How many 90° elbows ?
When the Dryer is running, is there good air-flow where it exits the House ?

[THERODMAN]

I thought perhaps that after 11 years of running fine that perhaps there was a build up of lint inside the unit so I dismantled and cleaned the exhaust components then ran through almost a full cycle with the vent removed (I shut it off a little early) without any issues, just the normal gas on, gas off.
After the vent was attached is when the issue began with the ignitor trying to ignite the gas to no avail, and then the gas smell coming out of the dryer vent on the outside of the house.
The vent is approx 10 feet long with 2 x 90 degree elbows and air flow is not a problem in the basement.

[jumptrout]

Check the blower wheel at the motor shaft.
Is it loose?
http://www.repaircli...mber=MDG4000BWW