A Dryer Runs Then Starts Clicking & Stops

Belt

• Problems with a clothes dryer’s belt can cause the dryer to make odd sounds as the belt hits the cabinet’s sides prior to the drum stopping. A dryer can’t run with a mutilated or detached belt. Remove the back panel of your dryer, or slide off its top cover to expose the drum. The belt sits on top of the drum and near its center, and a functional belt is whole, not tattered or split. Although elastic, the belt should have limited flexibility and stay in place when pulled. If the belt is damaged, then installing a new belt is necessary.

Motor

• Often the clicking sound you hear when you start your dryer is from the motor. A failing motor has a tendency to click several times before it stops completely after the dryer is started. Contact a dryer repair specialist to evaluate the motor’s performance. The specialist might use an ohm multimeter or volt meter to test the motor’s continuity. If the test reveals that the motor’s continuity is weak, he’ll probably recommend that you replace the component.

Thermal Fuse

• It’s fairly common for a clothes dryer to have a heat-activated thermal fuse that blows if the dryer starts to overheat. The fuse is often in a dryer’s vent collar along the exhaust outlet. You can access most dryers' fuse by removing the rear panel. The 1-inch fuse is usually close to a bunch of wires and has two wires sticking outward. Perform a continuity test with an ohm meter to see if the fuse has blown. If the fuse is bad, the dryer won’t operate correctly. For example, it might start but stop working after a series of clicks as parts quickly ramp up and down. Replacing the thermal fuse is the solution.

Gas Valve Coils

• A gas clothes dryer relies on coils that prop open a valve and hold it open to fuel the gas flame and create heat for the drying cycle's duration. If the coils wear, the valve sometimes vibrates as it opens and closes quickly. The rapid succession of the valve’s movement could make a clicking sound, which you’ll hear until the heater or dryer eventually shuts off. Because worn coils can't be repaired, replacing the whole element is necessary.