Troubleshooting the Thermal Fuse on the Maytag Performa Dryer

Maytag Performa dryers, like most electric clothes dryers, use a thermal fuse as a safety feature to prevent the appliance from overheating and potentially starting a fire. The fuse is attached to the electric heating element. If the dryer exceeds the temperature rating of the thermal fuse, the fuse trips and the heating element shuts down. If the Performa will not heat at all, but the drum rotates normally, the problem may be with the thermal fuse.

Nut driver
Multimeter

Instructions

- 1
  Unplug the Performa's power cord from the wall outlet.
- 2
  Unscrew the clamp on the hose connected to the Performa to pull off the hose.
- 3
  Extract the hex bolts in the Performa's back panel where it attaches to the cabinet. Remove the panel and set it out of the way. Locate the thermal fuse on the heating element canister on the left side of the Performa. The thermostat is at the bottom on the left edge of the canister. The thermal fuse is mounted on an oval plate above the thermostat.
- 4
  Pull the two wires off the blades on the bottom of the thermal fuse. Each wire slides off with the coupler crimped on the end.
- 5
  Set the multimeter to test for ohms. Clip the two probes on the end of the multimeter to the two thermal fuse blades. If the meter readout swings to the infinite range, the fuse is blown and the part must be replaced.

Amana Dryer Felt Seal Troubleshooting

How to Install a Washing Machine Door Boot

Washer & Dryers