Amana ALE331RAW Electric Dryer has stopped heating. I can't figure out how to open up the back to look inside and see if there is a lint problem

ELECTRIC Dryer no heat or little heat, or shuts down to fast:

Check your venting and lint basket. Check blower for lint build up and blower wheel obstruction., test by trying to turn the wheel manually by hand (should be easy) May have to remove cabinet or front/back plate to get to it)

Next check the heating element itself with a meter for continuity OHMS CLOSED CIRCUIT. If not its defective or has a short if its grounding out? Which in turns causes blown fuses or thermostats or overheating.

Check dryer Terminal block prongs both outside prongs should give combined 220, and 110 each if u check 1 outside & 1 center (ground) prong. Also check house electrical outlet for full voltage. 220 because if u only get half or 110 volts you will be able to run the machine which uses only 110 to run motor but not the heater which uses a full 220,

Check the thermal cut off, the cycling and the hi limit thermostats.
For continuity or OHMS. If no ohms or resistance they need replacement.

In some dryer's the control panel relies on a thermistor rather than a CYCLING thermostat to regulate the drum's air temperature by monitoring the component's resistance changes; resistance goes down as temperature increases and up when temperature decreases. Once the drum's air temperature reaches a certain level required to dry clothes, the control panel shuts off the heater. The panel will turn the heater on again and begin another heating cycle when the thermistor indicates that more heat is needed to keep the air temperature constant inside the drum

Lastly check your moister sensor. ( located inside the dryer door usually) Especially if machine seems to shut down early and clothes are still wet.
Test with a meter at room temperature and it should show continuity.
A failed moisture sensor will affect the dryer run time in the automatic moisture sensing cycle but it will not affect the heating of the dryer or the timed cycle. Which are reflected by the thermostats.

Read more :http://www.ehow.com/info_12203962_check-dryer-thermistor.html

plugged up vent or your heater relay thermostate control

Hi,

If your dryer is not drying like it once did or if you just have not taken the time to give yourself a clean dryer in a long time then you need to do that. At least once a year the dryer cleaning should take place. Lint build up in the dryer duct is one of the main causes for your dryer to fail.

Here is the rest of this tip about Dryer Maintenance

heatman101

Hi,
Remove the bottom front panel(2-3 screws along the very bottom. . Clean inside... Be really careful around the ignitor they are fragile but take care to make sure there is nothing inside the burner tube.
I hope this helps please let me know if you need further assistance.

You may need to replace the heating rod. Go to the website of the manufacturer and see if there are any recalls or facts that others have contributed about your dryer.

When a dryer isn't getting hot it mean that either the electricity isn't getting to the heating tool or the heating tool is broken. Look for some schematics if you'd like. Find out where the parts are inside and what goes to what.

I also mentioned the lint filter before. You must make sure the lint filter is cleaned after every drying cycle or the machine will overheat and if there is a fuse between the electricity and the heating rod you may be able to just change that! Good luck.

too hot??? thas gerenally a sign of insuffecient venting, check for arestricted and/or blocked vent. it cant release the proper amount of heat and its buildingup inhte machine

they will blow if the heat dont get out of the dryer and builds up inside / check and see if vent hose behind dryer is kinked or vent going outside is open / it will be one of those two.

Good Afternoon,
Unless there is something restricting the ventilation I think you are having a problem with the heating coil staying on too long. If that is the case, one or more heating sensors are bad. Let me know if this helps and thank you for using FixYa!

You have to take the front off on that model.. to get at the inside.. heres a diagram that may help ya out http://www3.sears.com/imaging/ImagePageJava.shtml?productTypeID=0151200&brandID=1268&modelDesc=AMANA%20LAUNDRY&modelNumber=ALE331RAW&documentID=M0411885&documentTypeID=PLDM&documentClassCode=PV&titleType=DOOR%2C%20FRONT%2C%20ACCESS%20AND%20TOP%20PANELS&titleID=00002&

You will probably have to open it up from the top and/or back. If the belt looks alright (it probably won't, though), check the belt tensioner. Carefully observe how the belt goes on and around the tensioner before replacing.