I’m wondering about normal/abnormal behavior of Whirlpool dryer timers…
The timer completely stopped working recently on our Whirlpool dryer (dryer model# LEC6848AW3, timer part# 3397273) - the contacts were burned so badly there was no helping them. We’ve experimented with replacing the bad timer with two different used timers - both work and seem to run through all drying cycles correctly, but they both exhibit two behaviors that seem unusual to me and I’m wondering if these are typical/normal for these timers or if they might indicate timer problems:
1) when running on the “Electronic Dry-Miser” cycle, both timers make consistent but irregular small clicking sounds throughout the cycle. Not the somewhat louder, well-spaced clicks when the cycle is advancing normally and contacts are being opened/closed, and not the regular clock-like very quiet ticking sound the timer makes when turned on without the dryer running. These are more noticeable, irregularly spaced but consistent clicks or ticks that sound more like something in the timer is stiff or sticking as the timer gradually advances. This only seems to happen in the “Electronic Dry-Miser” cycle, not during the “Timed Drying” or “Fluff Air“ cycles. The original timer never made any such noises, so I figured it was worth asking about.
2) by the end of any cycle, the timer motor is very hot to the touch (as in finger-burning hot) when touched from the back of the timer. Both timers do this. Is this normal? It just seems strange that the timer motor would run so hot - I’d certainly expect them to be warm by the end of a cycle, but not hot enough to burn a finger.
Just wondering if these are normal behaviors for Whirlpool dryer timers of this type, or if we have a couple of problem timers and need to keep looking for a timer that works correctly. Both of the “new” used timers are part# 3397273A.
I also have a friend that has an unopened 3397273 Made in USA timer that he thinks is from the 1980’s or 90’s and would sell it to me if I want it. Are new, unused timers of that age still fully functional, or does grease in the motor (if there is any) tend to get dry and stiff, etc.? Just trying to figure out the best way to go from here.
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