DISR473DGEWW General Electric Dryer - Instructions

just replaced the unit handle and how my wife can open the dryer without a screwdriver

It's no surprise that GE would use cheaply made parts in such a mass produced product, but it was irritating to see the start switch fail just fourteen months after purchasing the dryer. I am glad that a little thought was put into an easy snap and twist installation of the control panel switches. The original switch failed, due to arcing and pitting of the contact points no doubt, and the local parts house didn't even recognize the part, let alone have it in stock. Thanks to PartSelect.com I could have the part in just a couple of days!
The panel comes appart with just four star driver screws on top, but an allen wrench will work also. Wire jumpers with spade connectors are pulled apart and reattached with needle nose pliers.
In the mean time to keep the dryer operational, I did some creative "re-assigning" of some of the control panel jumper wires using the switch that controled the "Wrinkle Care" setting as a temporary Start Switch as it had the same current handling limits. By the way before attempting such a temporary bypass setup, consider not voiding any warrantee arrangement still applying to the product and have some basic electronics and safety knowledge, study the provided schematic well attached to the back panel and remember to write down all of the original wire connections. And when in doubt, calling a qualified GE appliance repair person is your best and safest bet.
New part went right in in about 15 minutes with original wiring restored and double-checked and the dryer is running right on que again.
Thanks PartSelect.com!

I pulled the old handle off and pushed the new one on.
No problem at all.

The part came today…and I installed it in 10 minutes. The only time consuming part was locating a torx screwdriver which was needed to remove the panel.
Lifted the panel, extracted the existing switch and
disconnected the wires and used a flathhead screwdriver to lift off the existing switch. Reconnected the new piece, and voila my dryer worked!
Your site is great!

Remove top control panel, disconnected wire from old switch to new switch (remover 1 wire at time so it would not get mixed up)twisted old switch out inserted new switch and replaced control panel now works like it should. I thought it might would be a safety issue is why I replaced it

My daughter, who has the dryer in Florida, made the repair herself. She removed the broken handle that had been temporarily taped in place. Cleaned off tape residue with Goo-Gone. Then took the new handle and snapped it into place. Worked just like it was supposed to.

Take out the two screws holding the top on with the door open remove top and remove two small screws in top front corners. I replaced the 4 slides and the drum bearing without the new felt, do not do this it continued to squeek after it ran the first few times when i got the new felt a week later i installed it in ten minuites and the noise is gone. I think it cost around sixty dollars and my dryer is back in action. Make sure that you clean all of the lint out of the inside of your dryer I had alot of build up near the chute for the lint trap.

TOOK OFF TOP AND FRONT PANEL REACHED IN UNDER TUBE AND REMOVED FROM BELT TENSIONER HARDEST PART IS PUTTING BACK ON TENSIONER TAKES TWO HANDS LAYING ON YOUR BELLY

Turned off breaker, rmoved back panel, removed timer, replaced knob. Put back together.

Removed two screws, lifted the top, removed two more screws and tilted the front panel. The worn parts were accessible, and I simply placed the new parts in. It worked. A little trouble placing the top back in the slots, but a fist whack did the job.

Unplugged dryer. Removed four back panel screws to expose the switches. Removed the wires from the bad switch and transferred them to the new switch. Lifted locking tab on switch and rotated it so the two locking tabs aligned with the slots. Removed old switch and inserted new switch. Rotated about a half turn and replaced the four panel screws. Plugged in the dryer and tested. Very easy repair.

(1) unplug the power from outlet. (2) unscrew the 3 screws. (3)slide the front instrument panel slight right to remove it. (4) flip over the panel (5) remember the wire colors and their connections, and remove 3 wires (6) pull up the metal tab on the start switch a bit to unlock it and turn counter clock wise to remove the switch (6) do the reverse steps to install the switch.

Wife was out of town, visiting family. I broke the door strike by wedging the dryer door between the laundry room door, closed the laundry room door and it snapped the door strike breaking it. I ordered the part, and it shipped fast using the standard shipping, nothing fancy. Grabbed a pair of pliers and pushed the new door strike into place. It snapped right in, fits and works perfect like nothing ever happened. The wife will never know :)

Removed old one, inserted new one in slot. Just have to be sure it's turned in the right direction.

Removed 4 screws at the top of the dryer controls. Pulled the control toward me , pressed the pulled the tab on the switch up, turned the switch counterclockwise, removed the knob and the 4 wires, Plugged the wires to the new switch and reversed the installation