3HWED5205SQ0 Whirlpool Dryer - Instructions

I did what any novice would have done. I took the entire thing apart to get to the gas jet. I did not know about the thermal fuse until I got to the schematic behind the timer and controls. I was a tech back in the 70's and 80's and only worked on electric dryers. Back then I would remove the heater core and twist the coils together to save money. So I had no idea how a gas dryer heating unit worked. So now any one that reads this. You do not have to take the dryer completely apart, I did that for all of you. Just replace the thermal fuse on the back of the unit by unplugging that wires and removing the screws! It looks like a long white piece of plastic with 2 wires to it. You will find this under the full metal shield on the back of the unit. This should be about a 1 hour repair at the most!

Our dryer quit heating and I feared that I would have to buy another one as I have never worked on a dryer. But figured I would go online and see what I could learn. Parts Select gave me the info that I needed.
Not being sure which part was bad I decided to start with the one time use Thermal fuse. When I noticed that it only cost 7 bucks and my wife had been complaining that the dryer had not been heating well for a while I figured I would go ahead and replace themostat. I ordered the thermal cut-off kit and replaced both parts. I put them on and plugged it back up and it is heating fine. I found the videos very helpful in showing how to do this.

After receiving the part I unplugged the dryer and took the back cover off of the controls on top off the driver with a Phillips screw driver and visually confirmed that the new switch matched. Removed the wires one at a time from the Push to start switch and connected them to the new one as I removed them. I then plugged the dryer back in and tested that the new switch would fix the problem. Once I knew the new switch was the I uninstalled the bad switch and installed the new switch in to the control face. Put the cover back on and slide the dryer back in to place.

first, I read the other repair stories and used them as a guide.I checked to see if the heating element was broken. It was not. The Thermal Cut off Kit was the ticket for me. I replaced the three easy parts it contained. Repair time was 30 minutes tops that includes checking the heating element and removing and replacing all three possible culprits (of the Thermal Cut-off Kit). Thanks a million. Happy Ending!Oh by the way, my dryer now dries super fast(saving me a bundle)

unpluged the dryer, took off the back, followed instructions and was able to take of the problem on my own.

I watched the video or I would have likley just called a repair man. It took longer to clean behind the dryer than to install the new thermal fuse. After taking the back off the dryer is was as simple as changing a fuse. Dryer works like new for about $20 bucks and we avoided the hasle of getting a repair man, especially since we live in the country. Thanks for having a web site that is so easy to use and full of good information.

Fit great,well please with order!

10 min. job, easy to do / two screws top and two inside front / remove old parts install new.

removed old gasket took door off 4 screws. cleaned seal area applied glue put on gasket easy

The dryer would dry the clothes fine and run through heat cycles and cool down. The timer would also run down, it just would stop even thought the heat stopped. To repair, I took the back off the timer portion of the dryer. At first I panicked. I did not see any part that looked like the new one I just ordered. I searched the internet and found that the original part looked like a black plastic loop with a black and orange wire connected to it. The part I got was the new design. Then I couldn't figure out if it mattered which end I hooked to the black wire. Another internet search showed it doesn't matter which way current flows through a resistor, so it didn't matter. Hooking in the new part was very easy. The time it took to get the information to identify the part, and determine if it matter which end to hook up to which wire took the longest. I would recommend PartSelect put a picture of the old style right beside the picture of the new style. Also would like them to make clear it doesn't matter which direction the Timer Power Resistor went in.

Unplug unit first.
Took the front cover off the front of dryer below the door.

Two Phillips screws, and 2 5/16 bolts and the dryer is open for this repair. Remove the drum and note the placement of the drive belt. Then using a pipe wrench grab the rear plastic fan housing, at the rear of the motor shaft, and turn the front of the motor shaft CLOCKWISE. If the Fan is ceased (as it was in my case) you will need to use locking vice grips (at least 3 or 4 between the fan blades to stop the fan blades from turning on the rear shaft.) while your turning the front of the motor's shaft. If done properly, you should have about 25-30 turns before the motor is free for replacement.
Once this is accomplished, mounting the new motor back into the dryer is a simple matter of reversing your steps. But keep note of the belt placement and the motor wiring placement before starting.

Installed thermal cut-off kit. Dryer works fine now. Kit very easy to install.

I removed the base cover and cover over my lint blower. The thermal fuse is located on top of the blower housing. I removed the thermal fuse utilizing a small nutdriver and installed the new fuse.

nobody has said it yet so... to take a dryer apart, take the back off, pull the lint trap, remove two screws on back of the top piece. the whole top shifts forward and disengages two clips on front corners, it then tilts up and back. the front comes off next, this frees up the tub. all parts ordered replaced worn parts, though there was no smoking gun as to the source of the sound. once it was apart, it was a cakewalk. had it up and running in 45 minutes. can't see how it took others two hours.