How to Troubleshoot an LG Dryer DLE7177RM
The main reason for owning the LG DLE7177RM dryer is to dry clothes. For that to happen, the dryer must produce heat. If your dryer fails to produce heat, you must troubleshoot the unit to determine why. Failure to heat is a common issue for dryers, since the heating element is made of coiled wire that constantly heats up and cools down. This makes the coil brittle, and eventually it can break. A second issue common with dryers is failure of the drum inside to spin or tumble. There are several things that could cause this to happen, but, as with the broken element, you will likely end up taking the dryer apart --- at least partially --- to complete the troubleshooting process.
Not Producing Heat
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Double-check the electrical cable to make sure the unit remains plugged in. If it is plugged in, check the breaker panel. Your LG dryer has a 220-volt circuit; therefore, it uses two breakers stacked on top of each other. If one of those breakers is tripped, it could allow the dryer to function but not heat. If you locate a tripped breaker, turn it back on and check the dryer for heat. If it does not produce heat, move on to Step 2.
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Unplug the unit and disconnect the dryer vent. Pull the dryer away from the wall and remove the back cover, using a screwdriver. Locate the canister vent inside the dryer and remove the cover with a screwdriver. Locate the coiled wires inside the heating element, which is mounted inside the canister. Look for any breaks in the wire. If you have breaks in the wires, this is why your dryer does not heat. If you do not see any breaks, move on to Step 3.
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Locate the fuse mounted to the heating duct work. It's sealed in black epoxy and mounted in a white housing. Disconnect the fuse wire connectors, and test the fuse for continuity. To do this, place your multimeter on "Ohm," and then place a lead in each end of the fuse connectors. If the readout remains zero, the fuse is blown, and this is why you do not get heat from your dryer. If the fuse shows any number other than zero, the fuse is good, and you can reconnect it. At this point, you'll need to contact a service professional to inspect the wiring and components located on the motherboard inside the control panel housing.
Dryer Won't Tumble
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Inspect the settings on the dryer. If you have a knob placed between settings, it can prevent the drum from spinning because the control panel never engages the motor. When you turn the knob, you can feel an indentation between each setting. Make sure the knob rests over an indentation. Press the "Start" button and check to see if the drum spins.
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Remove all of the clothes from the dryer. If the dryer is off balance, it will trigger an internal sensor and stop the drum from spinning to help prevent damage to the machine. This usually happens on very large loads or when you have a single heavy object such as a quilt. If the drum still does not spin after you've removed the clothes, move on to the next step.
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Remove the front panel from the dryer. To do so, locate the screws on the bottom front panel and then remove them, using a screwdriver. Pull up and out on the front panel to remove the top retaining clips. Do not disconnect the wires to the door switch. If you do, you cannot continue to troubleshoot the dryer.
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Inspect the pulley on the motor. If the pulley does not have a belt on it, look inside the dryer for the broken belt. A broken belt prevents the drum from spinning.
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Remove the belt from the pulley if the belt did not break. To do this, loosen the mounting bolts on the motor, using a wrench, to loosen the tension on the belt. Manually turn the pulley. If the pulley will not turn, the motor has locked up and is defective.
