Customer Questions and Answers for Dryer Thermal Cut-Off Kit by Whirlpool

Hello George, The temperature is controlled by the cycling thermostat. In case it fails, the high limit thermostat should prevent the heat from getting high enough to burn out the heating element. In case the high limit thermostat fails, the thermal cut-out should blow. With all of these safetys on the unit, it is a good bet that the heating element WP3387747 may well be shorted to ground. A couple of things to check. Use a volt/ohm meter part #TJMA-DM1 to assist you in your diagnostics. Measure the resistance of the heating element. Make sure the element is not shorted to the... more case one element terminal at a time. Remove the element and look at it between the windings to see if it has expanded and shorted. This will make it stay on during cool down. The 2nd device is the thermistor part #WP3387134. It should be open at cold temperatures. If the inner contacts have welded itself closed then it will not open. Providing constant voltage to the element. It is best to also change the safety thermostat part #279816 because it has been weakened as well.