How to Troubleshoot & Replace Whirlpool AP6009347 / WP4391960 Dryer Heating Element

I assumed it was the heating element and replaced that. Wasn't the cause so I ordered the upper and lower sensors. . Watching your excellent vids and Q/A's I had already ruled out the fuse .I am a average handy man at 77 and was amazed how wonderful your site was. Never saw anything as helpful AND encouraging. The parts were a fraction of what a repair service would have charged. Actually the total parts cost from you was one half what the local repair people charge just to diagnose the problem and then they charge outrageous labor and parts charges. I believe my repair cost me 25% of what I would usually have paid. That means a lot when you are living on a retirement income. 

I looked at the videos on AppliancePartsPros.com and ordered the top 3 parts that would likely be the issue. I replaced all three starting with the Thermal Fuse, then the Cycling Thermostat and finally the Heating Element. It ended up being the Heating Element. This saved us from having to purchase a new dryer for $500+ or calling a repair tech. Good as new, hope to get another 20 years out of it. ;) 

Replaced heater assembly, must find 5/16 spade terminals to replace pin conectors on original heater. 

Open and checked heater element terminals found no cotinutiy. Replaced heating element and works fine. Thanks for quick shipment 

Removed back panel. Used ohm meter to check element and all limit switches, and fuse. Element tested "open". Removed element and found burned out. In the process of removing wires from element terminals, broke one of the terminals on the wire. As the terminal is a 5/16" flag terminal, had to order a replacement wire kit to replace terminal. Connected all wiring, replaced cover panel, and vent. Slid dryer back into position, making sure vent pipe wasn't kinked. plugged in dryer, started appliance and let it run for a couple of minutes, and checked temperature in tub. Unit now heating. 

I ordered the heating element. Whenever we dried clothes they took two full cycles to dry. When I took the dryer apart the old element wasn't broken or sagging, but I put the new element in anyway. I had washed clothes so i put the first load in the dryer and it dried on one cycle. The same with towels and jeans, etc. Evidently when it heated up part of the old element must have sagged and shorted because it's running like new now. 

Took the back of the dryer off. ( everyone should do that at least once a year. fire hazard) we called appliace parts pros to order the part. I placed the order at 3:30 pm Friday afternoon paid for regular shipping hoping it would come in a few days. The next morning (Saturday) I put the tracker on and it said it would be here by the end of the day. I was so happy, I have told everyone I know about our experience. I guess Santa was watching. Thank your staff for excellent service! 

Used multi-tester and found the heating element did not have continuity. After receiving the replacement part and installing it, I saw that the old heating element had a break in the coil. 

Replaced the element 

Replace bad parts.