Whirlpool WP3406105 Dryer Door Switch Assembly OEM Part

Background: Roper Electric Dryer model REX6634RQ0 purchased new in early 2006 by my wife. Dryer use profile is low to moderate as it was used by only one person (working from home) from 2006 to late 2007 then moved and stored in a dry basement until mid 2009. Moved and used by primarily just two people (plus occasional children visits) from mid-2009 thru late 2011 with three moves involved with in that time. Then stored in a dry shipping container until moved again in 2013. The multiple physical moves may have contributed to the issue I later diagnose in a dryer not heavily used in a typical family profile. Dryer door switch stopped working about three months ago but was switch was set in the on position so no issue for wife to turn it off via the timer dial to be safe (and keep a curious cat from entering the moving dryer.) During a recent use the dryer would not shut off via timer, timer did not advance and clothing was in for about an hour to cook! Luckily no fire resulted. Then upon the next use the dryer would not start. The timer dial also exhibited a very faint humming or buzzing sound when engaging any of the four selections. Investigation: Disconnected dryer and removed back panels console upper and back plate and opened up top panel to access dryer door switch. All open panel trouble shooting performed with room closed off to other people, children, and a curious cat along with disconnecting the dryer during troubleshooting. 1.Jumped (connected) the door switch pins and no difference. Dryer would not start. Tested door switch with a multimeter and confirmed it was locked in the door closed (dryer on) position. 2.Removed thermal fuse on exhaust and tested with multi-meter. Showed as blown / broken so 196 degrees was exceeded. Most likely during that last use the temperature was just under the fuse breaking temperature while the dryer was running and intaking cool air but after shut off the temperature spiked over the 196 degrees and broke the fuse. 3.Jumped the thermal fuse connectors and dryer was able to be started and would run. However, timer still exhibited same faint buzzing sound. And now the heater ran on all four timer selections including "No Heat Fluff". Wife confirmed that "No Heat Fluff" was never supposed to heat even to low levels. 4. Researched Appliance Parts Pros forums for similar issues. Found most likely cause would be heater coils grounding out to chassis. This often would be caused by lint build up on the coils grounding out the coils. 5. Pulled the coil out and found that the coil section that connected between the "back" and "front" of the coil panel had shifted down because the ceramic support at that point had worn down within the metal frame. I was able to revise the coil at that point by pulling the coil off the ceramic support and re-positioning it to better tension the ceramic support in its hole in the metal panel. After doing this, tested the dryer and the heater functioned correct on all cycles and the timer no longer had the faint humming or buzzing sound. The faint humming or buzzing sound was apparently the timer being energized by the grounded coil shorting electricity to the timer. The best estimate of root cause for the ceramic support wearing in the metal frame and then shifting within the coil frame, would be from the multiple moves that have had this unit transported hundreds of miles and experiencing transport shaking in excess what a typical unit would experience. I ordered a new thermal fuse and door switch to get the dryer back into full operation.

I went online and Appliance Parts Pros had a great article on troubleshooting the problem with the dryer. I thought it might be the switch that turns the dryer on when the door is closed and off when the door is opened. So, I went to look at it to see if I could see anything wrong. Well, the plastic switch that the dryer door strikes when closing had broken right off. I could feel the edge of the broken switch in the mechanism and could push it back as if the dryer door was hitting it. I turned the dryer on, pressed the switch and the dryer worked. Fortunately, there was an absolutely great video on how to change the dryer switch. And I was able to order the part (the web site showed me how to find the model number and be certain I was ordering the right switch for my dryer) and I paid extra to have it overnighted. It arrived the next day. Fixing this problem required the removal of a total of 4 screws and the use of a putty knife to free the top of the dryer from the latch holding it down. The broken part pulled off the wiring holding it and the new part snapped right on. I set the unit into the hole it came out of and screwed it into place, Holding it down into the hole with one hand and screwing the part into place with the other was probably the hardest part of this very simple repair. Took me all of 15 minutes and there was no swearing involved! And best of all, the part was under $25 and I paid another 25 to overnight it. It was much less than I would have paid a pro! Thanks Appliance Parts and Pros!

I watched the video just to make sure and it was a simple install. Only took a few minutes.

I removed the switch and checked the serial number against your site description of a replacement switch. I placed the order and received the replacment switch by regular mail in two days. The replacement switch fit and worked perfectly. Thank you for your very efficient service. Bill

After taking the front off and removing the drum I saw that one of the two drum support wheels had failed. So I took down the model number and went on line to locate the replacement parts. I tried to find the part locally as to avoid a long wait for shipping, but I was unable to. Stumbling on the Appliance Pros website I easily located and ordered the parts. The maintenance pack seemed my best choice. It contained two support wheels with the associated retainers as well as a tension wheel and a drive belt. Although some of the parts didn't need immediate replacement it seemed prudent to change them anyway. I also ordered a felt front drum bushing(which was worn) as well as a door switch to replace the one that I broke during my exploratory. The site's parts conformation tool an well as the on-line tutorials gave me confidence that I ordered the correct parts and could install them. For shipping I selected standard(the cheapest option) which would be delivered in 3 to 5 days. Much to my surprise the parts arrived the next day in less than 24 hours. The parts fit perfectly and the rest of the repair went without a hitch.