Generally, Maytag Bravos dryer troubleshooting knowledge is almost necessary for every Maytag Bravos dryer owner. Not only does it save you effort, time, and money, but it also enables you to fix the most inescapable dryer problems.
You can troubleshoot a Maytag Bravos dryer that won’t start, heat, spin, or dry. Additionally, you can fix an option that overheats or squeals, and that’s where this troubleshooting guide comes in.
I’ll walk you through those six common Maytag Bravos dryer problems, mining out their probable causes and fixes. So, if you cannot locate your dryer’s manual or it seems too bulky to look at, this guide can hopefully lessen everything.
Let’s get started!
In a rush? Below is a quick guide highlighting how you can troubleshoot the commonest Maytag Bravos dryer issues:
Quick Maytag Bravos Dryer Troubleshooting Guide
| Dryer Issue | Probable Cause | Recommendable Fix | |
| 1. | Dryer Won’t Start | Door not properly latched, ‘Control Lock,’ wrong cycle, incoming power fault, blown-up thermal fuse, or component failure (start switch, door switch, belt switch, drive belt, timer, drive motor, or main control) | Latch the dryer door properly, turn off ‘Control Lock,’ pick the correct setting, fix the incoming power issue, and replace the blown-up thermal fuse or failed component |
| 2. | Dryer Won’t Heat | Incoming power fault, blown up thermal fuse, or component failure (gas valve solenoid, heating element, sensor, thermostat, igniter, or main control) | Fix the incoming power issue and replace the thermal fuse if blown or any other faulty component |
| 3. | Dryer Won’t Spin | Broken drive belt, overheated motor, incoming power fault, a wrongly latched door, wrong spin cycle, or component failure( drum rollers, drum glide, drum bearing, or dryness control board) | Change the broken drive belt or overheated motor, fix the incoming power fault, latch the dryer door properly, choose the right setting and replace the failing component |
| 4. | Dryer Won’t Dry | Blocked lint screen or exhaust, large load, crushed dryer vent, or wrong dryer setting | Clean the blocked lint screen or exhaust, reduce the load size, replace the crushed dryer vent and choose the right dryer setting |
| 5. | Dryer Overheats | Dryer clogging, a damaged felt seal, or a faulty heating element, cycling thermostat, or blower wheel | Unclog the dryer vents and change the felt seal, and replace the faulty component |
| 6. | Dryer Makes A Squealing Sound | Frayed or worn drive belt or worn-out drum bearing, drum slides or idler pulley | Replace the faulty component |
6 Common Maytag Bravos Dryer Problems for Troubleshooting
Below are common issues affecting Maytag Bravos dryers that you can troubleshoot yourself:
1. Maytag Bravos Dryer Won’t Start
If your Maytag Bravos dryer stopped working or won’t start, it’s highly likely because of one of these reasons:
- The door is improperly latched – Unless the dryer door is shut correctly, the dryer may not start. So, recheck the door to ensure nothing prevents it from closing correctly. You may also need to test the latch with a multimeter and replace it if faulty.
- ‘Control lock’ is on – Switch off the ‘Control Lock’ if it’s on to enable the dryer to start.
- The wrong cycle – Ensure you choose the correct cycle to run the dryer. If you prefer Wrinkle Reduction, the dryer may take time to run and dry your clothes.
- Incoming power fault – Check the electric outlet/power socket and the power cord to ensure they are not faulty. You can test them with a multimeter. If any is defective, replace it. Also, test the circuit breaker and replace it if it’s faulty.
- Blown fuse – Use the multimeter to test the thermal fuse. It usually blows up when the dryer overheats to protect it. You’ll thus need to replace it.
- Faulty Dryer Component – If any of these dryer components are defective, the dryer won’t start:
- Start switch – Check the start switch to ensure you can press it, and it’s not faulty
- Door switch – A defective door switch prevents the door from shutting and the dryer from starting
- Belt switch – The dryer may also shut down due to a blown drive belt
- Drive motor – A failed motor won’t turn the drive belt, and so the dryer won’t start
- Timer – If the dryer timer is faulty, it may not start
- Main control – Consider replacing the main control as the best resort if there’s nothing wrong with the other components.
2. Maytag Bravos Dryer Not Heating
Your Maytag Bravos dryer won’t heat up due to any of these reasons:
- Incoming power fault
Consider the possibility of the circuit breaker tripping over due to excess voltage.
- Blown up thermal fuse
If the dryer overheats, the thermal fuse may blow up to prevent dryer damage. The dryer won’t dry the laundry if that happens in the middle of a drying cycle.
- Component failure – Also, consider the possibility of any of these dryer components being faulty:
- Gas valve solenoid – A failed gas valve solenoid stops the dryer from igniting and heating up
- Heating element – The dryer won’t heat if the Maytag Bravos dryer heating element fails
- Sensor – The flame sensor may prevent heating if it’s faulty
- Thermostat – If the high limit or cycling thermostat is defective, the dryer won’t heat
- Ignitor – A failed igniter won’t ignite, meaning the dryer won’t heat up
- Main control – If the main control board is faulty, nothing will work
Fix
Consider testing all the above components, including the thermal fuse, for fault using a multimeter, and replace the faulty one.
3. Maytag Bravos Dryer Won’t Spin
Several factors may prevent your Maytag Bravos dryer from spinning well. They include the following:
- Broken drive belt – A broken drive belt won’t turn your Maytag drum, which means it won’t work. For that reason, inspect the drive belt keenly and consider a Maytag Bravos dryer belt replacement if it looks frayed.
- Overheated motor – Once the drive motor overheats, the Maytag dryer stops running until it cools. Unfortunately, the problem may often recur if the motor is defective, requiring a replacement.
- Incoming power fault – Ensure your dryer is well plugged into the socket and that neither the electric outlet nor the power cord is faulty. You can test the components for continuity with a multimeter.
- Wrongly latched door – You’ve to shut the dryer door properly for it to spin without hitches. Therefore, consider that.
- Wrong spin cycle – Your dryer won’t spin if you set it on ‘Wrinkle Reduction.’ It will only spin if you put it on ‘Timed-Dry’ or ‘Automatic Dry.’ So, turn the control knob that way.
- Component failure – Inspect these components as they could be worn out and thus faulty—drum rollers, drum glide, drum bearing, or dryness control board. Overall, consider testing the components (you’ll need a multimeter in most cases) and replace whatever is faulty.
4. Maytag Bravos Dryer Not Drying
You expect your Bravos dryer to dry up your laundry correctly, as that’s its job. That, nevertheless, may not be the case due to one of these reasons:
- Blocked lint screen – The lint screen, which you’ll find on the dryer’s door opening or top, can block with lint, preventing it from drying. If that’s the case, you should clean the lint screen.
- Blocked exhaust – Lint can also block the exhaust vent. If so, you will also need to clean it.
- Large load – Your dryer may fail to dry the laundry if the laundry load is too large. In such a case, you’ll need to reduce the load size.
- Crushed dryer vent – If the dryer vent crushes/ collapses, it interferes with the passage of heated air, causing the dryer to fail. You’ll need to replace the crushed vent to restore the dryer drying functions.
- Wrongful dryer setting – The dryer may shut during an automatic cycle once it reaches a specific temperature. So, you may need to opt for the usual dryness.
5. Maytag Bravos Dryer Is Overheating
The Maytag Bravos dryer shouldn’t overheat. If it does, then it could be because of any of these reasons:
- Faulty heating element – Sometimes, a defective heating element may allow the dryer to heat up, but sadly it may overheat, requiring a replacement.
- Bad cycling thermostat – A faulty cycling thermostat fails to regulate the dryer’s temperature, causing an overheat. You’ll need to replace it.
- Defective blower wheel – The blower wheel helps to keep the dryer cool. If it’s faulty, the dryer will overheat. So, try rotating it; if it doesn’t turn, replace it.
- Damaged felt seal – The felt seal which prevents heat escape from the dryer drum may cause the dryer to overheat if faulty. If so, get a replacement.
- Dryer clogging – If the dryer vent is dirt clogged, there won’t be adequate air circulation, making it easy for the dryer to overheat. So, inspect the dryer vent for blocking and clean it, possibly with a dry vent cleaner.
6. Maytag Bravos Dryer Squealing
Lastly, your Maytag Bravos may produce a squealing sound due to any of these reasons:
- Frayed/worn-out drive belt – The belt wears over time and may produce a squealing sound. If that happens, replace it.
- Worn-out drum bearing – Worn-out bearings may produce a squealing or grinding sound. You’ll need to scrutinize it for wear and replace it.
- Worn-out slides – Worn-out slides/glides will; squeal when the drum rotates. So, you’ll also need to replace them when they do.
- Worn-out idler pulley – While the idler pulley’s job is to protect the drive belt from slipping, it’ll produce a squealing sound when it wears out, requiring a replacement.
People Also Ask
1. But How Do I Reset My Maytag Bravos Dryer?
You can reset your Maytag Bravos dryer by unplugging it from the power outlet for about 1 minute. If the error code doesn’t clear after you plug the dryer back in, consider pressing the power/cancel twice and selecting a newer cycle. Lastly, press START to kick start the reset.
2. Why Is My Maytag Dryer Not Drying Properly?
If your Maytag dryer is not drying properly, the chances are that the lint screen or vents are lint-obstructed. So, you’ll need to clean them. If that’s not it, the reason could be a large load, wrong setting, or crushed vent.
3. Why Is My Maytag Bravos Dryer Not Starting?
Your Maytag Bravos Dryer is not starting because the electric outlet power cord or start switch is faulty or the thermal fuse is blown up.
Other possibilities include an activated Child Lock or the wrong setting. Also, consider a faulty drive belt, motor, door switch, main control, or timer.
Closing Remarks!
Now you have a simple Maytag Bravos dryer troubleshooting guide to fix the commonest dryer problems. You can thus turn to it whenever your dryer won’t work correctly or at all. Hopefully, the tips shared will enable you to fix it.
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