Sometimes the Whirlpool Cabrio dryer lights will come up, but the appliance won’t start. In other terms, the dryer would click, beep, or say ‘sensing,’ but the Whirlpool Cabrio dryer won’t start, and you’d have to wonder why.
A whirlpool Cabrio dryer won’t start because of a power or setting issue, a start button fault, an open door, or a component failure. Some components that can fail and stop your Cabrio dryer from starting include the start button, drive belt, timer, motor, or control board.
So, there are varying angles to focus on when your Cabrio dryer doesn’t start, and I’m going to help you. We’ll discuss all five reasons, explaining the issues that could go wrong and prevent your Cabrio dryer from running.
What’s important is that you are not only able to identify the likely cause, but you are also able to fix it. Let’s jump into it!
In a hurry? Below are the five issues that can prevent your Whirlpool Cabrio dryer from starting and their quick fixes.
Why Your Whirlpool Cabrio Dryer Won’t Start (Quick Troubleshooting)
| – | Likely Cause | What to Check | Recommendation |
| 1. | Power Issue | Unplugged power cable, tripped breaker, a faulty power outlet, blown-up fuse, or extension cord | Firmly plug in the power cable, preferably into the wall socket (240v), reset the breaker if tripped, replace the fuse and power socket if faulty, and avoid the extension cord |
| 2. | Setting Issue | Control Lock, Automatic Dry, Timed Dry, or Wrinkle Reduction | Disable Control Lock, Automatic Dry, Timed Dry, or Wrinkle Reduction if any of them is active |
| 3. | Start Button Fault | The start button is improperly pressed | Firmly hold down the start button for 2-5 seconds to run the dryer |
| 4. | Open Door | The door not correctly latched, obstructive clothes, or a faulty door switch | Firmly press the door to latch it. If it won’t, look for clothes obstructions and remove them. If it still won’t shut, test the lid switch and replace it if it’s faulty |
| 5. | Component Failure | Start button, drive belt, timer, motor, or control board. Check if any are faulty | Replace any of the components if faulty |
Why Is My Whirlpool Cabrio Dryer Not Starting?
As shared earlier, a Whirlpool Cabrio dryer won’t start because of an issue involving the power supply, machine settings, the start button, the door, or components like the start button, drive belt, and timer.
Let’s talk about the five issues and how to troubleshoot them:
1. Power Issue
Without an adequate power supply, your Whirlpool Cabrio dryer won’t start. Of course, you must ensure the issue is not a power outage. If it is, you’ll have to wait unless you’ve alternative means of powering your dryer.
But if the issue is not an outage, then it could be any of these:
- Unplugged power cable – You must plug the dryer’s power cable into the power socket from the dryer to power it on and run it. So, if the cable is loose or just not plugged, then that’s the reason the dryer won’t start.
- Tripped breaker – The circuit breaker typically trips off when the Cabrio dryer overheats. That’s a precautionary measure for protecting your dryer, but since it interrupts the power supply, your dryer won’t start.
- Faulty power outlet – Whirlpool dryers work with a 240v power outlet. If that’s not the case with your wall outlet, then that’s the reason the dryer won’t start. But still, the power outlet could be defective, which you can check with a multimeter.
- Blown-up fuse – The thermal fuse may blow up during an overheating of the dryer. Once that happens, it interrupts the dryer’s power supply and prevents it from starting.
- Extension cord – In most cases, a dryer won’t power on when you plug it into the extension cord. You need to plug into the wall socket for maximum power delivery into the dryer.
Fix
Consider checking the dryer’s power cable and plug it firmly into the wall outlet (avoid the extension cord). While at it, ensure the wall socket is 240v-rated. If not, you’ll need to change it.
Check the power breaker box to see if you have a tripped breaker. If it is, reset it.
Then use a multitester/multimeter to assess the thermal fuse’s continuity. Replace the fuse if it lacks continuity.
2. Dryer Setting Issue
Your Whirlpool Cabrio dryer may fail to start because of choosing the wrong setting. That includes the following four:
- Control Lock – The control lock locks the dryer’s control panel to stop any unintentional starting of the dryer. The setting is designed to prevent kids from starting the dryer. So, if it’s active, the dryer won’t start.
- Automatic Dry – The Automatic Dry setting estimates how long the dryer needs to dry the clothes to avoid over-drying them. Once it’s ON, it may take some time for the dryer to start.
- Timed Dry – This setting performs the same job as the Auto Dry setting, only that it’s not automated. You’ve to set the timer manually, but like Auto Dry, it delays the start-up by your dryer.
- Wrinkle Reduction – The Wrinkle reduction setting, whose role is to prevent wrinkling, can prevent the dryer from starting.
Fix
Since all these settings prevent your Cabrio dryer from starting, you should disable them. Start with ‘Control Lock’ and press the ‘start’ button for at least 3 seconds. Then, cancel the other settings before trying to restart your dryer.
3. Start Button Fault
You should press the start button firmly for 2-5 seconds to start the dryer. That’s more important when dealing with heavy loads. So, you can’t just tap the button and expect the dryer to start.
Fix
Consider pressing the dryer’s start button for 2 – 5 seconds to see if the dryer will start.
4. Open Door (Whirlpool Front Load Dryer Won’t Start)
Now, if you have a front-load Cabrio dryer that won’t start, it could be because of a non-engaged door. The dryer could interpret the door as faulty even if it’s not.
The likely reasons for that are:
- Failing to shut the dryer door firmly – If you don’t close the dryer door firmly, the dryer won’t start. So, you’ve to check that.
- Obstructive/tripped clothes – If your clothes are caught between the dryer door, the dryer won’t start as the door won’t shut properly.
- Faulty door switch – Sometimes the whirlpool dryer door won’t close, not because of not firmly shutting it or trapped clothes but a defective door switch. So, you need to test its continuity with a multimeter to see if it’s faulty.
Fix
Inspect the dryer door for any trapped or obstructive clothes and remove them. Then firmly press the dryer door against you to shut it properly.
If the dryer doesn’t close, test the lid switch for continuity, as it could be faulty. If so, then you’ll have to replace it.
5. Component Failure
Lastly, if you cannot find the likely cause of your non-starting dryer, the reason could be a failed component. The dryer components to quickly examine include:
- Start button – The Whirlpool Cabrio dryer won’t start if the start switch is faulty. In that case, test its continuity with a multimeter; if it has no continuity, it’s defective.
- Drive belt – If the drive belt is broken, the Cabrio dryer may not start. Yes, the drive motor may run, but it’s likely to stop after some time. So, inspect the drive belt for breaks and cracks to determine if it’s faulty.
- Timer – The dryer’s timer could malfunction, and once it does, it prevents the dryer from starting. You can assess it with a multitester/multimeter to determine if it lacks continuity.
- Motor – If the drive belt is faulty, the dryer may or may not start. You can know if you have a failing drive motor if it won’t turn the drive belt or make a humming sound.
- Control board – Though rare, a failed main control board can stop your Cabrio dryer from starting. It could be faulty.
Fix
Consider replacing any of the five dryer components if faulty.
Whirlpool Cabrio Dryer Won’t Start But Has Power
It’s not always that a Whirlpool Cabrio dryer turns on but won’t start because of a power failure. Sometimes the dryer will get power but fail to start. That’s often the case due to these reasons:
- A tripped breaker
- Blown up fuse
- Bad door switch (that prevents the dryer door from shutting)
- Faulty belt switch (that stops the drive belt from turning)
- Defective start switch
So, you need to check the above issues and fix them accordingly.
Whirlpool Cabrio Dryer Won’t Start Just Beeps
If your Whirlpool Cabrio dryer only beeps when you press the start button, but it won’t run, the reason could be:
- An open door (the door not shutting, perhaps because it’s faulty)
- Laundry overload (excess clothes load)
- Dirty lint trap (excessively clogged)
- Shortened motor
- Malfunctioning control panel
Whirlpool Cabrio Dryer Won’t Start Just Clicks
Your Whirlpool Cabrio dryer clicks but won’t start because of the following:
- Blown up fuse that interrupts the power supply
- Defective door switch that interrupts the power supply
- Faulty door switch that prevents the door from shutting properly
- A broken drive belt that’s stopping the drum from turning
- Bad timer, motor, or control board
Whirlpool Cabrio Dryer Won’t Start Says Sensing
Often when the Whirlpool Cabrio dryer won’t start sensing, the reason is a defective moisture sensor. The sensor is unable to detect the wetness level of the clothes.
However, it’s essential to put your Cabrio dryer in diagnostic mode to determine if that’s the case. Sometimes it could be a broken belt or a bad door switch.
Whirlpool Cabrio Dryer Lights Come On But Won’t Start
Consider that you might be having a tripped breaker if your Whirlpool dryer light turns on, but the dryer won’t start. And so, reset the breaker. If the concern is not the circuit breaker, it’s probably the thermal fuse. If it’s blown up, the dryer won’t start until you replace it.
Closing Remarks
Now you know the five reasons your Whirlpool Cabrio dryer won’t start. You must consider the power supply, dryer settings, start switch, dryer door, and components like the start button, drive belt, timer, motor, and dryer board.
Among them lies why you cannot run your dryer, and it’s something you can troubleshoot.
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