Whirlpool WED87HED Dryer Door Switch Testing and Replacement

ID: 160336

Description: Use this guide to replace the door switch on...

Steps:

1. Before you begin your repair, unplug your dryer.
2. Your power cord may have four prongs rather than three. The additional prong is a ground connection.

3. Throughout this guide, keep track of each screw and reinstall it exactly where it came from.
4. Use a 5/16 inch nut driver to remove the two 15.7 mm-long screws securing the top panel to the rear panel bracket.

5. Grasp the top and slide it 1/2 to 1 inch toward the rear of the machine.

6. Lift the top panel upward to separate it from the chassis.
7. Remove the top panel from the machine.

8. Disconnect the control panel cable from the main board.

9. Disconnect the drum light connector.

10. Use a 1/4 inch nut driver to remove the two 16.3 mm‑long sheet metal screws located at each end of the control panel.

11. Lift the control panel up and tilt it away from the chassis to remove it.
12. Make sure to thread the cable through the hole in the chassis.
13. During reassembly, thread the cable through its proper hole before reinstalling the control panel.

14. Use a small flat blade screwdriver or a spudger to unlatch both sides of the door switch connector.
15. Unplug the connector.

16. Use a 1/4 inch nut driver to remove the three upper front panel 16.4 mm-long sheet metal screws.
17. Tilt the machine backwards and prop it securely, or have a friend hold it.
18. Use a 1/4 inch nut driver to remove the four sheet metal screws on the bottom edge of the panel:
19. Two 16.4 mm screws
20. Two 13 mm screws

21. Use a Phillips driver to remove the two 15.8 mm‑long screws inside the door area below the drum opening.

22. The panel is heavy and awkward. You may want to have a friend help you with this step.
23. Pull the bottom of the panel away from the chassis about two to three inches.
24. Lift the front panel off the small tabs on the chassis near the top of the panel and remove it.
25. Make sure you don't snag the door switch wire harness as you remove the panel.

26. Use slip joint pliers to pinch the tabs of the harness clip.
27. Push the clip through the mounting hole to release the door switch harness.

28. Working from the rear of the front panel, pinch the tabs on the end of the switch toward the switch body to release it.
29. The tabs are kind of quirky. They need to be pushed in a diagonal direction to release them. When they do release, you will know it.
30. Push the switch through the mounting hole toward the front of the panel.

31. Feed the harness through the mounting hole to remove the switch.
32. The second photo shows the switch removed so you can see the mounting flange. This flange is on the front of the switch and faces the dryer door.

33. This step shows how to test the switch, which will require a multimeter. If you aren't familiar with how to use one, here is a guide that will help you.
34. Insert the multimeter's probes into the two outermost sockets on the switch connector and test continuity and open on the door switch.
35. When the button on the switch is not pushed, the meter should indicate OL.
36. When the button is pushed with the probes in the same place, the meter should read less than 1 Ω.
37. If either of these readings is wrong, especially with the button pressed, replace the switch.