Lint Switch Switch

 If you have a dryer where the lint switch error keeps popping up even though the lint drawer is closed you might have a broken lint drawer switch.
There are lots of different types of lint drawer switches.
Some are magnetic and the outside front cover of the lint drawer makes a connection and shuts the switch allowing the dryer to start. A lot of lint switches are a push buttons that get pushed inside their holder when the lint drawer is slid inside the cabinet and a diagonal piece of metal or plastic attached to the lint drawer pushes the button in to start the dryer. In the example posted here the lint switch is a metal strip that when pushed backwards closes a button switch and that allows the dryer to start.

How do you change these switches?
Lets show the metal strip version commonly found on ADC and Maytag dryers:

On the screen you will see a rotating message saying something akin to "Lint Access Open."

This what this kind of switch looks like. It is usually attached to the side of the lint drawer about 6-8 inches from the front of the lint drawer. Sometimes it is in the back of the lint drawer and you access it via the back panel of the dryer cabinet.
It is a metal strip attached to a button switch and when the strip is pushed backwards by the lint drawer it presses the button and closes the circuit. The switch has a positive and negative lead.

This what the switch looks like when it is installed.
Below are pictures of a new switch and a broken switch.

To change the switch:
1. take out the lint drawer
2. wipe off any lint from the sides of the walls where the lint drawer is kept and locate two screws/bolts  like these.
They are usually phillips head bolts but not always

3. locate the bolts and nuts on the opposite side of the lint drawer that are holding the switch assembly in place
(see bolt coming through panel in foreground with no nut on it in the picture above)

4. use a screwdriver and or pliers (or both) to remove the nuts and get the protective panel off of the switch the whole assembly should come loose

5. remove the positive and negative leads from the upper and lower blade connection of the switch

6. use a screwdriver and or pliers (or both) to remove the nuts and get the protective panel off of the switch

7.  unfasten the screws until the switch comes out (it doesn't take much)

8. install new switch inside protective switch cover and reverse the process described above. Make sure the switch is installed so when the lint drawer is closed the metal strip pushes the button and closes the circuit allowing the dryer to start

9. tighten nuts and/or any screws to fasten the switch cover back to the lint drawer

10. re-install lint drawer and test

Once you do this repair once it should only take you about 15 minutes to do it the next time.

Ev

A Heck of A Nice Guy