So, I know there are some appliance repair people on here, plus the normal wealth of the Borg knowledge that is GRM readership. We've got a 10 year old LG dlg2102w gas dryer. I recall just out of warranty, like literally a few days, the genitor failed and I remember having to just about take the whole damn thing apart to replace it. Anyway, it's been fine for years until it stopped drying the other day. A quick internet search suggested the door close micro switch is the most common issue, so I just ordered one without thinking it through. I Just fitted it, and of course no joy. Thinking further, I should have realized the switch wasn't the issue. When you press the power button it wakes up, but you can't select anything with the rotary switch, so the issue is probably upstream of the door switch. Other common fixes google and youtube tell me are the thermal fuse, the reset button etc, but those are all fixes for, and diagnosed by no heat, not by a rotary switch not responding or refusing to even try and start. Anything to check and look for? of do I just need to pay for a new control board, which I'm beginning to think may not be available based on current googling.
Pic below for reference. See the segments illuminated by around the switch showing the settings? When you turn it, all lights but one should go out indicating the setting. Spin that and nothings happens, all lights stay lit.
My guess is that a new control board will cost more than buying a used dryer, and at 10 years old I'd be afraid of what will go next. Without really knowing those specific LGs, sure seems like a glitch in the matrix. Something came unsoldered, a capacitor went belly up, or something became corroded is my guess. It's one of the reasons I actually prefer the older ones with mechanical buttons and dials.
Appliances are so sketchy these days. It seems like they fail in a few years and parts are NLA at about the same time. I had an old-school Maytag set in avocado green with the tan buttons like you used to have on an AM radio for presets. Probably from the mid 70s. They lasted until last year. The drum in the washer finally rusted so bad that it fell apart during a spin cycle, and the dryer's heat coil died. Both things could have been fixed, but I didn't want to when good used sets were plentiful and cheap. The best part about those old ones was that parts were pretty universal. Broken belt? Take the old one to FLAPS and get an alternator belt. Switch dies? take it apart and clean the contacts, or install a generic toggle switch. I replaced the cycle buttons on the washer with a scavenged Hi/Med/Lo/Off switch from an oscillating fan and some crimp connectors. Duct tape was definitely involved.
None of my rambling solves your issue though. I might suggest a long shot. Look up the part number for the control board and see if it tells you "fits dryer model numbers...." Then see if you can find a used dryer in one of those model numbers. Tear apart your old one to keep parts in case the replacement decides to die.
Have you looked at the back of the switch to see if it's a contact or board there?
In reply to Steve_Jones :
Switch looks ok from back. Also cleaned the contacts on the connector and added dielectric.
I'm not familiar with them, but have you tried unplugging it and plugging it back in? To be serious, we frequently come across electronics that just need to be reset. A power cycle frequently fixes them.
Go buy a different dryer. LG is trash. 15yr appliance tech veteran.
In reply to Buck Futter :
THanks. Who do you recomend?
In before Speedqueen recommendation.
I just buy my washer and driers from the local scratch and dent. 900 bucks for a set of Maytag "professional" units with a few small scuffs and a dent I was able to push out by hand with minor disassembly. Do 2-3 loads a week, nothing too fierce. When one dies I will just sell whichever one doesnt die on the local trader and go get another set. Not worth the hassle to do anything else unless its easy. Normally I wouldnt care about matchy matchy but you see these units promiently in my nice finished basement and I want them to look nice.
