How to Fix the Electronic Control Board on a Dryer When Its Display Is Not Working

When your dryer’s display isn’t working, it could be an issue with its control board. The control board is a crucial component of your dryer that serves as its brain, controlling and managing its core functions like heating, timing, and cycling operations. If there are any issues with it, it can affect those core functions, like the display on your dryer’s console, and your ability to use the display’s features. An issue with your dryer’s control board can also lead to other problems, such as incorrect temperature readings from the thermostats or a faulty timer, which can result in improper drying or even a potential fire hazard. The control board repair is not a difficult one in terms of skill, but it can be expensive due to the complex and technologically advanced control boards found in modern dryers these days.

So, we’ll help you be certain that the control board really is the part that needs replacing, and hopefully eliminate it from your shopping list if it is not. We have an expert-curated guide with videos and 3D renderings to help you figure out if the control board is the root of your display/console issues on your appliance, and get your dryer working again as soon as possible.

What is an Electronic Control Board?

An electronic control board controls most functions in your dryer, sending signals on important things such as when to start a cycle, how hot the heating element should be, and more.

Where is the Electronic Control Board Located?

The control board will likely be connected to the user interface panel or display on your dryer and will likely be enclosed in a plastic shell inside that panel. Refer to the 3D diagram below for further assistance, or your user manual for the specific location on your model.

General Location of the Electronic Control Board in a Dryer

How To Access, Remove, and Inspect the Electronic Control Board in a Dryer

1. You may have to remove the lint screen on your dryer before starting, depending on your model.
2. Locate the user interface and display panel on your dryer and identify the general assembly of your dryer, so you can best access its interior. This can be done by using a putty-knife and the appropriate screwdrivers/wrenches to disconnect the necessary parts of the assembly, such as the top.
3. Once you’ve gained access to the interior of the user interface panel, you now need to identify not only where your control board is, but also how it’s assembled within the machine. Normally this involves unscrewing a plastic housing from the machine and disconnecting a series of cables or wires that are connected to the control board.
4. Once you’ve done this, you can safely remove your control board from the machine.
5. Unfortunately, the control board and its circuitry do not lend themselves to diagnosis by observing damage or finding visual hints. But if the control board displays any error codes or indicator lights, refer to your dryer’s user manual to find out what they mean.
6. In the case that your dryer does not have either of those means of indication, it will need to be inspected by a factory service technician.

How to Test an Electronic Control Board

1. You will need the wiring diagram for your specific dryer to determine which connections on the control board you will need to test.
2. Use the multimeter to test for continuity between the various connections on the control board. If there is no continuity, then there is a problem with the control board, and it will need to be replaced.
3. You can also test whether the correct voltage is being supplied using your multimeter. You will need to set the multimeter to measure AC voltage and test the appropriate connections on the control board. If the reading is not correct, you will need to replace the board.

FIX TIP

Diagnosing the electronic parts in your dryer is a process that often requires specific equipment and wiring diagrams. In the case of the control board, which may not give you visual hints that it is damaged, you can be more sure it is the culprit by following a process of elimination with the other parts that could be at fault. Before determining that the control board is the culprit, you should conduct tests on the power cord and the terminal block within the circuit.

How to Install a New Electronic Control Board

1. Install the new control board by putting it into place where the old one was housed and reconnect any necessary cables/wires into the new board.
2. Secure the control board and reattach the other previously disconnected parts within your dryer.
3. Once the dryer is reassembled, make sure to test out the control board before starting any actual loads. Your repair is now complete!

Next: Troubleshooting the Terminal Block

Go To Main Page: No Display On Control Board