thanks for responding to my question. This evening i decided to go back and watch the dryer function while keeping it running and here is what i observed. I have my temperature setting at high heat. I turn on the dryer and the igniter begins to glow. A few seconds and it clicks and shuts down. Within about 20secs the igniter turns on again. Few seconds later, click, no glow. My temperature knob has 4 settings and by turning the settings from high to medium, the duration between igniter "On" is longer. And again an even further duration on the low temp setting. I feel that the settings are working properly however I am concerned that the length of time that the igniter is on is too short. Maybe that's what's supposed to happen. But if the igniter is on for only 3, maybe 4 secs, how can enough heat ever be generated? What is the "normal" length of time that the igniter should be on? I get the variation in time between "on" cycles for the igniter in relation to the temperature setting on the knob. I will re-connect the gas and see what happens too. I apologize if I sound skeptical but I have no prior experience on the mechanics of a dryer...but I will after I'm thru with this!!!

Gene,
I believe I have narrowed down the issue. I reassembled the entire dryer and connected the vent and the gas line. I popped open the little plug on the face of the dryer to watch the gas ignite and function. Here's what it is doing...the igniter turns on, then the gas is released...great, seems to be functioning correctly. The gas runs for a period of time then shuts off, presumably at the appropriate temperature. I continue to watch thru the plug hole and soon the dryer repeats the same process. Again, good. Now, at some point during the timing cycle, the gas does not release from the valve. The igniter continues to turn on but the gas is not released from the valve. I can get the gas to release if I stop the dryer, let it sit for a couple minutes, then restart it. When I do this the dryer functions as it should. You had mentioned the coils before. Do you still think based on my description that the coils are the culprit? Thanks in advance again for your time and helping me out.

I have been trying to get my Kenmore gas dryer back running..No heat so far. Checked the thermal fuse, ignitor, coils and they spec fine . The only issue so far is the heat sensor, I wired them together and the ignitor glowed red, but never heard the gas valve open up. Is it the gas valve? or am I missing a check on some other electrical sensor? someone mentioned the cycling thermostat to check, not sure where that is on my old kenmore/whirlpool unit. I seem to recall hearing the gas value click on prior to ignition, and not hearing that. Is it controlled by some other sensor?

Thanks.

Thanks for that piece of information. I thought that by bypassing the sensor, it would ignite the gas. Your insight that when bypassed it would not release the gas valve is appreciated. Looking forward to installing that little part and waiting for flames.

Thanks again.

Can you help me with the part numbers for this dryer? Having trouble reading those breakout diagrams. I am going to test.