Here are your parts
Parts for Maytag MED5870TW0 Dryer - AppliancePartsPros.comSee the attachment for the wiring diagram.
[COLOR="Blue"]I took off the back but can't find the thermal fuse(s)!?.[/COLOR]
I lso cannot find a thermal fuse in the parts.
Looks like that show it as part of the wiring harness (item 31 in section 02).
It is usually on the blower housing.
If not there then look for the two blue wires that go to it.
The thermal cutoff (also a fuse) in on the heater case (item 9 in section 03). This one kills power to the heater.
[COLOR="Blue"][COLOR="Blue"]Door switch clicks so I think is good.[/COLOR][/COLOR]
You cannot assume that a switch is OK just because it clicks.
[COLOR="Blue"][COLOR="Blue"]Start button feels funny however so my gut is it's that but it has 4(four) wires to it. Not 2.!?. A plug with 3 wires and a single black wire. How can that be tested??[/COLOR][/COLOR]
The reason for the 4 wires is that it is actually a relay.
Though I am not sure about the wire colors I think the blue to black/blue are the contacts.
Measuring across the contacts should drop to 0 ohms when you push the start button.
The way it works is you manually push the contacts so they close. The motor starts, the relay coil is energized which holds the contacts closed so you can release the start button and the unit continues to run.
If you do not own a meter, I would suggest you purchase a one. You can get a decent digital multimeter for under $20.00. You do not need fancy though it is nice if the leads are a couple feet long.
If it saves ordering one unnecessary part it has paid for itself and you end up owning a useful tool.
Most places will not let you return electrical parts so if you order it, you own it.
A couple things to watch when measuring ohms and continuity
1. Always remove power from the machine otherwise you could blow your meter.
2. Always disconnect at least one side of any device you are checking. This eliminates the possibility of measuring an alternate/parallel circuit path.
3. When checking for closed contacts and continuity use the lowest scale (Usually 200 ohms). Then try higher scales. This scale is 0 to 200 ohms so if the device you are measuring is 300 ohms this scale would show an open circuit which it is not, you are just measuring outside the scale's dynamic range.
4. When you start always short the meter leads together. This will tell you that the meter is working and if there is any 0 offset.
There is a good STICKY at the start of this forum about it's use.
