Your dryer has just signaled that most of your laundry load is dry, but for some reason, it still won’t stop spinning — why? Well, we’re here to help you figure that out!
There are plenty of technical issues contributing to a dryer that doesn’t turn off on command. But don’t worry, not all of them will involve tools.
From drying setting issues to a problem with your motor control board, this article will provide you with an extensive guide on how you can fix a Samsung dryer that won’t turn off.
Why is your Samsung dryer not turning off?
A Samsung dryer won’t turn off if there’s an issue with the motor relay on its control board. This includes a stuck Start button or a damaged timing device.
Before troubleshooting the control board, ensure the Wrinkle Prevent setting is off and that the dryer’s moisture sensors are free of residue.
When your dryer is on Wrinkle Prevent mode, it’ll continue to spin the clothes inside intermittently and without heat after your drying cycle has finished. It will only stop once you open the door.
Meanwhile, if your moisture sensors have residue left on them, the dryer can misread the moisture levels inside the drum. This can lead to overdrying or under-drying.
Before we head on to more technical solutions, make sure the two factors mentioned above are cleared. If the problem persists afterward, keep reading for more troubleshooting options.
Common Causes of a Samsung Dryer Not Turning Off
Leaving your dryer on Wrinkle Prevent mode or forgetting to clean out the moisture sensors after a couple of cycles are two of the easiest solutions you can consider.
But if the issue persists, that usually means that these two can be part of a bigger problem.
From a faulty door switch to a motor relay error, we’ve listed all possible reasons that might be causing your dryer not to turn off. These are going to be technical, so don’t hesitate to call a professional for assistance at any point.
More importantly, remember to unplug your dryer before trying out any of the troubleshooting methods below.
| Cause | Solution |
| Wrinkle Prevent Activated | Turn off the Wrinkle Prevent setting on the dryer’s control board. You can also stop this setting by opening the dryer door and restarting the appliance. |
| Clogged or Faulty Moisture Sensor | Wipe the moisture sensor down with mild soap and water. Towel dry it twice before starting another cycle. If you suspect any damage to or wear down from the moisture sensor, replace it. |
| Faulty Door Switch | Check for any loose or damaged wiring in the dryer’s door switch assembly. Reconnect or replace any loose or damaged wires. |
| Dryer Timer Failure | Locate the timer behind the dryer’s control panel. Check for any loose or damaged wirings around the timer. Also, inspect for visible damage on the timer. If there is none, proceed to troubleshoot other parts of the dryer first. If you spot any physical damage to the timer, replace it. The dryer’s timer model should be written on the timer itself. Otherwise, refer to your manual for your dryer’s model number. |
| Damaged Printed Circuit Board (PCB) | If your dryer doesn’t have a timer, inspect its PCB. Check for any loose or damaged wirings, signs of burning, or shoring out. Replace it if necessary. |
| Start Button Malfunction | Hold the Start button down to check if it’s stuck or damaged. If it’s stuck, you need to replace the control panel. Alternatively, you can also check the wirings in the control panel for any damage to the Start switch. |
| Motor Relay Failure | Locate the motor relay on the dryer’s control board. Check for any signs of burning, shorting out, or melting. Replacing just the motor relay is possible, however, we recommend replacing the entire control board for preventive measure. |
| Clogged Blower Wheel | Locate the blower wheel under the dryer’s drum. Check for any dust or lint buildup in the wheel and clean it with water if necessary. Turn the blower wheel by hand to check if it wobbles in place. If it does, replace it. |
We’ll elaborate more about why these issues take place and the precautions you need to remember when troubleshooting them, so make sure to keep on reading.
Wrinkle Prevent Activated
Wrinkle Prevent is one of your Samsung dryer’s special settings. It’s designed to ensure that your clothes won’t wrinkle after drying, hence it continues to tumble clothes inside the drum long after they’re dry.
Wrinkle Prevent isn’t part of your drying cycle. If this setting is activated, the dryer will automatically proceed into this mode only when your initial drying cycle is finished.
On some dryer models, Wrinkle Prevent is also known as Wrinkle Release.
Solution: Check if Wrinkle Prevent is activated on the control panel display screen. On some models, the Wrinkle Prevent mode is represented as a scrolling rectangle symbol.
Opening the dryer door will stop the Wrinkle Prevent cycle automatically. For good measure, we recommend restarting your dryer to ensure that Wrinkle Prevent will be deactivated.
Clogged or Faulty Moisture Sensor
Your dryer can determine whether the clothes within a load are already dry by measuring the moisture level inside the drum.
In some settings, your dryer will adjust the drying time based on its estimate of the moisture level.
It does this using a set of metal bars near the door assembly, next to the lint filter — they’re called the moisture sensor.
When these metal bars are damaged or faulty, they can misread the moisture level and signal the dryer to stop even when clothes are still wet or vice versa.
While moisture residue is a common cause of a faulty moisture sensor, a damaged moisture sensor is a rare and isolated case. Before replacing the dryer’s moisture sensors, troubleshoot other parts first.
Solution: Wipe down the moisture sensor with a soft cloth with water and mild soap. Towel dry the area twice before starting a cycle.
We recommend cleaning the moisture sensor after every cycle to get rid of moisture residue from your previous drying cycles.
To test for damages to the moisture sensor, run a cycle on Manual Dry. If the dryer stops on time, there might be an issue with the moisture sensor.
Faulty Door Switch
The dryer’s door switch assembly is the first and last stop of your dryer’s safety measures. It sends and receives signals that tell the dryer when to open or close the door.
When this part is faulty, it can read misread or send incorrect signals, leading to a dC error code, or a door that won’t close or open even if the cycle has already ended.
Additionally, the door switch assembly is more likely to get damaged than the dryer’s moisture sensor or timer. Before replacing either of those, check for wiring issues on the door switch first.
Solution: Check for any loose or damaged wiring on the door switch assembly. You can get access to this by removing the dryer’s control panel.
Reconnect or replace any loose or damaged wires. If the door switch itself is damaged, replace it.
Dryer Timer Failure
Some dryer models use a mechanical timer to regulate timed cycles. Like most parts of the dryer, this can also get worn down over time.
A mechanical timer rotates on a timed cycle until it reaches the off switch on the control panel, signalling your dryer to stop the cycle. When the timer motor gets damaged, it won’t rotate properly.
However, like with your dryer’s moisture sensor, you should check for damages to the door switch assembly first before replacing the mechanical timer.
The timer is located behind the dryer’s control panel.
Solution: On the dryer’s control panel, check for any loose or damaged wirings connecting to the timer motor.
If there’s any damage to the timer, replace it. You can refer to your dryer manual for your dryer’s model number — that would determine what model of timer you’ll need for replacement.
Damaged Printed Circuit Board (PCB)
Electric dryers use a printed circuit board (PCB) instead of a mechanical timer.
The PCB works as a mechanical timer would, except it sends electric signals to the control panel instead of rotating a mechanical timer until the off switch is triggered.
As such, the PCB is more susceptible to damage like burning, shorting out, or loose connections.
Before troubleshooting the PCB, keep in mind that it’s filled with several wirings. We recommend taking a photo of this first before inspecting the wirings one by one so that you’ll have a visual guide to follow when you put the wires back.
Solution: Access the PCB on the dryer’s control panel and inspect it for any loose or damaged wirings, as well as burning or shorting out on the circuit.
If there’s burning on the PCB, replace it immediately. Refer to your dryer’s model number for the appropriate PCB model to purchase.
Start Button Malfunction
On older dryer models, the Start button might get stuck and continuously push on the motor relay, signalling the dryer to perform a drying cycle for as long as the door is closed.
New electric dryer models rarely face this issue, as the Start button motor relay is found on the dryer’s PCB. If your dryer has a PCB and you suspect that the Start button motor relay is damaged, have the entire PCB replaced.
Otherwise, if you have an older dryer model, you can proceed to troubleshoot the Start button motor.
Solution: Hold the Start button down to check if it’s stuck or damaged.
If damaged, you only have to replace the Start button itself. If it’s stuck and won’t budge, you need to replace the entire control panel.
Check also for any loose or damaged wirings to the Start switch on the dryer’s control panel.
Motor Relay Failure
Similar to a stuck Start button, the dryer’s motor relay can be stuck on the ON setting as well. When this happens, your dryer will keep starting a cycle as soon as the door is closed and will continue on that cycle until the door is opened.
In some cases, the dryer will continue to spin as long as it’s still plugged in and even if it’s already powered off.
Solution: Locate the motor relay on the dryer’s control board. This is usually found in the lower right corner.
Check for any signs of burning or black marks, shorting out, or melting. If you find any signs, replace the control board.
Clogged Blower Wheel
A clogged blower wheel restricts the airflow in your dryer. This is similar to a clogged or damaged moisture sensor, where the dryer fails to read the dryness level of your laundry load correctly.
Damage to the blower wheel, however, is usually the result of a clogged exhaust vent, lint filter, and moisture sensor that have been left uncleaned for too long.
To prevent this, we recommend regularly cleaning these components. Vent pipes or exhaust vents must be cleaned once or twice a year, while the lint filter and moisture sensor should be cleaned after every cycle.
Solution: Locate the blower wheel under the dryer’s drum and clean it with water if it’s clogged.
Turn the blower wheel by hand to check if it wobbles in place. If it does, replace it.
Unlike a Samsung dryer that won’t start, a dryer that does the opposite is usually the result of a technical error.
Although, you’ll find that they share common problems, like a special setting left unchecked or door and control board issues.
While this narrows down the parts you’ll have to check, it also means that it can get too technical.
If you’re not too handy with a toolbox, remember that calling for professional help is as good an investment in the long run as troubleshooting and replacing all these parts yourself.
