What you are actually seeing
- Every cycle now takes twice as long
- Timed cycles are fine and automatic ones are not
- The cycle stops and the machine will not restart until it cools
- The cycle ends in minutes with wet clothes
- Not this fault: A cycle that will not start at all
Ranked causes on a Contoure dryer
- Vent run restricted — Ranked here because: a coach installation is tighter than any domestic one and the venting and clearance shortcuts taken during the build show up as faults later
- Moisture sensor bars coated or misreading — Ranked here because: an RV vent run is short, tightly bent and easy to crush behind the appliance
- Thermal cut-out opening on overheat — Ranked here because: the temperature control is a discrete part with a decisive test rather than a judgement call
- Load too large to tumble — Ranked here because: coach appliances are used intermittently and stored for months, which produces its own fault pattern
- Lint filter blocked or filmed — Ranked here because: a restriction builds gradually, so performance falls off long before anything stops
- Cycling thermostat out of range — Ranked here because: this is a wear part with a service life rather than a component that fails at random
What to check, and in what order
- Feel the airflow at the outside vent hood while the machine runs
- Disconnect and clean the whole vent run from the machine to the outside
- Dry a half-size load and compare the outcome
- Run the same load on a timed cycle and compare with an automatic one
Steps you can safely do yourself
- Dry a half-size load and compare the outcome — Tools: none — Estimated time: one full cycle
- Run the same load on a timed cycle and compare with an automatic one — Tools: none — Estimated time: two full cycles
- Wipe the moisture sensor bars in the drum with rubbing alcohol — Tools: cloth, rubbing alcohol — Estimated time: about ten minutes
- Pour water onto the lint filter and check it passes straight through — Tools: none — Estimated time: a few minutes
- Feel the airflow at the outside vent hood while the machine runs — Tools: none — Estimated time: a few minutes
Safety
Safety
unplug-before-service branch-circuit-15-20a
When to call a technician
a thermal fuse has blown, since the restriction that blew it must be found first the machine overheats with a clean filter and a clear vent a timed cycle also fails to advance, which points at the timer or the control
Nearest pages
What this page does not cover
Not this fault: the family pages for the refrigeration, cooking and laundry lines Not this fault: model-specific pages once the model and serial label is read
Links: - [Common CONTOURE Dryer Problems](/blog/contoure-dryer-problems) - [Common Contoure Microwave Problems](/blog/contoure-microwave-problems) - [Common CONTOURE Refrigerator Problems](/blog/contoure-refrigerator-problems) - [CONTOURE Dryer: Abnormal Noise or Vibration](/blog/contoure-dryer-abnormal-noise)
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
