The short answer
On a Gorenje dryer, a new noise is most often a drum support roller or an idler pulley rather than the motor: those parts carry the whole drum and they are the ones that wear. A metallic rattle that changes with cycle speed is usually a coin or a button in the blower housing, which costs nothing to fix. A true motor fault is the least likely cause on this list. European cycle logic runs longer and gentler than American logic, so the machine tolerates a partial fault for weeks before it shows you an obvious symptom.
What you actually observe
- A metallic rattle that follows the blower rather than the drum — A coin or button in the blower housing.
- A grating that you can feel turning the drum by hand — Rollers or the rear drum bearing.
- A continuous squeal that rises when the drum is loaded — An idler pulley or a drum roller under load.
- NEAR MISS: the machine hums but the drum does not turn — That is a broken belt or a seized part and belongs on the page for a dryer that will not start.
The causes, most likely first on this brand
- A coin, button or hairpin in the blower housing — Small objects pass the lint filter, reach the blower wheel and rattle against the housing whenever the blower turns, which is the whole cycle. Ranked first on a Gorenje dryer: European cycle logic is long and gentle, so a partial fault is tolerated for weeks and only the end of it is visible.
- Worn drum support rollers — These rollers carry the whole weight of the drum and its load, and once the bearing surfaces flatten they squeal, then grind, then rumble. Ranked second on a Gorenje dryer: the machine is designed to work around a problem rather than stop, so by the time you see a symptom the cause has been there a while.
- A worn belt or idler pulley — A frayed belt slaps as it comes round, and a dry idler pulley squeals continuously in a way that rises when the drum is loaded. Ranked third on a Gorenje dryer: it ranks here because the causes above it are cheaper to eliminate, not because it is unlikely.
Check in this order, and why this order
- Listen for a metallic rattle that rises and falls with the blower — A rattle tied to airflow rather than to drum rotation is almost always the blower housing.
- Turn the drum by hand with the machine unplugged — A drum that grates or feels uneven turning by hand has a roller or rear bearing problem.
- Listen for a rhythmic thump that repeats with each drum rotation — That timing is the signature of a belt fault rather than a bearing.
What an owner can safely check
- Check every pocket and the lint trap housing before opening anything — Objects that reach the blower usually pass through the lint trap slot, so look there first.
Tools: torchAbout 15 min
- Unplug the machine, empty the drum and turn it slowly by hand — Listen for a grating that repeats at the same point in each rotation.
About 10 min
- STOP HERE once the drum turns freely and the noise persists under power — Testing a motor means opening the cabinet and working at live terminals.
Before you open anything
Safety
Unplug the dryer or switch off its breaker before opening any panel or reaching into the lint trap housing — the blower wheel has sharp edges and the motor starts without warning. On a gas dryer, shut off the gas at the appliance valve before moving the machine, and if you smell gas: do not switch anything on or off, leave the building, and call the gas utility or emergency services from outside.
When to call a technician
Call once the pockets are empty, the machine stands firm and the drum turns freely by hand, and the noise is still there — rollers, belts and motors all live behind the cabinet and most need the drum out to reach. Call at once for a burning smell, a smell of hot rubber, or any noise that arrives together with the machine running hot.
Nearest pages of this class
What this page does not cover
This page covers the Gorenje dryer as a class, not one family or model line. Part numbers, wiring colours, torque figures and panel fixings differ from build to build and are deliberately not here. Where a family- or model-specific page exists for your unit, that page is the more specific answer and should be read first.
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
