Though rare, sometimes the LG dryer won’t turn off unless door is open. That obviously points to a malfunction you must uncover and fix, as you expect the dryer to go off when the cycle completes.
Often, an LG dryer won’t turn off unless you open the door because of a software glitch, active Wrinkle Care, jammed start switch, stuck or short-circuited motor relay, or a defective door switch, thermostat, timer, or control board.
Sometimes all it takes to fix the dryer is a hard reset – in case the issue is a software glitch. But as you’ll learn, some problems are too technical and often involve a part replacement.
I’ll take you through all those issues and their fixes to enable you to know how to act to get your dryer back working correctly. We’ll also look at a few related problems, such as a dryer that won’t turn on despite having power or an option that won’t start despite turning on.
Let’s dive in!
In a hurry? Check out the issues behind an LG dryer that won’t stop running unless door is open, plus their fixes.
LG Dryer Won’t Shut Off Unless Door Is Open – Quick Troubleshooting Guide
| Likely Cause | Fix | |
| 1. | Software Glitch | Hard reset the dryer |
| 2. | Active Wrinkle Care | Turn off Wrinkle Care |
| 3. | Jammed Start Button | Release the jammed button or replace it |
| 4. | Stuck Or Short-Circuited Motor Relay | Tap to disengage a stuck motor relay and replace it if it’s short-circuited |
| 5. | Defective Door Switch | Replace the door switch if it has no continuity |
| 6. | Malfunctioning Thermostat | Replace the thermostat if it has no continuity |
| 7. | Faulty Timer | Replace the timer if it has no continuity |
| 8. | Dead Control Board | Replace the control board or dryer as the last resort |
Why Your LG Dryer Won’t Turn Off Unless Door Is Open
Generally, there are at least eight issues to look at when your LG dryer doesn’t turn off after completing the cycle until you open its door. Those issues are as follows:
1. Software Glitch
All electronics can suffer a software glitch, and a dryer is no exception. All it takes is to reset the dryer.
Fix
Consider hard-resetting the dryer, and here’s how to hard-reset an LG dryer:
Option 1
- Press power and then unplug it
- Press Start/Pause for at least 5 seconds
- Reconnect the dryer and turn it on
Option 2
- Flip the power breaker off and then unplug the dryer
- Press Power/Start for at least 5 seconds
- Press Play/Pause for another 5 seconds
- Plug the dryer back in and flip the power breaker back on
2. Active Wrinkle Care
Wrinkle Care is an anti-wrinkle feature on an LG dryer that aims to protect the clothes from wrinkling. After the dryer completes its normal cycle, it allows the drum to continue tumbling without heat.
The tumbling can take up to 180 minutes, which means your dryer may not turn off for 3 hours unless you open the door or deactivate the setting.
Fix
Turn off Wrinkle Care.
3. Jammed Start Switch
Sometimes the start button gets stuck, which means it relays power to the motor even after the cycle ends. If so, the dryer won’t turn off until the start button is free.
Fix
Try jostling the start switch around to free it. If it’s broken, replace it.
4. Stuck or Short-Circuited Motor Relay
If the control board’s relay is stuck ON or short-circuited, it’ll ignore the control board’s signal, and as a result, the dryer will continue running even after the cycle ends. So, it’s essential to inspect it for faults.
Fix
Unplug the dryer and take out the control panel to access the motor relay. If the relay is stuck ON, try to tap it to disengage it. However, replace the motor relay or the control board if there are burn signs.
5. Defective Door Switch
If the dryer door is defective, the dryer may get the wrong signal and continue running. In most cases, a faulty door switch stops the dryer from starting, but in some cases, it may prevent it from turning off.
Fix
Consider testing the door switch with a multimeter. If it has continuity, that shows it’s ok. However, if it doesn’t, that shows it’s defective and thus needs a replacement.
6. Malfunctioning Thermostat
If the thermostat, especially the cycling thermostat, is not working correctly, it’ll confuse the motor, and the dryer may continue running after the cycle completes.
Fix
Check the cycling thermostat using a multimeter. If it has no continuity, replace it.
7. Faulty Timer
A faulty timer can also send the wrong signal, forcing the dryer to continue running even after the cycle ends. The dryer only realizes the process has ended when you open the door.
Fix
Also, check with a multimeter if the timer has continuity. If it doesn’t, replace it.
8. Dead Control Board
Lastly, it could be that your dryer won’t stop running because the control board is short-circuited. Though this is the least likely reason, it could happen, especially when you rule out all the other seven.
Fix
Consider replacing the control board or getting another dryer.
LG Dryer Won’t Turn On But Light Works
Though you expect your LG dryer to turn on when it lights up, sometimes it won’t. If so, you should try resetting it, but call the repair service if it doesn’t turn on. However, if the light is off, you can look for a possible loose connection or tripped breaker.
LG Dryer Will Turn On But Not Start
You also expect your LG dryer to start running once it turns on. That, however, is never a given, as the appliance sometimes won’t.
If your LG dryer turns on but won’t start, it could be due to Child Lock. So, check if this safety feature is on and hold it briefly to disable it.
If it’s not Child Lock, it could be an error code stopping your dryer from starting. The error code could indicate a power failure (code PF) or an electrical wiring fault (code nP).
In those cases, consider hard resetting the dryer.
LG Dryer Won’t Stop Spinning Unless Door Is Open
If your LG dryer doesn’t stop spinning unless you open the door, the reason could be any of the ones I shared earlier. They include:
- An electrical glitch – which calls for a hard reset
- Wrinkle Care – which you should turn off
- Jammed start switch – which you should release
- Stuck or short-circuited motor relay – which often calls for a motor relay or control board replacement
- Defective timer, thermostat, or door switch – which you should replace
- Dead control board – which also calls for a replacement or getting a new dryer
People Also Ask
1. Why Won’t My LG Dryer Stop Running?
There are different reasons why your LG dryer won’t stop running. It could be an electronic or software glitch, which you can fix by hard resetting the dryer, or active Wrinkle Care, which you should turn off.
If that’s not it, the issue could be a stuck start button, a failed motor relay, a defective door switch, or a dead control board.
2. Why Won’t My Dryer Shut Off When I Close the Door?
Your dryer won’t shut off when you close the door because the switch is likely defective. You can confirm if that’s the case using a multimeter. If the button has no continuity, then that proves it’s faulty.
3. How Do You Reset an LG Dryer That Won’t Turn Off?
You can hard reset an LG dryer that won’t turn off using these steps:
- Turn off the dryer and pull it out of the power socket
- Press Start/Pause for about 5 seconds
- Then reconnect the dryer and turn it on
4. Why Is My Dryer Running Continuously?
Your dryer runs non-stop even after completing the cycle because the timer, door switch, or thermostat is malfunctioning or the control board is dead. It could also be that the dryer vent and lint screen are clogged. However, before you can do any repair, consider hard resetting the dryer.
5. Do All Dryers Stop When You Open the Door?
Dryers automatically turn off when you open the door to indicate the completion of a cycle. Sometimes, however, the dryer won’t stop after opening the door, showing a malfunction. In that case, call the local dryer expert.
Closing Remarks
Now you know the eight issues to check when your LG Dryer Won’t Turn Off Unless Door Is Open. The fix starts with a hard reset, which could fix the issue if it’s a software glitch. Then you’ve to turn off Wrinkle Care if it’s active and release the start button if it’s jammed.
The other issues involve a replacement – that includes a short-circuited motor relay or defective timer, thermostat, door switch, or control board. And if you still can’t fix it, talk to a dryer expert, call LG, or buy a new dryer.
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