Several dryer functions, including spinning, depend on a working belt, and so it should worry you if the belt of your Whirlpool Cabrio dryer fails. In such a case, you should consider a Whirlpool Cabrio dryer belt replacement, which doesn’t take much.
You can replace your Whirlpool Cabrio dryer belt by unscrewing the lint filter, popping up the top part, and lifting off the inner part to access the belt. You should then replace the old belt with the new one before reassembling the dryer.
Note, however, that you must first disconnect the dryer from the power supply to avoid an electrocution. Moving it away from the wall is also important to create enough work clearance. But more importantly, you should have all the requirements ready, and I’ll share them with you.
But first, I’ll help you know when to replace your dryer belt and the signs to indicate that the belt needs replacing. So, let’s start with that!
When to Replace the Dryer Belt on a Whirlpool Cabrio Dryer?
As I mentioned earlier, many dryer functions depend on a working belt. So, it’s imperative to replace the dryer belt when it’s necessary to do so.
Below are two situations when you should replace the dryer belt:
1. When the dryer belt breaks
The belt won’t turn the drum if it breaks, which means your Cabrio dryer won’t spin or dry the clothes. Overall, here are the reasons why your dryer belt would break:
a) Wrong type
Dryer belts come in different sizes and even vary in part number. Thus, it’s vital that you get the correct Whirlpool Cabrio dryer belt part number when replacing the belt.
If the dryer belt is the wrong type, it won’t fit on the dryer, and the chances of it breaking are very high.
b) Wrong installation
Yes, you might get the dryer belt size and even the part number correct, but it could break if you don’t install it correctly. For example, you’ve to install it in the right direction, and that is, the smooth side should be face-up or inward-facing to allow the rough side to have a firm grip on the idler pulley.
If you interchange the sides, the idler pulley will dent the smooth surface, and that’ll cause the dryer belt to break eventually.
The other note is that the dryer belt shouldn’t be too tight. It will likely strain, weaken, and eventually break if it is.
c) Laundry overload
Sometimes, the dryer belt breaks because of overloading the drum. Once you do that, you force the belt to overwork, trying to turn the drum. In the end, the excessive straining weakens it and causes it to break.
In most cases, the belt will make some thumping noise or may cause the dryer to stop mid-cycle, which means your clothes will come out wet, and you wouldn’t want that.
d) Broken idler pulley
The idle pulley is always in contact with the dryer. So, there is always some friction between the two. Overall, the pulley shouldn’t threaten the life of the dryer belt. However, if the pulley is damaged, it may dent the drier belt and cause it to break in the long run.
e) Clogged blower
The blower’s job is to circulate hot air that builds in your dryer and expel it. It’s, however, unable to do that when it clogs up, which means excessive heat in the dryer. Once that happens, the excess heat may wane the dryer belt and cause it to crack and break.
f) Failed drum rollers
The drum rollers are pretty supportive of the drum, and they enable the drum to spin smoothly. And since the drum also depends on the dryer belt to turn, the failure of the drum rollers means the belt has to strain to turn the drum, which weakens it. In the end, the dryer belt may break.
2. When the dryer belt wears out
The other time you may want to replace the dryer belt is when it wears down. That will likely happen over time, estimated after ten years with good maintenance. Some low-quality options, however, last about six years.
Overall, you can tell if your dryer belt is worn out just by inspecting it.
Signs of a Bad Whirlpool Cabrio Dryer
Other than visually inspecting the dryer belt for breaks or wear, you can determine if it’s bad by observing the behavior of the dryer.
Here are the signs for a bad dryer belt, which needs replacing.
a) The dryer won’t start
While there are different reasons why a Whirlpool Cabrio dryer won’t start, one of them is a defective dryer belt. Of course, you must begin by checking the power supply and dryer setting and ensure you disable the Control Lock before getting to the dryer belt.
b) The dryer won’t spin
Your Whirlpool Cabrio dryer won’t spin if the dryer belt is defective. Of course, that’s not the only reason a dryer fails to turn. There are others, such as power failure, laundry overload, wrong setting, broken motor, and seized drum.
But since a defective belt is one of the considerations, you should inspect it when your dryer won’t spin.
c) Noisy dryer
You can expect your Whirlpool Cabrio dryer to make a noise when the belt goes bad. The noise could range from a loud screeching to a squeaking sound. That’s likely to happen when the dryer belt starts to break.
d) The dryer won’t complete a cycle.
If the dryer belt is faulty, the drum won’t turn well, and that means the dryer won’t complete a dry cycle. The dryer usually aborts the dry cycle mid-way, leaving the clothes wet.
An 8-Step Guide to a Whirlpool Cabrio Dryer Belt Replacement
The requirements
You need the following to replace the dryer belt on your Whirlpool Cabrio:
- 5/16th screwdriver
- Putty knife
- New dryer belt (View on Amazon)
- Empty container to hold the screws
- Work gloves
The steps
Now that you have the requirements, here’s how to replace the Whirlpool Cabrio dryer belt:
Step 1 – Disconnect the dryer
Plug out the dryer from the wall socket. Doing so protects you from possible electrocution. It’s also best to create enough clearance around the dryer. So, it’ll help to move it away from the wall.
Step 2 – Unscrew the lint filter
Using the screwdriver, unscrew the lint filter and put the screws into the empty container. Usually, there are two screws under the filter that you should loosen.
Step 3 – Pop up the top part.
Using the putty knife, pop up the top part of the dryer to expose the top inner part.
Step 4 – Lift off the top inner part
Unscrew the upper corner of the dryer’s inside and put the screws in the container. Then, lift off the top inner part and put it away to expose the dryer belt.
Step 5 – Remove the belt
Unhook the dryer belt from the drum and idler pulley carefully so as not to damage the idler pulley. Put the old belt aside.
Step 6 – Fit the Whirlpool Cabrio dryer replacement belt
Warp the new belt around the drum and ensure you fit it correctly. It shouldn’t be too loose or too tight.
Step 7 – Reassemble the dryer
Put back the panels as they were and screw back everything as they were initially.
Step 8 – Reconnect the dryer
Plug the dryer back into the power socket and power it on to see if the issue has been solved.
People Also Ask
1. Why Is My Cabrio Dryer Not Spinning?
Your Whirlpool Cabrio dryer isn’t spinning because something is amiss. It could be that the dryer lacks adequate power, the laundry load is excessive, the dryer belt or motor is defective, the drum rollers or roller axles are worn out, or you are using the wrong setting.
2. Does A Cabrio Dryer Have a Belt?
Yes, a Cabrio dryer has a belt, which you can find wrapped around the drum and idler pulley. You must take out the top panel to access the dryer belt. If you are unsure, check the details on the dryer manual.
3. How Do You Change a Belt On a Whirlpool Cabrio Dryer?
To change the belt on a Whirlpool Cabrio dryer, you must first remove the lint filter and the top panel. That allows you to access the old belt, which you should unhook from the drum and replace with a new belt. Getting a replacement whose part number matches your old belt to fit and work just fine is essential.
4. Can I Replace My Dryer Belt?
Yes, you can replace your dryer belt. It’s easy; you only need to remove the lint filter and top panel to access the belt. After that, you need to unhook the old belt and slide in the replacement, and that’s it. Remember, it saves you time and money doing the replacement instead of hiring a dryer expert.
5. Why Is My Whirlpool Cabrio Dryer Not Tumbling?
Your Whirlpool Cabrio dryer is not tumbling because the load is too bulky – perhaps excessive. It could be that the dryer door is not latched, the dryer belt is defective, or perhaps due to a seized drum, damaged motor, Control Lock, or a bad electronic control board.
6. How Do I Know If My Dryer Belt Is Bad?
You can know if your dryer belt is bad by visually inspecting it. If the dryer belt shows signs of wear or physical breaks, then it’s bad. You can also tell if the dryer belt is bad if it squeaks while the dryer runs or stops the dryer from spinning or completing a cycle.
7. Why Does My Whirlpool Cabrio Dryer Squeaks?
Your Whirlpool Cabrio dryer squeaks because the dryer belt is defective, the idler pulley is loose or broken, or the motor is faulty. It could also be that the dryer is unlevelled, or the roller shafts are worn out.
Concluding Thought on a Whirlpool Cabrio Dryer Belt Replacement:
Now you know what it takes to replace your Whirlpool Cabrio dryer belt. You have to remove the lint filter and the top panel to expose the dryer belt and then unhook it before sliding in the replacement. You’ll then need to put everything back.
It’s crucial, however, to confirm that your dryer belt is defective, and I’ve shared the top signs and considerations. Remember, you save money replacing your dryer belt DIY, and more importantly, you get to have your Cabrio dryer working the soonest time.