While it’s normal to want to call a service technician when your Whirlpool Cabrio dryer fails, not all issues need an expert’s input. Some are DIY, and all you need is the correct Whirlpool Cabrio dryer troubleshooting guide, and I will share one with you.
This troubleshooting guide is handy when your Whirlpool Cabrio dryer won’t start, heat, dry, or spins or when it stops and starts itself or stays in sensing mode. Moreover, you can use it to put your dryer in diagnostic mode and fix some error codes.
Speaking of diagnostic mode, I’ll explain how you can diagnose a hidden fault in your dryer and save yourself from doing any guesswork. Essentially, a diagnostic gives you an error code that points you to the fault, making the troubleshooting almost seamless.
And, of course, I’ll share a few common error codes you may face before discussing the six issues I highlighted above. Let’s dive in!
In a rush? Below is a summary of the six common Whirlpool Cabrio dryer problems and their helpful troubleshooting tips.
Whirlpool Cabrio Dryer Troubleshooting Guide – Quick Summary
| – | Dryer Problem | Most Probable Cause | Quick Fix |
| 1. | The Dryer Won’t Start | Software glitch, error code, start button fault, failed power supply, unfastened door, locked controls, or failed part | Reset the dryer and ensure the start button is working, the dryer has power, the door is firmly shut, and Control Lock is off. Replace any failed part (timer, belt, motor, or control board) |
| 2. | The Dryer Won’t Heat | Failed power, wrong setting, soaking-wet or overly-large laundry, unfastened door, or component failure | Ensure the dryer has power, choose the correct setting, don’t overload or put extra-wet clothes, fasten the door, and replace a failed component (heating element, solenoid, flame sensor, or igniter) |
| 3. | Wet Clothes (Dryer Won’t Dry) | Power supply, laundry loading, dryer setting, or airflow issue, or a defective heating element | Ensure the dryer has power, avoid an overload or extra-wet laundry, unblock the lint screen and vent, and replace a bad heating element |
| 4. | The Dryer Won’t Spin | Power supply fault, Control Lock, unfastened door, obstructed drum, or component failure | Check the power supply, deactivate Control Lock, fasten the door, unobstruct the drum, and replace a failed component (belt, motor, idler pulley, or control board) |
| 5. | The Dryer Stops and Starts | Overheated motor, faulty belt, or a malfunctioning moisture sensor or timer | Clean the vent, and replace a faulty belt, moisture sensor, or timer |
| 6. | Sensing Issues (Dryer Stuck On Sensing) | Filthy sensor, faulty door switch, damaged belt, blown-up thermal fuse, or shorted control board | Clean the sensor and replace a defective door switch, belt, thermal use, or control board |
How to Run Diagnostics On Whirlpool Cabrio Dryer?
Generally, it’s worth knowing how to put your Whirlpool Cabrio dryer on the diagnostic mode just in case it fails, and you aren’t sure what to check. The diagnostic also saves you time since it displays an error code that you can check out its meaning online.
Here’s how to run diagnostics on a Whirlpool Cabrio dryer:
- First, put the dryer on standby mode – leave it plugged into the power but all LEDs off
- Pick any three buttons, preferably consecutively one, besides POWER
- Press and release the three buttons one at a time
- Repeat the above sequence twice to make the process a three sequence
- Wait for the dryer to display an available error code
Note that the dryer will display 88 if there is no error code. Let’s now see how you can troubleshoot some of those error codes.
Whirlpool Cabrio Dryer Troubleshooting Codes
Below is a table showing the most typical Cabrio dryer error codes and their troubleshooting:
| Error Code | Interpretation | Recommendation |
| AF | Restricted airflow | Clean the lint screen and dryer vent |
| F2E1 | Stuck key | Try to release the stuck key, and if it doesn’t work, replace the dryer’s user interface control |
| F2E4/F2E5 | Control console fault | Reset the dryer, and if that doesn’t work, replace the dryer control console |
| F3E2 | Moisture sensor fault | Clean the sensor and if that doesn’t work, replace the electronic control board (ECB) |
| F4E1/F4E2 | Heating element fault | Replace the heating element, and if that doesn’t work, replace the ECB |
| F4E3 | Poor airflow | Unclog the dryer vent and blower |
| F6E2/F6E3 | Failed communication | Reset the dryer and if the error won’t clear, replace the ECB |
Visit the Whirlpool dryer official error code troubleshooting page for more error codes.
6 Whirlpool Cabrio Dryer Common Problems
Whirlpool Cabrio dryers may face different issues, and below are 6 of the commonest ones:
1. Whirlpool Cabrio Dryer Won’t Start
A Whirlpool Cabrio dryer won’t start for different reasons. The commonest ones, however, include the following:
- Software glitch – Like all electric appliances, a dryer occasionally suffers a software glitch, which may stop it from starting. This is, however, not a serious issue as it’s easily fixable with a reset.
- Error code – Sometimes, a Whirlpool Cabrio dryer won’t start due to an error code. So, you’ve to check if that’s the case.
- Start button fault – You must hold the start button for a few seconds to engage it. It may not work if you only tap it. But still, it could be that the start button is broken, and if so, it’ll not start the dryer.
- Failed power supply – If the dryer doesn’t have power, which could be due to a loose plug, defective socket, a tripped breaker, or a blown-up fuse, the dryer won’t turn on. And as you know, you cannot expect it to start if it won’t turn on.
- Unfastened door – If the dryer door is open, the dryer will see it as a fault and may fail to start. While it could be that you just haven’t firmly latched the door, it could also be due to a damaged door latch.
- Locked controls – If Control Lock is active, it’ll disable the control panel and prevent the dryer from starting. This setting usually is a safety feature that bars kids from running the dryer.
- Failed part – It could be that the timer, belt, motor, or control board is defective, and if so, the dryer won’t start.
Fix
Consider resetting the dryer to fix a software glitch and clear an error code. Generally, here’s how to perform the Whirlpool Cabrio dryer reset:
Option 1 – Unplug the dryer for at least 10 minutes (hard reset)
Option 2 – Put the dryer on standby mode and press Pause/Cancel before choosing a new cycle and hitting Start.
If the reset doesn’t work, ensure you press the start button long enough and then inspect it for damage. If it’s broken, replace it. Then ensure the dryer has power, and that means doing the following:
- Firmly plugging in the power cord
- Resetting a tripped breaker
- Replacing the socket (if another working appliance won’t power on)
- Replacing the thermal fuse (if it won’t show continuity on a multimeter)
Meanwhile, ensure the dryer door is firmly latched. If it’s not, shut it. If the door latch is broken, replace it.
And if Control Lock is active, turn it off by pressing the switch down for a few seconds, and if the timer, belt, motor, or control board is defective, replace it.
2. Whirlpool Cabrio Dryer Not Heating
If your Whirlpool Cabrio dryer doesn’t heat up, it won’t dry your clothes. In the end, the dryer will fail to do its only job. Once that’s the case, consider that it could be due to any of these issues:
- Failed power – Your Cabrio dryer won’t heat up if it lacks power. It needs the power to turn on and for the heating element to burn and produce heat.
- Wrong setting – If you choose a setting like Control Lock, the dryer won’t start and will fail to heat up. Also, if the dryer is on a low-heat setting like Wrinkle Prevent or a no-heat option like Air Fluff, it won’t get hot enough.
- Soaking-wet laundry – The dryer might not get hot if the clothes are too wet. Yes, you expect them to be damp but not extra wet, as the dryer may see it as a mechanical fault.
- Overly-large laundry – The dryer may also fail to heat up if overloaded. The clothes shouldn’t fill up the drum more than ¾ full. If they do, there won’t be enough space for hot air to circulate, and the dryer will remain cold.
- Unfastened door – If the dryer door is not well latched, as I explained earlier, the dryer won’t start, and if it doesn’t, it won’t get hot.
- Component failure – If you have an electric dryer, it won’t heat up if the heating element is defective. And if it’s a gas dryer, it won’t get hot if the solenoid, flame sensor, or igniter is faulty.
Fix
Check the dryer’s power supply and use the earlier-shared tips to ensure the dryer powers on. While at it, turn off Control Lock, Wrinkle Prevent, Air-Fluff, or any other low-heat setting. Use a normal cycle instead, especially when you aren’t sure what setting to use.
Check the laundry, and if it’s soaking wet, drain the excess out, and if the clothes are more than ¾ full, reduce the load size. Then ensure the door is firmly latched, and if the door latch is broken, replace it.
Lastly, replace the heating element, solenoid, flame sensor, or igniter if defective. You can test the heating element, flame sensor, and igniter with a multimeter. Remember, the lack of continuity affirms fault.
3. Whirlpool Cabrio Dryer Not Drying
In most cases, it’s the same reasons that stop a dryer from heating up that prevent it from drying. In the case of a Whirlpool Cabrio, the dryer won’t dry the clothes due to these reasons:
- Power supply fault – the dryer lacks power and fails to turn on
- Laundry loading issue – the laundry could be excessive or extra wet
- Dryer setting issue – the dryer could be running on a low-heat or no-heat setting
- Airflow issues – that include lint screen and dryer vent clogging
- A defective heating element
Fix
Ensure your Cabrio dryer turns on (has power), the clothes are neither too wet nor too large, and the dryer runs on a heat setting. While at it, clean the dryer vent and lint screen if they are clogged, and if the heating element lacks continuity (on a multimeter), replace it.
4. Whirlpool Cabrio Dryer Not Spinning
It’s generally essential for your dryer to spin. If it doesn’t, then the clothes will come out damp. Overall, here are notable explanations as to why your Whirlpool Cabrio dryer won’t spin the clothes:
- Power supply fault –If your dryer lacks power, it won’t run, and that means it won’t spin. So, again, refer to the power issues shared earlier in case the dryer doesn’t turn on.
- Control Lock – Since the Control Lock inactivates the control panel, the dryer won’t spin. After all, Control Lock stops the dryer from starting.
- Unfastened door – Given that an unfastened door stops the dryer from starting, you can expect it to stop spinning.
- Obstructed drum – Perhaps there are foreign materials such as pins, jewelry, coins, and pen caps in the drum. And if so, they’ll block the drum and stop it from spinning.
- Component failure – The dryer will also fail to spin due to a failed belt, motor, idler pulley, or control board. Sometimes, worn-out components such as drum rollers, drum slides, drum bearings, or roller shafts fail to support the drum when turning.
Fix
As shared earlier, check the dryer’s power supply to ensure it powers on. If Control Lock is on, turn it off by pressing the switch for a few seconds. Fasten the door and replace a broken latch if it is open.
Meanwhile, inspect the drum for foreign objects and remove them. And when it comes to defective components such as the belt, motor, idler pulley, or control board, replace them. Also, do the same for worn-out drum rollers, drum slides, drum bearings, or roller shafts.
5. Whirlpool Cabrio Dryer Stops and Starts
It’s not often that a Cabrio dryer stops running and starts by itself. It may, however, happen due to these reasons:
- Overheated motor – The motor may overheat due to excessive vent clogging, and once that’s the case, the dryer may stop and start itself.
- Faulty belt – The dryer won’t run continuously if the drive belt is defective. It’s likely to stop and start itself.
- Malfunctioning moisture sensor – A defective moisture sensor can also interfere with the smooth running of the dryer. In such a case, the sensor won’t properly sense and monitor the moisture level in the dryer.
- Malfunctioning timer – If the timer malfunctions, it might relay the wrong information, causing the dryer to start and stop mid-cycle.
Fix
Consider replacing the motor, belt, moisture sensor, or timer if any is defective. You can tell a faulty belt if it’s broken, and as for the moisture sensor and timer, you can use the multimeter to check for continuity. The lack of continuity shows they are defective. And if the motor is a bit noisy, replace it too.
6. Whirlpool Cabrio Dryer Troubleshooting Sensing
Is your dryer saying sensing? Won’t it go past sensing mode? If yes, then it’s most likely due to one of these issues:
- Filthy sensor – The moisture sensor could be dirty and thus unable to sense any moisture level. If so, then the dryer will stay in the sensing phase.
- Faulty door switch – A defective door switch could also cause the dryer to stay in the sensing phase. In most cases, the door won’t shut, and the dryer won’t start.
- Damage belt – The dryer drum won’t rotate if the drive belt is damaged, which sometimes causes the dryer to remain in sensing mode.
- Blown-up thermal fuse – If the thermal fuse has blown up, the dryer may detect a fault and sometimes indicate sensing.
- Shorted control board – If not for one of the above reasons, your dryer stays on sensing due to a short-circuited control board.
Fix
Consider cleaning the moisture sensor if they are filthy and replacing the door switch if it won’t shut. Meanwhile, replace a broken belt and the thermal fuse if it shows signs of burning. And if it’s none of those, replace the control board.
Concluding Thought:
Now you have the ultimate Whirlpool Cabrio dryer troubleshooting guide. With this guide, you can troubleshoot your Whirlpool Cabrio dryer when it fails to start, get hot, dry, or spin, when it keeps stopping and starting by itself, and when it won’t go past sensing. At least do that before contemplating calling a dryer expert or the manufacturer.