Whirlpool 279816 Thermostat Kit for Dryer Review

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List Price: $32.29
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Whirlpool 279816 Thermostat Kit for Dryer as sold by Seneca River Trading.

1. I paid Seneca River Trading for expedited shipping and it went USPS Priority Mail from NY 13027 to TN 37923. It took 10 days for delivery but even UPS ground would have gotten it to my door in 3 days.

2. Seneca River Trading put the product in a padded USPS flat rate envelope instead of a USPS flat rate box plus some bubble wrap. The thermal cutoff had a bent prong and the thermostat had something that looks like a pop rivet that had busted. Both items appear to work OK but the packaging allowed minor damage and only luck prevented them from being damaged enough that I'd have to pursue another replacement part.

3. The screws in the kit don't thread into the holes on the dryer. Not a big deal as I had plenty of computer screws from PC builds lying around that did fit just fine. But for someone with less spare parts laying around this could have been an issue as the provided screws wouldn't turn more than once until the thread was in a bind and the thermostat was still wobbling around.

4. I've edited this review 3 times now. Amazon doesn't want me to link to the youtube video that gives instructions for modifying the wiring to use the new part since the old part is wired differently. Please note that the instructions provided with the kit are not clear. Google the part # and watch the video on youtube since I can't link to it from here. With the tools I had stripping the wires and crimping the new leads was a hassle I wouldn't wish on anyone with poor coordination or poor tools. If you are not the Do It Yourself type you'll want a friend to do the wiring work for you or you'll want to pay someone to do it. The orange wire barely had an inch of slack and a mistake replacing the end on that wire could complicate the repair.

On the whole I got the parts for about half price vs the closest appliance store that had the part in stock but I did without my dryer for two weeks and had to haul laundry to the laundromat during that time and spent more time than I'm happy to admit tracking the package and checking the mail every day.

Amazon Prime has me spoiled for things showing up in 1 or 2 days from time of order and USPS tracking and delivery speed on this were sub par.

I held onto this review until I caught up on my backlog of laundry and I'd given it a week or two to stop working. The dryer still works so I'll give this 3 stars. If it had arrived undamaged and in less than 5 days time like I expected I would have given 4 stars.

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What is in the picture IS NOT what you receive. It is similar but not exact. NOT MADE BY WHIRLPOOL

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The high limit thermistor is not an oem equivalent as it indicates. The temp for the switch is lower than the OEM and will not function. Double check the temperature marked on your oem thermistor before installing this one. I found this out only after the repair man came out and discovered that it was the wrong part.

Honest reviews on Whirlpool 279816 Thermostat Kit for Dryer

This part works like a charm! The instructions seemed a little cryptic I felt I was going to break something, but then finally got it . . . it seems the dryer is designed to fit this part (has the outline and screw holes for it) but the original installed part sits at a different angle and is secured by a tab, not screws, adding to my confusion.

I had tested the thermal cutoff and ascertained that was the problem. The kit also includes a thermostat and all instructions (included, on Amazon and the Web) recommended replacing both. They were right! I did a test BEFORE replacing the thermostat and the dryer definitely ran too hot probably what caused the thermal fuse to blow in the first place!

I was very pleased with the delivery time it only took a couple of days, even via USPS. I am now a hero in my wife's eyes!

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It's not worth saving some money on this, pay more and buy OEM parts. This part worked for a few loads of clothes, then not at all. I have a baby that I'm cloth diapering so I really need a dryer. Not so fun to have to go through this all again!