Clothes dryer The dryer turns on and get hot but shuts off after like 5 minutes and kicks off the main switch.

Dryer runs then shuts down wont start up for an hour: or 20 minutes

Bad motor windings

also check for a b ad cycling thermostat

Dryer possibly overheating due to plugged vent. They will go into a safe mode and shutdown the heater if not enough airflow. Results in starting hot but ending with a cold load of clothes! Check the belt to ensure the dryer fan is working and that the drum is properly rotating. If OK and the vent is clear then check the thermostat. Depengin on the type (Gas vs electric) there are a number of limit thermostats as well as a main thermostat. Likely you have a a limit switch kicking in to shut off the heater. Normally from lack of airflow (plugged vent, fan broken, etc...) Once unit cools down will start back up but shut down again once the heater comes on. Also check to see if the heating element is shorted to the side of the metal case. Will heat up and be intermittent.

Sounds like your vent is stopped up . Pull the dryer out from the wall and disconnect the 4" vent. Look into it and see if it is stopped up with lint. If so clean it out good. Also, make sure the hose isn't pinched.

Check your circuit breakers.Most of the time when breakers get older they can't hold the current load. Also make sure the wires that connect to the breakers in the main panel are tight in that circuit..Be careful I had a dryer that did the same thing. Check to make sure the lint is cleaned out so there is no obstructions that's creating a air flow problem. The dryer gets to hot and shuts down.Well that was my problem.Just an idea.

the dryer dries after two or three tries

Make sure the lint trap is clean,and the exhaust is clear. some models have safety switch to stop fire if unit over heats.

these are heat cycles,
the click you are hearing is the thermostat turning the element on or off, most dryers try to acheive a temp of 160 - 180 degrees, when reached the element shuts off for a bit to cool down and not scorch your clothes
you do not have to worry about this

HI. This may be an issue concerning the pressure switch that is located inside the rim of the actual door.

This switch activates the main drum motor when a cycle is selected when you are ready to dry your clothes. As soon as you select the desired cycle and you load the clothes and shut the door, the last thing to do is push the start switch. if the door pressure switch is malfunctioning, it will not allow you to start the dryer. it will simply not spin.

If you can visibly see the light inside the drum/basket while the door is closed, this will confirm the malfunctioning pressure switch that is located inside the inner part of the door rim.

Its located in this position so that the actual door can make contact with it, in return, applying pressure to close the switch and complete the circuit. this will cause the dryer to spin.

You stated that you can see the drum light shinning when the door is closed and, this will confirm my diagnosis. You can preform a hard reset just to make sure of this defect. Simply unplug this unit for 5 minutes or, shut down the circuit breaker for 5 minutes as well. Any methods will work. Once the 5 minutes are up, simply plug back in this unit and try to run a normal cycle. if this problem is still and issue, it will once again confirm a door pressure switch failure and you will need to replace the switch in this unit.

I would check the wire clips and connectors as well located on this switch for lose or worn contacts. this can be a problem spot as well.

Please rate and god bless:)

do you have clothes on top of dryer? if so, i'll say it again never ever stack clothes or anything on top of it. Things on it insulate it and will overheat the machine. Yes it has a overheat linit switch but to get to it you have to take it apart and pull the drum out depending on the style of heat element you have. Some are in the back of drum and others are in a tube on the floor of the unit inside. If yours is behind the drum then drum needs to come out to check for the problem

My twin stacking whirlpool washer/dry. The timer switch kicks on but does not dry clothes kicks off after 5 mins but, clothes still wet.