I have a Kenmore 97284810 gas dryer. I need to take off the front panal to check the ignitor and see if the pilot light comes on. There is an approx. 2' x 10' panal across the bottom of the front, but it doesn't seem to want to pop off and I don't want to break it?

That must be a gas dryer. Check if you are getting 120 V to the burner assembly. If you do check the ignitor. It is grey and sits next to where the gas comes out. It needs to get red hot to ignite the gas

Hi,
There is no pilot light on many of the dryers of today. They light with a hot surface ignitor.
Here is a tip that I wrote about dryers and no heat on gas dryers...

http://www.fixya.com/support/r4398592-gas_dryer_not_working_gas_dryer_not

heatman101

Hi, You should not have a pilot light, There are electronic ignitors on the dryers. Unless this dryer is 40 years old, just start the dryer and the heat should come on.
If the heat does not work, there must be another issue.
Please let me know if I can help you further.

Thanks
Vic

Hi, Is this a gas dryer? There are no pilot lights. Remove the small plastic cap in the lower front corner and start the dryer. If the ignitor glows but goes out before the flame lights, you will need to change the coils on top of the gas valve. If the ignitor does not glow, you will need to test the fuse. Here is how to test the fuse on the more popular dryer:
UNPLUG the dryer! Remove the rear panel of the dryer and locate the fuse. It is white and ¼” wide and 3” long. It is located on the blower housing. Remove the wires and check to see if it has continuity. If it does not, you need to replace it.
If this is not your model, please get me a model # and I can look your up.
Please let me know if this help or if I can assist you further.

Thanks
Vic

You have to use a voltmeter to test the circuit. You must connect a voltmeter to the leads that go to the ignitor, and then start the dryer. If the ignitor is getting 120 volts, but not lighting, then you need a new ignitor.

If you do not feel comfortable doing this test, you could simply replace the ignitor and hope its the problem

There is a glow bar igniter located beside the gas valve. Remove the front panel to access the glow bar. Replace the glow bar.

Dryer does not have pilot light.  There is an ignitor that glows when the dryer is started and lights the flame when the gas begins to flow.  With the front of the dryer off start it up and look for the glow. when it glows hot enough (or on a newer model it might be a spark) the gas should ignite.  When the flame sensor sees that the gas is ignited it shuts off the ignitor and keeps the gas valve open until the temperature sensor gets high and shuts it off.  When the temp sensor cools down the cycle repeats.
If no glow or spark-->bad ignitor If no gas flow-->bad flame sensor or bad gas valve coil If gas comes on and goes off quickly-->lint filter and/or vent pipe or outlet may be clogged or bad flame sensor.

no pilot, it has an ignitor with flame sensor. if smell gas continuously, valve may be stuck open. gas assembly behind front panel, if equipped with lower kick panel clips at top of panel, if one piece front then remove two screws at lint filter opening, then pull top forward and lift over plastic hooks, tilt back and remove 2 5/16 screws inside side lip holding front panel on. lift up (disco sw harness as well)

That model does not have a pilot light.  It has an electronic ignitor.  If it is not igniting, either the igniter is not getting a signal to ignite, the igniter is burned out, or the gas solenoid is broken.  Probably the igniter is burned out.  It is item number 3018 at RepairClinic.com.

Pilot Light? Are you sure? All the gas dryers I've ever worked on were pilot-less. There should be a glow-type ignitor that heats up when the dryer is turned on. When it reaches a certain current potential a gas valve is opened and the burner ignites. How old is this dryer? Maybe this is something I've never seen before.