My frigidaire dryer keeps pausing itself and won't dry the clothes.

Moisture sensor

test the push button for open and faulty .However see this causes too.

Clogged Vent
If your dryer seems to run forever, it could be because of a clogged vent or internal ductwork. Your dryer may have an automatic cycle that turns off the dryer when the clothes are dry. It does this with a special thermostat or moisture-sensing system.

Normally, this is what happens during an automatic cycle:

The thermostat tells the dryer to heat until the interior of the dryer reaches a pre-set temperature--say 135 degrees.

When the dryer reaches the pre-set temperature, the thermostat tells the timer to begin advancing. (If there's a moisture sensor, the timer advances only if the moisture content of the clothing is low enough.)

The timer advances until the interior cools, then the thermostat tells the timer to stop advancing, and tells the dryer to start heating again.

This cycle continues until the clothes are dry. But...if the vent is clogged, the dryer may never reach the proper operating temperature, so it doesn't send the signal to the timer and the dryer continues to run indefinitely, even if the clothes are completely dry. To fix the problem, clean the vent and/or internal ductwork.


Heating Element

Your dryer's heating element may be partially burned out. If it is, your dryer still heats, but at such a low temperature that it takes three or four times as long to dry the clothes. If the element is partially burned out, replace the heating element. You can check for an ohm reading but will need to refer to the service manual for proper reading. This sometimes on the tech sheet located somewhere on the dryer. Usually between 9-13 ohms.


Cycling thermostat

Although this isn't a common problem, one of the thermostats that controls the temperature in your dryer may break and cause the dryer to heat poorly. If so, you need to replace it. The thermostat is usually a small, round, black device mounted to an oblong steel plate. The plate is mounted to the internal ductwork . This thermostat usually has four wires going to it. Check the 2 terminals that are opposite each other and are the closer together of the 2. These 2 terminals should have continuity. If not replace the thermostat.

How often does it beep and does it flash any error codes at all?

The unit has paused itself. Check for any other error codes or for any clogs in the dryer lint trap, the duct venting system to the outside and make sure the unit is level.

disconnect vent tube run a load of clothes, if it works then the vent is restricted if not the sensor below the lint screen needs cleaned, gently. Tim

so it is drying clothes but is taking forever:

http://www.applianceaid.com/dryertip.html

http://www.partselect.com/dryer+wont-dry-clothes+repair.htm

so the dryer is not heating:

http://www.partselect.com/dryer+dryer-wont-heat+repair.htm

these should fix the problem Good Luck Tim

Hi, If you have a gas dryer.
The most common problem with a gas and no heat is the ignitor going bad...

Here is a tip that I wrote about that problem...

Gas Dryer not Working Gas Dryer Not Heating
http://www.fixya.com/support/r4398592-gas_dryer_not_working_gas_dryer_not

If your dryer is electric..
There could be a number of different problems...
Check out this tip that I wrote about this problem...

Dryer Troubleshooting Electric Dryer won t Heat
http://www.fixya.com/support/r3866345-dryer_troubleshooting_electric_dryer_won

heatman101

The temperture sensor is at fault. It shuts down before the temperture is hot enough

You can make adjustments to your Automatic Cycles by adjusting the Factory Dryness Level:
Changing the Automatic Cycle settings to increase or decrease drying time:
If all your loads on all Automatic Cycles are consistently less dry or more dry than you would like, you may change the default settings to increase or decrease the default dryness
level.

Your automatic drying settings can be adjusted to adapt to different installations, environmental conditions, or personal preference. This change is retained and will affect all of your
Automatic Cycles, not just the current cycle/load. There are 5 drying settings, which are displayed using the time display:
0 Much wetter clothes, 30% less drying time.
1 Slightly wetter clothes, 15% less drying time.
2 Factory preset dryness level.
3 Slightly drier clothes, 15% more drying time.
4 Much drier clothes, 30% more drying time.
TO CHANGE THE DRYING SETTINGS: NOTE: The settings cannot be changed while the dryer is running or paused. The dryer must be in standby mode (power is off) to adjust the default settings.

1. Before starting a cycle, touch and hold DRYNESS for 6 seconds.
2. Touch DRYNESS to select the dryness level shown in the time display: 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4.
3. Touch START/PAUSE to save the new dryness level setting.

id look into a clogged and or kinked exhaust vent. perhaps where it leaves the home theres a screen over the housing thats clogged itself w/lint. its generating heat, thats good now just needs to release it somehow