If you are having any problem with your dryer not drying clothes, you may need to replace the Dryer Thermal Fuse (Part# 279816, W279816, WP 279816).
You will need a Whirlpool 279816 Thermostat Kit which contains a thermal cut-off fuse, a high-limit thermostat, and an electrical connection wire. You will use this kit to replace your dryer’s blown cut-off fuse and thermostat. The tools required are a 1/4″ nut driver, flathead screwdriver, and wire cutter/stripper.
Before you begin, make sure your dryer is unplugged or the circuit breakers is shut off.
In order to change the thermal cut-off fuse you have to remove all the screws that hold the back panel on. Also remove a small panel where the fan is located.
At the top of the burner box you will see the thermal fuse. Use a small flathead screw driver to pop up the terminals. The thermal fuse will come out with a 1/4″ nut driver.
After that, take out the high-limit thermostat, located at the bottom with a flathead screwdriver. Then with the help of the screwdriver remove the thermostat terminal from it.
Now you can install your new thermal fuse and thermostat in the same place you removed the old one. First you need to install the thermal fuse and after that you can install thermostat.
When you install the thermostat you need to trim the jumper wire with wire cutter and then strip it back little bit. Take the gold double connector and connect it to the wire. The next step is to cut the orange wire and strip it back. Now connect the silver connector to the wire.
Now you can install the thermostat in its respective position and plug in the the thermostat wires respectively. Then connect the red wire with the golden connector to the orange wire with the silver connector. Connect it to the bottom of the new thermostat. Connect the other end of the wire to the heating element terminal. Reinstall the back panel of the dryer. Plug the dryer back in and test the dryer.