I had the same problem on our IS70C dryer after about three and a half years from buying it new (although it was hammered during that time!) The problem we had with ours was that it wasn't heating up (obviously) and when you set it going the red 'empty water' light on the front remained on, even though the tank was empty. First job is to type the model number into e-bay or similar and find a replacement part (paid £28 for mine). Once that arrives you'll need to gain access to the old knackered element and replace it. Unplug the machine. Start by removing the small metal cover (held by two screws) which is dead centre on the rear of the machine. Removing this will allow you to then remove the heater element cover (held by eight screws) which is the large casing underneath and to the left of the piece you've just removed. Once this comes off you'll see some wiring and the element housing. In order to remove the element housing itself you'll need to unscrew the two smaller screws on the outside of the element cover, once this is done the element then becomes free (but will still be attached by the wires leading into the hole in the back panel of the machine). Use a stanley knife to cut off the barbed plastic plug from the outside of the cover which is holding the wiring in place (you'll get a new one of these in with your new heater element). Now you'll need to find the connection that the wiring plugs into: To do this you'll need to take off the top cover of the machine by removing the two screws that hold it in place (the screws are on white plastic tabs that overhang the rear panel of the machine slightly). Once these two screws are removed the whole top slides towards you an inch or so and then lifts off. The next job is to remove the side panel which is to the left (as you're kneeling and facing the rear panel of the machine). One screw in the top and four down the side hold this panel in place. Once they're all undone, the panel will lean out to the side far enough for you to gain access to the necessary wiring. Find the plug that the heater element is plugged into - and unplug it. This will then feed through the hole in the back panel and allow you to completely remove the old element and its housing. From here on its basically what you've done already but in reverse: I found it easiest to begin by securing the new element housing to the large element cover (with the two small screws) to hold it safely in place. Once this is done secure the wiring by pushing the barbed plastic plug into the little hole (where you cut the old one away from) and poke the plug end through the hole and into the back of the machine. You can now reattach the element cover (with the element housing secured inside) to the rear of the machine where you took it off from. Once this is done reconnect the plug just inside the open left hand panel and then replace the screws to secure the side panel back in place. After that put the top back on (sliding it into place and securing it with the two screws at the back) and then replace the small cover which came from the dead centre of the back panel. If all's well, when you plug the machine in again and set it going the casing should soon feel warm to the touch, the red 'empty water' light at the front goes out and your clothes get dried again.
subl1mation, March 2011
