hi, i have a hotpoint tdc30p which is just outside the warranty and hey presto its stopped drying the clothes, drum is still going round, all lights work except drying one, all filters are clean,read the questions and answers on this site but im lost as to where to find the thermostat to replace it,called a few engineers who have made that cute sucking breathe in sound (sorry miss going to cost you *** for me to fix it) can anyone help?

Mel, April 2005

Hi Mel, just had a similar problem with my 4 year old Hotpoint TDC60 Condenser Dryer. I fixed mine by replacing the thermostats.

How I replaced the thermostats:

Unplugged the machine.

Thermostats are on the rear of the machine.
To access them I had to unscrew and remove three covers:
First Cover is about 2" square and located on the back, centrally.
Second is just below the first and is actually a piece of angle, horizontal and about 21x1".
Third is the large cover shaped like a moon boot. This piece has a gasket. My 'moon boot' was stuck to the large back panel of the machine. I gently prised the 'moon boot' away with a flat bladed screw driver. On inspection it looked like it was dried dust that had caused the panels to stick together; the gasket was fine.

With the three panels removed, I saw the two thermostats directly above the heating element.

Using a continuity tester I found that one of the thermostats had no continuity.

**Before removing them I took a digital photo to record where the wires and the thermostat with the coloured dot were located**.

I removed the thermostats.

I ordered and bought a pair of new thermostats from my local white goods spares shop for £17. They only come in pairs.

I fitted the new thermostats using my photo for reference.

I chucked the broken thermostat and kept the working, but old, thermostat.

Finally, I replaced the covers and plugged in the machine. It works!

Ulysses_3_1, June 2005