Just to add to the list, my dryer is now experiencing the same issues. My Kenmore is about 5 years old. After reading these posts I'm still up in the air on trying to replace some of these parts. Consumer reports rated the Whirlpool LEQ8000J[Q] really well and it can be found brand new for around $350. Sounds like a number of folks are spending in the mid 200's to get this fixed anyway.

I can understand the thinking on "repair vs. replace," as $250 is mighty close to the cost of a new dryer. The problem is if the Kenmore dryer will break again in two years, requiring another $250. Then you're far better off getting a new dryer that will last for five years or more before needing repair.

Unless a working Kenmore Elite dryer did something I really liked (like folding my clothes, for example), I'd think about dumping it if the repair was more than $200 or so. It's terrible that Sears/Kenmore has put so many people in the predicament of having to make this decision. Lots of people simply can't afford to pay for repairs, much less a new dryer.

When it comes to appliances like this, I have always bought at the low end and have been rewarded with products that work for 10 or more years. I don't have to do clothes for a family with kids, but lower-end washers and dryers have always worked well for my wife and me.

--Bob

I have the exact same problem; the clicking when you press the start button. I discovered if you hold the start button it will start and the dryer will run, but it will not stop. I started it before going to bed one night and at 5:00 the next morning(approx. 6 hrs. later)it was still running needless to say it was too hot to handle! I was lucky it didn't catch fire. Mine was exchanged once after only 3 months of use, and 2 boards were put in it over the warranty period. since then it has quit again, and needs another board. Sears nor Whirlpool is interested in resolving the problem. Numerous calls were nothing more than a waste of time and resources.

Hopefully this will happen for everyone, not just for me. I will inquire when I return the phone call.

I just received a voicemail from Sears. They are offering to provide me with the part, free of charge, I will just need to pick up the service for the technician to come out and replace it (Or I could replace it myself, but me and tools don't mix). The cost of the technician will run between $90 & $150 depending on whether you've already paid for the original $62 service call.

Again, I will follow up with whether this offer will be expanded to everyone with issues after I speak to them again, they don't open for another 30 minutes.

Well, I got another message from Sears. They are sending me the part for the dryer free of charge. I can choose whether to have Sears fix it or fix it myself, no obligation. Unfortunately, I can not get them to return my phone call to find out about other people. I have a feeling that this is a planned thing. Perhaps I should give out the woman's phone number? "Hey I heard from someone that you sent them a part for free... where's mine?" I wonder if they would suddenly charge my card for the part.

I have a Kenmore Elite Total Care with Even Heat dryer model 110.62996 and I am having the same problem with the dryer. You set the timer, push the start button, and it starts to run, but as you let go of the button it stops.

Opened up the control panel and found the circuit board. Found a burnt spot on it, just like everybody else is finding.

I ordered a new one from RepairClinic.com and awaiting its arrival. I hope this works. If not, I am sending the part back for a refund and throwing this $500 dryer out on the street with a sign that says Kenmore SUCKS.

I am going to buy a $250 cheap dryer and if I get 4 or 5 years out of it, I'm doing better than buying these worthless expensive models that don't hold up!!!

Got the new circuit board today. I installed it and crossed my fingers.

Good news the dryer started up and is still working.

Looking at the old board and the new board, you can see they made some changes to it. Lets see if they found the problem was in the board or was being caused by something else.

I just read all the previous posts and I'd like to say thanks to all for their help.
I have a different model Kenmore dryer then the elite, I have model # 110.96590140, and my dryer decided to just stop. When I push the start button you can tell it's receiving electricity but it doesn't do anything. So, I came on here, found this great site and got in touch with Sears from the service # (1-800-469-4663) givin in earlier posts. I asked about any recalls on my dryer and they gave me the phone # for recalls this # is 1-800-659-7026. I spoke to Sharon at the Sears recall center, she looked to see if there were any recalls, but found none. Then she informed me about a service plan that Sears offers. It's called the "Service Smart Problem" plan. It's cost is $169.95. This cost covers your dryer for one year. The service guy comes out and if the problem is $500 or less he repairs it. If it's more, they will replace your dryer, if thats what you choose, or give you a refund. No limit on the amount of times they come out in that year. She then set me up for a service appointment ( I didn't have to call another #) and I am happy with this since having a repair guy just come out and give an estimate is $55, as she informed me. Hope this helps , it made me happy because I certainly did not want to invest in a new dryer comparable to mine. :) Linda

It's so good to hear of good things coming from this thread, and thanks for letting us know.

Lorace

Got the same model...bought a new board (rebuilt one sold by Sears for $70)...old one had a burnt (diaode or resistor thingy) and went ahed and bought a new on/off switch $5 bucks. Swapped both out...worked for 5 loads and now nothing, back to not starting again, have to hold the button in or it'll shut off. Opened er up again...new board not burnt like to old one. Not smart enough to do the continuity tests described in the trouble shooting phamphlet>>>hidden within the top control housing) I'm getting mad!

Sears appliances have gone downhill and they will not backup their products. My Kenmore Elite dryer is having the same problems with the start button. After calling Sears I ended up with a list of eight phone numbers. All which gave me the run around. I owned a Kenmore Washer/Dryer and refrigerator for more than 12 years with no problems. My new refrigerator I had to replace the ice maker after 13 months. My dryer is two and half years old. I was told by Sears repair department that they have only 5% of their customers complain about a faulty appliance. She did not know what to say when I told her I had two faulty appliances. After being told I could purchase a one year warranty for $170 just for the dryer. I figured after two years of warranty payments I can just keep replacing my dryer every two years with a cheaper version. Trust me its not going to be from Sears. As for MEDIATOR BOB try explaining why Sears won't back up their cheap appliances, especially after so many complaints. As you stated,I have tried "requesting assistance" all I got was "for $170".

UPDATE...
You may not believe this but...
My wife was so aggrivated at the situation that she said she'd go to a local Sears applience outlet "individually owned" Now we had purchased the dryer in another town about 30 min away...3 yrs ago...but only had 1 yr of use since we were overseas and just got back. I told her it was a waste of time..we were gonna end up getting the run around and have to buy another anyway. Whell, wouldn't you just know...she plead her case and got a free one! The store manager..said he'd have to take off $100 for depreation...but the remainder was for us to pick out another. Didn't spend a dime! Bought a Whirlpool...a little cheaper...but I'm so happy...she did good!!!!! Crestview FL Sears Manager Tommy Rivers is a class act! I never would have thought that Customer Service still happens. Next I'm sending the repair parts back...and this is all behind us! Keep the faith!

I work for sears and if you want to get somewhere try going to the manufacturer of the appliance most 110.XXXXXX is whirl pool they build a lot of the elite appliance for sears maybe they can help you out with the problems, also try to get in touch with the store you purchased the product at most likely they will be able to get in touch with the "local" service tech distribution or speak to someone in the service center customer relations, Believe me my family is a Customer for life as I have grown to as well and even me working their doesn't always help with myself getting service. Especially since lowes bought into our service department and sears takes care of a lot of lowes customers too under A&E factory service, But as I was saying a lot of the time if you can go through the manufacturer of the products they might be able to get the part if they are aware there is a problem because they need to determine it first before sears can say ok everyone we have a faulty piece of equipment out there lets send out a recall notice

Found the thread today after having problems with my kenmore electric dryer model 110.63932102.
It is 2 years old has had light single-doom use and has the same fault as described by many people on here. Press the on button and it starts up, but when released it stops.

Glad to know I am not alone, nice to see the power of the internet

I will call Sears tomorrow (Monday) and see what transpires, I suspect I will be buying a new cheaper (non kenmore/whirlpool) dryer within a week or so...... We will see !

So I finally got around to replacing the part that the Sears tech said was causing the problem and it didn't fix it. This is what really aggrivated me from the beginning. I had to pay $65 for a tech just to show up and look at the problem, he spends 10 minutes at the house and mis-diagnoses, the problem. I've called the person back who sent me the free part to begin with and I'm going to try to get them to send someone out to do a real diagnosis and replace any needed parts at no charge. I'm so frustrated with this whole process.

Emailed the CEO last week. .still no response. Spoke to GIL at the Sears complaint line 1-800-549-4505 (press 5). They waved the $65 trip fee. . .here's the scoop. It will cost $335.05 to repair my $450 dryer...hmmm maybe I should just buy a new dryer (not from Sears). Anyway for you do-it-yourselfers
the ETC Board has to be replaced (burnt, like everyone else) and the Thermistor needs to be replaced. Tried calling the complaint line again got some lady who said "what do you want me to do about it".

Everyone call the complaint line
Ask for Gil
If we all talk to the same person, maybe they will get the hint!

Thanks for the phone number and the name. That may be just what's needed to get the message across to the right person.

--Bob

We are ordering our parts through a web site mentioned earlier in this thread, (www.RepairClinic.com. Did a little research on them at (www.ResellerRatings.com) and people seem to be happy! Great site. Well designed and has photos of the parts you are ordering. Good Luck!