Chased a phantom error code for 2 hours, turned out to be a 3 dollar moisture sensor

Got a call for a Samsung dryer throwing dE error on a brand new unit. Pulled the drum apart, checked the thermistor, checked the harness, even swapped the board. Nothing. Customer had me scratching my head for almost 2 hours. Finally looked closer at the lint screen housing and saw a tiny bit of dried fabric softener crust on the moisture sensor bar. Wiped it clean with alcohol, error gone. $150 service call for something they could have fixed with a rag. Has anyone else had a brand new machine throw codes from just assembly residue?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_elizabeth5d ago

Wait, are you telling me a BRAND new dryer had that crap already crusted on there? I used to think factory machines were basically clean, but this whole story flipped my mind completely. I always figured the moisture sensor was one of those parts that either works or it doesn't, not something that gets fooled by a little bit of lint goo. Now I absolutely check those bars first on any new install, it's just a simple wipe but it saves SO much headache. You really can't trust anything to come out of the factory perfect, even the little stuff matters.

margaretshah5d agoMost Upvoted

And yeah that's exactly what happened. Factory probably had some oily residue or whatever from assembly and it just sat there waiting to screw someone over. You'd think they'd at least run a test cycle before shipping but nope, they just slap it together and send it out the door. I guess the bright side is now I know exactly where to look first on any Samsung dryer no matter how new it is. Saved me from chasing my tail on the next dozen calls at least.