Hotpoint TDC30P will not heat up?

My TDC30P works perfectly except there is no heat whatsoever. I turned the power off at the mains and turned it back on again and it worked for a few minutes before going stone cold again. It doesn't matter whether the heat setting is high or low, it still doesn't work. How can I diagnose the problem is?
Andy, December 2004


done
I have just changed the 2 cut outs and still does not heat up

tim, October 2010
It is important to let the tumble drier finish it's cycle- as the last 10 minutes cool the thermostats, otherwise, if you open the door and remove your washing before the thermostats have allowed to cool- they burn out.

pete, February 2010
I had the same problem my dryer was not heating up Hotpoint TDC30P. I didn't bother looking on the web and I changed the heating assembly first as it was cracked and broken., got it from here http://www.speedyspares-appliances.com/main.asp?modelid=3519&cat_id=4&catmakeid=67&makeid=5&itemid=801
Didn't work! so I looked on web and found this page changed the 2 stats as explained on your posting above.
http://www.speedyspares-appliances.com/main.asp?modelid=3519&cat_id=4&catmakeid=67&makeid=5&itemid=813
works a treat now.
Thanks for the help above. Thought i'd put my view as it maybe of some use.
Jim

Jim, November 2005
Ages since you asked but here's an answer anyway. 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
same thing has happened to mine. Engineer called and he replaced the thermostat. He did this in September and few days before Christmas. Worked for a little while and now there is no heat again. Yours could be the thermostat. Hopefully will find out what is causing thermostat to not work when the engineer calls again.

Karen, December 2004
link Click here to see other fixes for Hotpoint.