Kenmore Dryer Control Board F01 Error Code Repair

Turn off the dryer and unplug the power cord from the wall outlet.

Pull the dryer away from the wall only as far as needed to reach the plug.

Remove the two screws in the upper rear corners with a 1/4 inch socket and ratchet.

Slide the top panel toward the rear and lift it off.

Locate the control board in its plastic housing under the top panel.

Pull the two plain plugs straight out of their sockets.

Press the two tabs on the long white rectangular connector and pull it up.

Press the single side tab on the nearby connector and pull it up.

Locate the small side-mounted wire clips that slide straight into the control board.

Use a small flathead screwdriver to pry a clip slightly away from the board.

Press the locking tab down and pull the clip straight away from the board.

Repeat this process for the remaining side clips.

Loosen the screw holding the control-board housing with a 1/4 inch socket and ratchet.

Set the screw aside with the top-panel screws.

Work the plastic housing free and pull it straight out of the dryer.

Place the control-board housing on a silicone mat or another heat-safe work surface.

Release the two snaps on the housing cover and lift the cover off.

Lift one corner of the board slightly while pressing the inner plastic snaps away.

Press the small white retaining tabs aside and slide the board out of the housing.

Find the burned or overheated solder mark on the back of the control board.

Locate the relay on the opposite side of the board directly behind that burn mark.

Confirm that the replacement relay matches the original relay and its pin pattern.

Mark the four solder joints that match the relay pins so you desolder the correct points.

Plug in a 15 to 20 watt soldering iron and let it heat up.

Squeeze the air out of the solder-sucker bulb before placing it at a molten joint.

Place the soldering-iron tip on one marked relay joint and hold it there until the solder melts.

Press the solder sucker against the molten solder and release it to pull the solder away.

Repeat the same process on the other three marked relay joints.

Remove as much solder as possible from all four relay pins so the relay comes out cleanly.

Check whether the relay moves after you remove the solder.

Reheat any stubborn pin and remove more solder from that joint.

Press the relay away from the board while heating a stubborn joint if needed.

Lift the relay out only when all four pins release freely.

Inspect the removed relay for heat damage such as melted plastic near the pins.

Insert the new relay pins into the same four holes in the board.

Make sure all pins pass fully through the board and the relay sits flat against it.

Hold the relay in place so it does not fall out while you begin soldering.

Use 60-40 rosin-core solder for the new joints.

Tin the soldering-iron tip with a small amount of solder so it transfers heat well.

Place the iron against a relay pin and the surrounding copper trace.

Let the pin and trace heat for a few seconds before adding solder.

Touch the solder to the hot relay pin, not directly to the board.

Wait for the solder to flow onto the pin and trace to form a solid, shiny joint.

Repeat this process for all four relay pins.

Let the solder joints and relay cool before handling the board.

Slide the board back into the plastic housing and snap it into place.

Reinstall the housing cover and make sure the side snaps latch.

Vacuum dust from the board-housing area before reinstalling it in the dryer.

Set the control-board housing back into its slots inside the dryer.

Slide the housing toward the rear of the machine until it seats fully.

Guide the screw into the hole with a finger and start threading it by hand.

Tighten the screw only until it starts to feel snug.

Reconnect the top plugs and tabbed connectors in the reverse order you removed them.

Support the panel with one hand if the board shifts while you plug in a connector.

Insert each side-mounted clip into its slot from the side of the board.

Push each side clip in until it clicks and the locking tab pops up.

Move all tools, screws, and loose parts away from the dryer interior.

Plug the dryer in only when you are ready to test it.

Select a normal cycle and press Start.

Stop the dryer and start it again to confirm it runs more than once without the F01 or F1 error.

Test another cycle, such as Delicate, if you want extra confirmation.

Set the top panel on the dryer with the screw holes at the rear.

Align the front edge of the panel with the metal tabs at the front corners.

Push down on the front of the panel and slide it forward under the front tabs.

Pull up gently on both front corners to make sure the tabs are locked in place.

Thread the two rear screws by hand to avoid cross-threading them.

Tighten both rear screws with the 1/4 inch socket and ratchet.

Run the dryer through several start-and-stop checks to confirm the relay repair is stable.

If the F01 or F1 error returns, unplug the dryer and recheck the relay solder joints and all board connectors.