What Fault 3 Means
Fault 3 reports the drum stalled. F&P splits the diagnosis neatly: if there is mechanical movement then treat it as Fault 2 and look at the sensing, and if there is no movement at all then check the belt, the motor and the harness before replacing the motor control module or the motor.
Common Causes of Fault 3
- A broken or slipped drive belt
- Something jammed between the drum and the cabinet
- A failed drive motor or motor harness
🔧 One Safe Check You Can Try
With the dryer off at the breaker, open the door and turn the drum by hand. Free rotation with a stall problem points at the belt or the drive; a drum that will not budge points at something jammed.
⚠ Why You Shouldn't Go Further Than That
- Isolate the dryer at the breaker before reaching into the drum or behind the cabinet, because the drive motor and the heater share the same supply.
- Belts on these dryers wrap around an idler that has to be released in the right order, and forcing it can bend the tensioner permanently.
- A drum that turns freely but still stalls under power is an electrical problem, and stripping the belt drive for it wastes the visit.
- Items that fall between the drum and the front bulkhead scratch the drum as they are pulled out the wrong way.
Opening a panel to inspect or repair something yourself doesn't automatically cancel your manufacturer's warranty — but it can risk accidental damage, and some manufacturers do have specific service conditions. Check your product's warranty terms, or ask us, before deciding.