On the covered Kenmore Elite and Oasis dryer, F-44 means a failure of the blower motor control board. First, unplug the dryer and check the harness between the blower board and the main board. Then: a blown thermal fuse cuts power to the blower board and produces this code, so measure the fuse and replace it if it reads infinite resistance. Then check the wiring from the blower motor to its control board and see whether the blower fan spins freely, clearing any clog and replacing a damaged fan. With sound wiring, fuse and fan, replace the blower motor control board.
Differential
Likely causes of “Kenmore Elite and Oasis dryer code F-44”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
The blower motor control board has failed
What separates it The dryer does not blow air and shows F-44
How to confirm Unplug the dryer and check the harness
- 2
A blown thermal fuse
What separates it The fuse reads infinite resistance
How to confirm Replace the fuse
- 3
Wiring from the blower motor to its board
What separates it The plugs are loose
How to confirm Reseat them
- 4
A blower fan that is jammed
What separates it The fan does not spin freely
How to confirm Clear the clog or replace the fan
- 5
A blower motor control board that has failed
What separates it Everything else tests well
How to confirm Replace the board
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- That the display shows F-44
- Whether the blower runs
- The thermal fuse reading
- The full model number
Try in this order
0 of 10 completedWhat to do first
ReversibleUnplug the dryer and check the harness between the blower board and the main board.
Correct only the documented fault domain
ReversibleA blown thermal fuse cuts power to the blower board and produces this code, so measure the fuse and replace it if it reads infinite resistance. Then check the wiring from the blower motor to its control board and see whether the blower fan spins freely, clearing any clog and replacing a damaged fan. With sound wiring, fuse and fan, replace the blower motor control board.
Check the thermal fuse
ReversibleA blown thermal fuse will prevent the blower motor control board from getting power and trigger F-44. Replace it if you measure infinite resistance.
Check the blower harness and the blower fan, then replace the blower motor control board if all is okay
ReversibleCheck the harness between the blower motor and its board and that the fan spins freely; the board is the last part.
Unplug the dryer
ReversibleDisconnect power before you remove any panel, since the dryer's circuits carry 240 volts.
Check the harness between the boards
ReversibleLook at the wiring between the blower motor control board and the main board for breaks, chafing and plugs that have worked loose.
Measure the thermal fuse
ReversibleThe table says a blown thermal fuse cuts power to the blower board and produces this code. Measure the fuse, and replace it if it reads infinite resistance.
Check the wiring from the blower motor
ReversibleMake sure the blower motor's wires connect properly to its control board and that nothing is burnt or loose.
Spin the blower fan by hand
ReversibleThe blower fan should spin freely. Clear any clog, such as lint or a sock, and replace a damaged fan.
Replace the blower motor control board
ReversibleWith sound wiring, fuse and fan, the table says to replace the blower motor control board.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- The code on this page
- F-44, a blower motor control board failure.
- Parts involved
- The thermal fuse, the blower fan and the blower control board.
- Source
- Sears PartsDirect's table for Kenmore Elite and Oasis dryers.
- Why a thermal fuse blows
- A thermal fuse is a one-shot safety device that opens when the dryer gets too hot, and it does not reset. A blown fuse almost always means that the air path is restricted, so cleaning the vent is as important as replacing the fuse.
- Test before you buy
- A multimeter turns a guess into a diagnosis. Testing the fuse, the wiring and the fan before ordering the board saves you from paying for a part that was not at fault.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !Unplug the dryer before touching the fuse, the harness or the blower
- !A blown thermal fuse usually means something overheated, so find out why before you fit a new one
- !With sound wiring, fuse and fan, replace the blower motor control board
- !Unplug the dryer before testing
- !Do not run the dryer with a blocked vent
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Where the manufacturer's article stops. The thermal fuse check is chart text.
Exact questions
Common questions
What does F-44 mean on a Kenmore Elite and Oasis dryer?+
a failure of the blower motor control board.
Is the board always the fault?+
No. The chart checks the harnesses, the thermal fuse and the blower fan first.
Can a blown fuse cause it?+
Yes, a blown thermal fuse cuts power to the blower board and produces this code.
Why did the fuse blow?+
Usually because the dryer overheated, so check the vent before replacing the fuse.
Is the board an expensive part?+
It is a moderate to dear part, so compare the cost with the age of the dryer.
Is it a home repair?+
It can be, for a confident owner, with the dryer unplugged.