On the covered Whirlpool dryer, F4 E4, L2, F31 means one leg of the 240-volt supply is missing or low, so the heater cannot turn on First, check both circuit breakers for the dryer. Then: correct the breaker, terminal block or power cord; have an electrician check the 240-volt supply.
Differential
Likely causes of “Whirlpool dryer code F4 E4, L2, F31”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A tripped breaker on one leg of the supply
What separates it The drum turns but the dryer does not heat
How to confirm Whirlpool says electric dryers need a separate 30-amp circuit fused on both sides of the line, with two breakers: one runs the motor and the other the heater; check both
- 2
A power cord installed wrongly or a loose terminal block
What separates it The code appeared after installation or after the dryer was moved
How to confirm Check the cord against the installation instructions for 3-wire or 4-wire and tighten the terminal screws with the dryer unplugged
- 3
A damaged power cord
What separates it The cord is cracked or the plug is scorched
How to confirm Replace the cord if it is damaged, as the tables say
- 4
A supply that is not 240 volts
What separates it The dryer never heats properly on any outlet in the house
How to confirm Have a qualified electrician check the 240-volt supply
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The exact display: F4 E4, L2 or F31
- Whether both breakers for the dryer are switched on
- Whether the drum turns but the heat stays off
Try in this order
0 of 8 completedWhat to do first
ReversibleCheck both circuit breakers for the dryer.
Correct only the documented fault domain
ReversibleCorrect the breaker, terminal block or power cord; have an electrician check the 240-volt supply.
Check both breakers
ReversibleThe tables say the L2 leg of the 240-volt power is missing or below 30 volts (F31 on the Cabrio). Check the house circuit breakers that supply the dryer and reset a tripped L2 breaker.
Check the cord and terminal block
ReversibleUnplug the dryer and check the power cord wiring on the terminal block, reconnect any loose connection, wire the cord according to the installation manual and replace the cord if it is damaged. Whirlpool says the terminal screws must be tight.
Check the board wiring
ReversibleWith the dryer still unplugged, check the wiring connections on the control board and reconnect any loose wire; replace the control board if you find damage.
Have the supply checked
ReversibleThe Cabrio table says to have an electrician check the 240-volt power supply. Whirlpool says the dryer keeps running with L2 showing but the heater will not turn on.
Check the cord type against the outlet
ReversibleA three-wire cord on a four-wire outlet, or the reverse, causes power supply faults. Compare the cord with the outlet and the installation sheet before you suspect the dryer.
Look for scorch marks
ReversibleWith the dryer unplugged, look at the plug and the outlet for brown marks. Heat damage at the contacts means a poor connection that an electrician should repair before the dryer is used again.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Displayed as
- F4 E4, L2 or F31, by platform.
- Parts named by the service tables
- Power cord; control board.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !Unplug the dryer before you check the terminal block screws or the cord
- !Call a licensed electrician for the 240-volt supply or the breaker panel; do not work inside the panel yourself
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Where the manufacturer's article stops. The 30 volt threshold is the Cabrio table's own figure.
Exact questions
Common questions
What does F4 E4, L2, F31 mean on a Whirlpool dryer?+
one leg of the 240-volt supply is missing or low, so the heater cannot turn on
Why does the drum still turn?+
Whirlpool says one breaker circuit runs the motor and the other the heater, so a missing heater leg leaves the drum turning.
Is it the dryer?+
Usually not; the tables list the power cord and the control board only after the breakers and the terminal block.
What does L2 mean in this group?+
L2 is one leg of the 240-volt supply, and the code tells you that leg is missing or low, which is why the drum may turn while the heater stays cold.
Can I fix a tripped breaker myself?+
Resetting a breaker is fine, but a breaker that trips again means the circuit or the dryer has a fault.
Why did it start after a move?+
The cord, the outlet or the breaker may not match the new home, which is a common cause.
Is F31 the same fault?+
Yes, F31 belongs to the same group and takes the same checks.