Whirlpool Cabrio Dryer Sensing Won’t Start! (Causes & Fixes)

As a homeowner, owning an appliance such as a Whirlpool Cabrio dryer is primarily for convenience when doing laundry. 

However, regardless of the dryer’s efficiency, it could develop faults, especially because it is a machine prone sometimes to fail. 

In this article, I will outline the major reasons your Whirlpool Cabrio dryer sensing won’t work and how you can fix the issue. 

A Whirlpool Cabrio dryer won’t start if there is a problem with the power supply if it has a defective control panel, or wrongly input control panel settings. A whirlpool dryer sensing will also not start due to loosely plugged power cables into electrical outlets, low heat, and wrongly input error codes. 

What Does Sensing Mean On Whirlpool Cabrio Dryer? 

When running a dry cycle, your Whirlpool Cabrio dryer will likely display a few phrases and numbers on the screen. 

These on-screen prompts help homeowners to understand how their home appliances, devices, and equipment function. 

Whirlpool Cabrio dryer also has these on-screen prompts, one of which is to display “Sensing.” 

If you own a dryer but need to know what sense is if you don’t know already, then read on. 

The dryer sensor helps to check the moisture quantity in the clothes in the dryer. It also signals an end to a dry cycle as soon as the clothes are dry enough. 

However, the moisture sensor could get faulty, causing it to gIn another way, the dryer moisture sensor measures the moisture levels of clothes in the dryer.

The sensor gives the dryer commands on how much heat is needed to run a cycle. 

On the other hand, it also signals when the end of a cycle is nearby, cutting off the power supply to the dryer and shutting down the cycle.

Unfortunately, that is not all because so many other things could follow when your moisture sensor is defective.

However, I will outline a few. 

#1. Continuous Cycle Syndrome

When a moisture sensor is faulty, it would likely fail to trigger the end of a cycle. So your clothes could be dry, but the dryer will continuously run without stopping. 

This will require you to stop the process manually by shutting the power connection off. However, if you experience continuous cycle syndrome, there are two common culprits. 

The first is that the moisture sensor bars could become short-circuited or that the moisture sensor bars have a buildup of dirt, water, pieces of cloth, and even clothing softeners. 

Since the sensor bars get short-circuited, it will become difficult for a dry cycle to reach completion, especially because the sensors will trigger the dryer wrongly. 

Always replace every faulty part on the dryer as soon as you discover it because it can no longer serve its purpose. 

However, if a buildup in your dryer causes it to run without stopping, check the moisture sensors carefully for any wax, then do a thorough cleaning. 

Alcohol is a perfect cleaning agent for this purpose. You can also use clean clothes to wipe out every buildup from the moisture sensors. 

The moisture sensor uses electrical metal bars, the dryer’s and wet clothes’ resistance. 

When wet clothes are first introduced into the dryer and touch the metal bars, the moisture in them forms an electrical resistance that signals the dryer that there are wet clothes in it. 

The moisture sensor ensures that the dryer continues to run as long as there is still water in the clothes. Nevertheless, as the water in the clothes reduces, the electrical resistance becomes bigger. 

The bigger the resistance, the faster the moisture sensor signals the dryer to stop the cycle. The dryer also has a function that triggers it to stop a cycle when there is no more moisture. 

#2. Reverse Continuous Cycle Syndrome

In some cases, the reverse case would be that instead of the dryer running continuously, the timer will trip and jump down to one minute within a few minutes of starting a cycle. 

The cause is often an issue with the moisture sensor itself because although the dryer works, it will operate reversely. 

The reverse continuous cycle syndrome could also be due to buildup in the moisture sensor or faulty electrical connections. 

You can use a clean cloth to clean out the dirt inside the moisture sensor with the help of alcohol or soap. 

#3. Dryer Tripping Off After Few Minutes Into a Cycle

Unlike the first two issues we discussed, a dryer may not even start a cycle but may continuously trip off minutes into a cycle. 

However, moisture is not the only cause for this issue because a faulty door latch and door vent can cause the dryer to shut off randomly. 

When the moisture sensor is faulty or damaged, the moisture content in the dryer will not be measured. Therefore, the dryer shuts off since it cannot detect any moisture. 

#4. Dryer Stuck On Sensing

When you load clothes into a dryer for a cycle, it displays an on-screen prompt that reads “Sensing” or “Sensor” mode, which is normal. 

The display’s abnormality is that the dryer may get stuck on sensing without starting a dry cycle. 

Sensing mode on the dryer is a feature that helps the dryer figure out how much load it carries before it starts a cycle. 

If you notice your dryer becomes stuck in sensing mode, it means it is defective. Ensure to check the moisture sensor first. Then, clean it and run another cycle to see if it is back to normal. 

However, if it doesn’t, consider the help of a professional or contact Whirlpool customer services for help on what to do. 

Why Does My Whirlpool Cabrio Dryer Say Sensing But Won’t Start? 

Imagine you have many house chores at hand, or maybe you are in a hurry to finish your laundry and attend to other necessary things. 

However, your dryer begins to trip, shut off, refuse to start, or even get stuck on sensing mode, and you need to know what the issue is. 

If you are looking for information on why your Whirlpool Cabrio dryer says “sensing” but won’t start, then you are in the right place. Dive in. 

The sensing mood on the dryer is triggered when you load clothes in it for a dry cycle. Therefore, you should worry if the sensing mode is not displayed before a cycle. 

It serves as a feature that helps the dryer calculate and measure the load it is about to carry in that particular cycle, including the moisture content of the clothes about to be dried. 

The primary reason your dryer gets stuck in sensing mode is a defective moisture sensor. The moisture sensor could shut off and drip if it is defective. 

The sensor can also cause the dryer to remain in sensing mode if there is a build of dirt, cloth softeners, and even small pieces of fabric.

Luckily, all these issues have quick fixes that most times do not require the services of professionals to resolve. 

You can use a piece of clean cloth mixed with vinegar, alcohol, or soap to gently clean out every form of dirt in the moisture sensor. 

Alternatively, consider replacing the defective moisture sensor as soon as possible if the issue is with a defective moisture sensor. 

Other common problems can cause a dryer to become stuck in sensing mode. They include; 

• A faulty door latch 

• Defective moisture sensor bars, 

• Faulty door vent 

How to Fix a Whirlpool Cabrio Dryer That Says Sensing But Won’t Start?

Most times, the best remedy when home appliances begin to develop faults or even fail, is to reset them. 

A Whirlpool dryer stuck on sensing mode can reset to clear out the errors without requiring the help of a professional. 

However, I recommend you first go through the manufacturer’s manual of your Whirlpool dryer for a step-by-step guide on setting it. 

Nevertheless, here is a detailed guide on how to reset a Whirlpool Cabrio dryer. 

Step 1 

Switch off the dryer, disconnect it from the power source and wait for at least 5 minutes.

Step 2 

Touch any key on the dryer and wait to see if the error on the screen clears off.

Step 3

Restart a wash cycle and click the “start” button to commence the cycle

Step 4 

If the issue or error does not clear, disconnect the dryer from the power source again and switch the machine off.

Step 5 

Finally, wait at least 30 minutes before you power the dryer. However, if the dryer is still in sensing mode after following these steps, seek professional help. 

How Do I Get My Whirlpool Dryer Out Of Sensing Mode? 

The best way to get your Whirlpool dryer is to rest it. However, they are other DIY quick fixes to the issues that can trigger a dryer to become stuck on sensing mode. 

#1. Dry In Bits

Running your clothes in smaller quantities helps to remove the dryer from sensing mode. 

Always ensure that the number of clothes you put in a dryer at a particular time is manageable for it to carry. 

#2. Reset the Dryer 

Unplug your Whirlpool Cabrio dryer from a power source and wait for five minutes before connecting it back to power. 

Causes	Solution
An overloaded dryer	Remove all loads and dry in smaller quantities per time
Clogged moisture sensor	Always clean and dry the moisture sensor with alcohol and dry cloth
Inconsistent error codes	Run a self-diagnostic test and occasionally put the dryer in diagnostic mode

Final Thoughts

In this article, I outlined the various reasons why your dryer may refuse to function well even when it is on. 

I also listed why a whirlpool dryer can get stuck in sensing mode and the various methods you can use to clear errors while stressing that resetting your dryer is important.