Kenmore Dryer Error Code F70: How to Fix It

The Logic Verdict

I watched TKO TAKEOVER chase an F70 on a Kenmore Elite dryer that kept booting up, beeping, and shutting off. Three screws let him pop the lid and expose the user interface harnesses and the main control board. Simply unplugging every connector, hitting them with contact cleaner, and reseating the plugs cleared the communication fault before he buttoned it back up, and he walked through the exact steps for swapping the control board if the code returns. The footage makes it clear that F70 is almost always a flaky harness or failing board under the top panel—not the motor, heater, or moisture sensors.

What It Means

F70 (and its twin F71) is a console-to-main-board communication failure. The user interface (the panel with the buttons) sends instructions to the electronic control board. If the wiring, ribbon cable, or board loses power or signal, the firmware times out, flashes F70, and locks the dryer out until the connection is restored.

Common Causes

• Loose UI harness connectors. The gray harnesses that plug into the main control board work loose over time or build oxidation, just like the video shows.
• Failing main control board (WPW10111617). Burned solder joints or water damage on the board will keep it from responding to the console.
• Damaged ribbon cable or locking tab. If the red ribbon from the console pulls out, the board thinks the panel is disconnected.

Step-by-Step Fix

1. Kill power and clear space. Unplug the dryer, pull it forward a foot, and remove the three screws along the back edge of the top so you can slide the lid back and lift it off.
2. Inspect the harnesses. With the lid off, you can see the gray/white harness plugs on the main board bracket. Tug each one gently to check for loose locking tabs, melted plastic, or corrosion.
3. Clean and reseat. Unplug every connector the host touches in the video (including the console ribbon), mist them with electronic contact cleaner, then plug them back in firmly until the latch clicks.
4. Test the dryer. Reinstall the top temporarily, restore power, and see if the console boots without chirping. If F70 returns immediately, continue with the board swap.
5. Remove the control board. Unplug the dryer again, take off the lid, unthread the screws holding the metal mounting bracket, disconnect the remaining harnesses, and release the tab that holds the board to the bracket.
6. Install the new board and button up. Set the replacement board into the bracket, secure the screw, reconnect every harness in the same orientation, fasten the bracket to the frame, reinstall the top, and run a timed-dry cycle to confirm the code is gone.

Parts & Tools

• WPW10111617 main control board (fits Whirlpool/Kenmore Elite HE3 & HE5 dryers)

Watch the Fix