Kenmore Dryer Error Code E51

The E51 error code on a Kenmore dryer indicates a motor relay failure within the electronic control board. The motor relay, designated RL2, is responsible for switching power to the drive motor during normal cycle operation. When the control board detects that the relay has failed in either the open or closed position, or that wiring associated with the relay circuit is defective, it logs E51 and disrupts normal operation. This code points specifically to the relay output at connector J3-1 and the relay input connection at J3-2 as the focal points of the circuit.

There are two distinct failure modes associated with E51. In the first scenario, the motor runs continuously even after the cycle has stopped or power is cut. This indicates the relay is stuck in the closed position, creating a short circuit across RL2, or that line voltage L1 is being applied directly to the motor relay output at J3-1 without the relay being commanded on. In the second scenario, the motor fails to start at all, suggesting an open circuit between L1 and the motor relay connection at J3-2, preventing power from ever reaching the motor.

Diagnosis requires a systematic check of the wiring between L1 and both relay connections before concluding the control board itself has failed. Damaged, corroded, or loose wiring at the J3 connector can mimic a relay failure and should be inspected carefully. If the wiring is intact and the relay connections test correctly, the Electronic Control Board must be replaced, as the relay is integrated into the board and is not a separately serviceable component.