Kitchen Gas Appliances - Whirlpool dryer overheating

I have a brand new Duet dryer that has overheated on me three times. The old one never had a problem. It gets so hot that the back panel can't be touched and then shuts down. The duct to the back is relatively cool to the touch. I assume its an obstruction of some kind. Could it be internal?

If this was my dryer I woild first feel the discharge air at the vent hood. If it doesn't blast out good, then I'd root around out there and clean what lint there is out there.

Then I'd take the dryer duct off the back of the dryer and see if the discharge air is a lot better than what you felt a minute ago outside. Yes? Better? Then your duct to outside is plugged. No? Still bad flow? Then you have obstruction either below the lint screen or in the blower wheel most likely.

No problem with venting at all? Then you have to start voltmeter testing. Test run the dryer with an access cover off to the "operating 'stat" so you can quickly test it right when it overheats to see if current or ohms goes through it. Yo may have 3 stats. If so, it be the one located possibly on the 4 inch exhaust ducting inside. If it does, it is stuck "closed" and needs to be replaced.

If THAT is not it, then unplug dryer and ohms test between one of the element prongs and the case of the dryer to see if you have a dead short. If so, you likely have that situation where the element broke in half and is laying on the case 'live'.

Thanks for the reply. I'll test the venting as you say, but as its brand new..if that baby is in need of repair thes DIYer is sending it back!