This dryer is branded Maytag but it's Norge or Amana design, which Maytag owned at the time and incorporated the washer & dryer designs for some models in their product line so they could market larger-capacity machines without having to revamp the existing old-style design. Serial number indicates October 2005.

The control is electronic, so there isn't a mechanical timer that can be heard operating She's hearing something else.

The relay that operates the heating element on the electronic control may be stuck-on. Or the heating element may be broken, shorted to ground. Something is powering the element when it shouldn't be operating.

dadoes, my folks have a Neptune dryer from around 2003, and it definitely makes a sound that is like a timer, and has for as long as I remember. Is it related to the extended portion of the cycle (Press Care for example)? And Happy Spring enduring-nice to see you here again.

ArmJim, depends which Neptune dryer model. The earlier 3000 and 4000 have mechanical timers. The revised 5500 and 7500 are electronic as are the Samsung-sourced models. The OP's friend's model's "timer" assembly, Neptune 4000 timer and Neptune 5500 board are pictured in order below.

So what do you think? How should she proceed? If its the element will she be able to tell when she opens up the machine? Regarding the control, how can you tell if that's the issue? And what is a relay, that might be stuck on?

Simplest first step is check the element for shorting with a multimeter, and also visual for whether it's broken. If that's OK then further testing is needed to determine the culprit for energizing it when it shouldn't be heating.