7 Reasons Why GE Dishwasher not Starting [Solution]

Earlier, it was very hard to locate and fix the problem and issues in the dishwasher. Modern dishwashers have overcome this problem and come with an advanced error detection system to identify and resolve issues inside the dishwasher.

GE dishwasher is one of the popular dishwashers available in the market. In the market, you will find various models of GE dishwashers depending on features and price. 

Like other dishwashers, GE also encounters various problems and issues. Is your GE dishwasher not starting you are not alone in this.

There are many users who encounter this problem but don’t know the solution to fix this problem in the dishwasher.

Therefore, today in this article, we are going to discuss different issues that stop the dishwasher from starting the wash cycle on GE dishwasher.

Why is my GE dishwasher not starting?

There are various reasons that can prevent the dishwasher from starting a new cycle. There is no specific cause or reason that stops the dishwasher from starting.

One of the common reasons behind this issue is power supply issues. If the dishwasher is not receiving power, it can struggle to start a new cycle. 

If there is no problem with the dishwasher power supply, there must be some technical or water supply issue with your dishwasher.

The dishwasher needs water to cycle and clean the dish. Sometimes the empty dishes tank can also cause this problem in the dishwasher.

You can’t start your dishwasher if there is no water to run the cycle. 

How to fix the GE dishwasher not starting issue?

7 Reasons Why GE Dishwasher not Starting [Solution]

As mentioned earlier, there is no specific solution to the dishwasher not starting problem.

To fix this issue, first, you need to identify the exact reason that is causing this issue in your dishwasher.

After you figure out the issue you can easily fix GE dishwasher not starting issues. Here are some issues and their solution that stops the dishwasher from starting.

Electrical issues

Every electronic device requires a stable power supply in order to operate efficiently and effectively.

Similarly, the dishwasher also requires a stable power supply in order to perform the operation smoothly.

If your dishwasher has an electrical issue, it stops it from operating or starting the cycle. 

There can be any issues, including torn-up power cord or damaged thermal switch.

You will most likely find these two main reasons behind this issue. If you don’t know how to figure out these problems in your dishwasher,

then don’t worry. It is very easy to figure out these issues in your dishwasher. 

Solution

First, inspect the dishwasher’s electrical connection and ensure that your dishwasher power cord is tightly secure with a plug.

If the plug is loose, it can’t pass current, and you can’t start the dishwasher. Similarly, you can’t start your machine if the wire is torn or broken.

Make sure that there is no such electrical issue in the dishwasher; if there is, make sure to change or replace your dishwasher. 

The thermal switch in the dishwasher plays an important role as it saves your machine from getting damaged due to overheating.

The main function of a thermal switch is to turn off the machine when it reaches a certain temperature.

Normally you will find a thermal switch at the top of the dishwasher circuit broad. 

Water supply issues

Water is another important thing in the dishwasher; without water, you can’t start the cycle and run the dishwasher.

The dishwasher receives water from the water valves and stores the water in dish tanks. 

When the dish tank reaches a certain level, it stops loading water into the tank.

Similarly, you can’t start the wash cycle on your dishwasher unless it reaches that level on your dishwasher.

This problem is triggered when the dishwasher inlet valve is damaged or built up with minerals. 

Solution

If your dishwasher is taking more time to load water than usual. It is a sign that your dishwasher inlet valve is damaged or builds up with minerals.

In addition, you will also hear unusual noises during the water loading process. Here is the step-wise process to clean and replace the inlet valve from the dishwasher. 

  1. Turn off the dishwasher power supply or unplug the power cord from the power source.
  2. Now turn off the water supply onto the dishwasher. 
  3. If you kept the dishwasher inside a kitchen cabinet, remove the dishwasher. 
  4. You will need to remove the screw to remove the dishwasher from the cabinet. 
  5. Once you’ve removed the dishwasher from the cabinet, lay your dishwasher on the floor. 
  6. Remove the bottom access panel and locate the inlet valve from the dishwasher. 
  7. The Inlet valve is secured with two mounting screws. Remove the screw and also disconnect the wire connected to the valve. 
  8. Using pliers remove the pinch clamp securing the outlet hose of the inlet valve.
  9. Pull the hose from the valve, and now you can inspect for mineral build-up. If there is mineral build-up, thoroughly clean it under the running water with a brush.  
  10. You need to replace it with a new inlet valve if it is faulty. 

Child lock is ON

GE dishwasher has a special Child lock mode that prevents children from playing with the dishwasher.

Whenever you activate this mode in your dishwasher, your children cannot start the dishwasher unless you turn off this mode on your dishwasher. 

Child lock mode is available in almost every model of GE dishwasher. This safety feature is available in various electronic appliances like microwaves, ovens, and other devices.

It is impossible to start your dishwasher unless you bypass Child Lock mode from the dishwasher. 

Solution

If you are unable to start the dishwasher due to child lock mode. Don’t worry; turning off this mode from the dishwasher is very easy.

If you are using an older GE dishwasher, press the lock pad twice within three seconds. This will turn off child lock mode on your dishwasher. 

 If you are using a newer GE dishwasher model, press and hold Cycle Pad or Dry boost and Steam pads simultaneously for three seconds. This will turn off Child lock mode from the dishwasher. 

Damaged door latch

GE dishwasher door latch is equipped with special types of sensors that prevent your dishwasher from water leakage.

I am sure you are aware that you can’t start the dishwasher with the door opened. The dishwasher won’t allow you to start a cycle with the door opened. 

The sensor first detects if the door is properly locked or not. If the door is properly locked, you can start the wash cycle without any problem.

If the sensor is unable to detect, you can’t start the wash cycle on the dishwasher.

Solution

First of all, I recommend you make a thorough inspection of the dishwasher door latch. Make sure that the door latch is not loose, secure it tightly using a screwdriver if it is loose.

If your dishwasher door latch is damaged, it is the reason behind the dishwasher not starting the problem.

You should replace your door latch to fix this issue with your dishwasher. Here is the step-wise instruction to replace the dishwasher door latch. 

  1. Turn off the power supply and remove the power plug if necessary. Also, remove the water supply from the dishwasher.
  2. Now remove the screw securing the dishwasher into the kitchen cabinet and pull the dishwasher from the cabinet. 
  3. Open the dishwasher door and remove the upper dish rack. Now using a Philips screwdriver, remove the door latch mounting screw.
  4. Unplug the wire connected to the door latch and pull the door latch from the dishwasher. 
  5. Now install the new door latch by following the same steps you followed while removing it. 

This is the step-wise instruction to remove and replace the door latch from the GE dishwasher. Follow the above step and see if the dishwasher starts or not. 

Control panel issue

The Control panel is the core of the dishwasher. It is where all the sensors and parts of the dishwasher are connected.

A minor problem in the control panel can trigger an error code in the dishwasher. However, it happens in a very rare case-control panel that is secured in such a way that you rarely see the issue on it. 

If your control panel is not working, there must be an issue with the chip.

If there is a short circuit on your dishwasher, it can affect the dishwasher chip from functioning.

Dishwasher chips are very expensive and difficult to replace you will need technicians to replace chips on your dishwasher.

If your control panel is not working properly I recommend you remove the panel securing control panel. Use a multimeter and see if the panel is receiving and passing a signal or not.

Internal issues

It is possible that there could be an internal issue stopping the dishwasher from starting. A dishwasher consists of various hardware parts that work together to perform a task.

A faulty motor start relay can stop the dishwasher from turning on. The main function of the motor start relay is to give the signal to the motor.

If the motor relay in your dishwasher is having a problem or fault your dishwasher won’t start.

What to do if the problem persists?

In the above section, we discussed different solutions to fix the dishwasher, not starting problem. If the above-discussed solution doesn’t solve the problem in your dishwasher.

I recommend you to contact your dishwasher manufacturer. 

All you need to do is visit the official website of your manufacturer. There you will find a different way to reach their representative.

If you cannot reach their representative, call dishwasher technicians to fix the issue on your dishwasher. 

Conclusion

When you are dealing with a dishwasher problem, it is important to figure out the issues causing that problem in the dishwasher.

Once you’ve identified the problem, you are good to go. This article discusses various reasons that can help you to understand your GE dishwasher not starting problem along with the solution. 

I hope you’ve followed that solution and fixed the issue with your dishwasher. If the problem persists, you can contact your supplier to fix the problem with your dishwasher.

Besides this, if you have any problem with the dishwasher, feel free to share it in the comment below. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the GE dishwasher showing an error code?

The dishwasher shows an error code when there is a problem in the dishwasher.

Modern dishwasher has advanced error detection system that can easily detect and identify issues lying on the dishwasher.

This dishwasher uses an error code to point out the problems of the dishwasher.

There are a number of such error codes in the dishwasher. Depending upon issues and problems dishwasher can display any error code. 

How to fix the error code in the GE dishwasher?

First of all, identify the meaning of the error code. Every dishwasher has a unique error code for the problem.

You can find the meaning of the error code in the dishwasher user manual. In addition, you will also find a solution to deal with that particular error code.

If you don’t have a dishwasher user manual, you can find the meaning of the error code on the manufacturer’s website.

You will find detailed information about the error code and the solution here. 

Why my dishwasher is not starting?

There are two main reasons that stop the dishwasher from starting. The first issue is electrical and the second one is water supply issues.

If there are any of these issues in your dishwasher, your dishwasher will struggle to start.

These are not the only issue that stops the dishwasher from starting. You can check the error code to identify the exact reason that is stopping your dishwasher from starting. 

Why is the GE dishwasher leaking?

Leakage is one of the common issues in every dishwasher. There are various reasons that cause leakage issues in the dishwasher.

However, a damaged door gasket is a major reason behind the leakage.

If the dishwasher door gasket is damaged, it can cause leakage in the dishwasher.

Similarly, if the leakage is in the bottom, there must be an issue with the dishwasher motor. 

I am Kevin Technician and this website is created with the purpose to help common people to find proper information about Dishwasher. Feel free to comment or email your queries.