If you own a GE dishwasher, you know how convenient it can be to have a reliable appliance that takes care of the dirty dishes for you. However, like any appliance, your GE dishwasher may experience issues from time to time. One common problem that GE dishwasher owners may encounter is the dishwasher stopping unexpectedly during a cycle. This can be frustrating and inconvenient, especially if you have a full load of dishes waiting to be cleaned.
If your GE dishwasher is stopping unexpectedly, it could be due to a malfunctioning door latch. The appliance is designed to stop operating if it senses the door isn’t securely shut. Examine the latch for any wear or debris that might prevent it from working, clean it thoroughly, and if it appears damaged, consider replacing it to solve the problem.
Improper loading or spray arm blockages can prompt a GE dishwasher to halt its cycle as well. Make sure to load dishes as per the instructions, allowing space for water to circulate. Check that nothing is obstructing the spray arms’ path, and rearrange your dishes if needed to ensure a smooth running cycle.
Fixing a GE Dishwasher That Keeps Stopping
The Problem: Thermal Fuse
The thermal fuse is an internal fuse that may short out if the temperature gets too hot. It is a safeguard that keeps the dishwasher from operating when there is a heat problem to protect other components within the dishwasher.
The Fix: If the thermal fuse has blown, it will have to be replaced. If it is faulty, you also have to replace it. The only way you can continue to use the same thermal fuse is if it is connected loosely and you can fix the connection.
A clogged filter will cause a dishwasher to stop in the middle of the cycle. This can be remedied by either cleaning the filter and keeping it clean or by replacing the filter if necessary.
DID YOU KNOW:
A GE dishwasher door that won’t stay open or closed is likely due to worn or broken door springs or hinge cables. These components help balance the door, allowing it to stay in place. If the door drops open or won’t close, inspect the springs and cables located on the lower sides of the dishwasher door and replace them if they show signs of wear or damage.
Reasons Why GE Dishwasher Keeps Stopping
We count on our dishwashers to run from the moment we turn them on until the cycle is done. It can be frustrating when they keep stopping, but there are ways to fix it.
A clogged dishwasher filter will stop the cycle from running and may stop it multiple times. You can fix this problem by cleaning the dishwasher filters on a periodic basis and replacing them if necessary.
It would be nice if things worked as soon as we tried to fix them, but we all realize that there are more problems and solutions to consider. When your dishwasher is not operating properly, then you need to go down through a list and check for the most common reasons why it may be a problem.
1. Door Latch: One of the most common reasons why a dishwasher is not working is because the door is not latched properly. This could be an issue with the latch itself or it may just be that you didn’t shut it the entire way.
To test the door latch, close the door and pull on the door without engaging the latch. If it pulls open with little resistance, the door latch has to be replaced.
Otherwise, if the dishwasher is constantly stopping, it could be the door latch sensor. If it is faulty and doesn’t test for continuity using a multi-meter, it should be replaced.
2. Switch: Sometimes, the receptacle that is used for the dishwasher is on a switch. This allows the power to be turned off and on easily but if the switch is faulty, it is not going to work properly.
One way you can test this is by plugging in another appliance to the same receptacle, such as a lamp. If the lamp is not staying on constantly, then the receptacle or the switch is the likely problem.
3. Water Supply: There are many sensors within a dishwasher that keep the water at an appropriate level. If there is low water pressure or too much water, the dishwasher is going to stop working to protect the pump and keep the kitchen from flooding.
You can check the water supply by looking at the inlet valve and making sure it is opening and closing properly. You can also check the water line to ensure it is not kinked.
4. Clogged Hose: If the drain hose is clogged, or if it is kinked, then water is not going to drain from the dishwasher as fast as it should. When the water gets too high in the dishwasher, it will trigger the sensor and stop the dishwasher from running.
Visually inspect the hose for any kinks that may have occurred. If necessary, you can remove the hose and run water through it with a high-pressure garden hose to unclog it.
5. Overheating: The heating element in the dishwasher can sometimes fail and when it does, the temperature will get too high. This triggers the sensors in the dishwasher to shut down so that you don’t damage the internal parts.
After unplugging the dishwasher or turning off the circuit breaker, remove the heating element and check it with a multimeter. If it doesn’t check for continuity, it will have to be replaced.
6. Spray Arms: The spray arms can get clogged at times when debris gets into the system. If the spray arms are clogged and are not spraying properly, they won’t rotate and the dishwasher will stop.
A problem with a blocked spray arm is not necessarily going to damage the dishwasher but it can keep it from cleaning properly. Sensors may shut the dishwasher down so that you know a problem is occurring.
There may also be some unusual problems that can cause this type of malfunction, including ghost buttons, temperature sensitivity, unbalanced loads, and water hammer. In any of these cases, the solution is simple but you will need to see which is the problem before it is fixed.
Sometimes, the easiest way to get a dishwasher to start working again is to do a reset. Most dishwashers are not equipped with a reset button, so you will have to do it manually.
When you contact customer support for almost any technical issue, the first thing they will do is tell you to turn off the item and turn it back on again. There is a reason why they do this, it usually works!
The easiest way to reset a dishwasher is to disconnect it from the power source for at least five minutes. This can be done by either unplugging the appliance or switching off the circuit breaker.
Since most dishwashers are plugged in behind the appliance and it is not easy to reach the receptacle, you may find that switching off the circuit breaker is the most obvious choice.
After turning off the circuit breaker or unplugging the appliance, you should leave the power off for at least five minutes. In some dishwashers, there may be electrical components that hold power for a short amount of time and this gives it time for the energy to dissipate.
Most dishwashers do not have a startup process but if they do, you should allow it to run through the entire startup before you try to run it again.
Small glitches can happen in the control board of the dishwasher, and it may have stopped mid-cycle due to a power failure or other issues. If that is the case, it could lead to a problem that would cause the cycle to turn on and off without finishing.
If you plug in the dishwasher and the problem continues to occur, it is best to unplug the dishwasher until it can be repaired to avoid the possibility of damage.
Finally, many modern dishwashers will alert you to serious problems or even small issues that occur by means of visual or audio faults. You will have to check the owner’s manual of your specific model to see which faults are appearing.
Finally, never work on a dishwasher or any other appliance while the electricity was turned on. Once you expose the live electrical by removing panels, you are in danger of shocking or perhaps even electrocuting yourself.
If you do have to test something with the electricity turned on, be careful to protect yourself to the extent possible.
Other safety measures include wearing the appropriate gloves, as well as safety glasses. These may seem like smaller issues, but they can be a large problem if you damage your hands or eyes.
Now that we have considered some of the general issues that can keep a dishwasher from running as it should, we will look at some of the model-specific problems from various manufacturers.
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Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on September 14, 2023.
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