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GE dishwasher won’t start but has power enough to keep beeping? This article explains the different types of beeping and what they mean, how to reset, possible problems with the door latch, and much more. Let’s get your dishwasher back into business.
There are some possible explanations for why GE dishwasher won’t start and just beeps. It may be reacting to a power surge or the door latch isn’t functioning correctly. It could also be something awry with the heater.
We’ll walk you through the basics of this problem in the article below. You are probably able to fix this issue without calling a service repair technician. You will find that the type of beep you hear is a signal to the problem.
Constant Beeping Sound
A dishwasher that has both beeping sounds and blinking lights usually indicates it was subjected to a power surge. This can be easily fixed by resetting the dishwasher. To do that, press the button for start or reset. The dishwasher should be back to normal and start running as before in about three minutes.
The issue can return. If it does, do a hard set on the dishwasher. A hard reset is when you cut it from power for 10 minutes. The power cord may not be accessible. In that case, flip the circuit breaker dedicated to the dishwasher off.
The dishwasher should resume its cycle once you turn the power back on.
Read: 5 Reasons Why GE Dishwasher Not Draining
Timed Beeping Sound
Your dishwasher may make a beeping sound 30 seconds to a minute apart when you start it. This tells you the door is unlatched. Stop the dishwasher, open the door and close it firmly. Press start again and see if the beeping stops.
Running an Operation Check
You can run a door status check to see if the latch is the issue. Hold down the “select cycle” and “start” buttons at the same time for five seconds. The dishwasher will go through a door status check for 10 seconds after that. A closed-door will show solid LED lights. An open door, or a problem with the latch, will show up as flashing LED lights.
The LED lights will cut off after the door status check, except for the lock LED. This is when you want to run an operations check that runs through the workings of the drain pump, the water valve, the circulation pump, the heater, and the detergent solenoid.
You will start this test while the lock LED is lit. Hold down the “select cycle” for five seconds. Then, press it again to the selects/increments test. Press “start” to start the test. You can also press
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“start” to stop it if you need to do so.
This test will use LED lights to indicate the tests being run. The lights are as follows:
- One blink means the drain pump is running.
- Two blinks indicate the water valve is filling the tub.
- Three blinks mean the circulation pump is changing the diverter.
- Four blinks indicated the heater is on.
- Five blinks show the detergent solenoid is on maximum use.
The entire test should only take six minutes at most.
Read: Should You Use Dishwasher Detergent Substitute’s?
A Perplexing Problem: GE dishwasher won’t start
People routinely show up on appliance forums asking about a dishwasher that won’t start. One GE dishwasher owner said all her buttons worked and the appliance had power. She said it beeped three times when she pressed start but nothing happens.
She did a hard reset on the appliance, ran the error mode, ran the service mode and everything came up clean. The dishwasher showed no irregularities or errors. The start button worked well during the different modes.
Yet, it beeped again and wouldn’t start when she returned to start the dishwasher after the diagnostic modes.
She then did a door status check. Nothing was wrong there. She ran another test on operations and the dishwasher passed.
The appliance technician then gave her a piece of simple advice. He said to press and hold the “heated dry” and “start” buttons simultaneously for five seconds. Then, try to run a cycle. It worked.
Read: Why Is Dishwasher’s Detergent Door Not Opening?
What do you do when your dishwasher isn’t starting?
Do the obvious first. See that the dishwasher has power. You can check the outlet or look to see if the circuit breaker is flipped. Check your wall switch or a switch under the sink to see if the power is on.
If none of those things work, you will need to reset the machine to see if that makes a difference. Then, you should run a diagnostic test if the dishwasher turns on.
Why is the start button flashing on my GE dishwasher?
It means the cycle was interrupted. The light will blink if you press the “start” button after a cycle starts. This tells you the appliance is draining water and going into “standby” status.
This situation can also happen if you don’t interrupt the cycle by pressing a button. A blinking “start” light could mean that the door was opened during a cycle or power was disrupted.
Read: Why Dishwasher Hums And Not Getting Water?
Could the thermal fuse be the problem?
A faulty thermal fuse could cause your dishwasher to not start but wouldn’t be associated with the beeping sound. A failed thermal fuse will not send power to the control board so your dishwasher won’t start.
Where is the thermal fuse on a GE dishwasher?
Typically, the thermal fuse is on top of the circuit board assembly. It has two wires connected to it.
Do GE dishwashers have a lot of problems?
GE dishwashers don’t have a lot of problems and their problems aren’t any more frequent or severe than other brands. GE is a reliable company.
The most common problems GE dishwashers have are water filling issues, water leaks, draining problems, and the appliance suddenly stopping during a wash cycle.
There are also “cleaning issues” which means the drain can get clogged. However, you are supposed to clean your dishwasher twice a year to prevent that.
How long will a GE dishwasher last?
The average lifespan of any dishwasher is between nine to 10 years. Some can last longer depending on how well you maintain them.
When will a dishwasher start needing repairs?
Consumer Reports states most dishwashers need some type of repair within five years. However, most dishwasher repairs are smaller problems at that point so they shouldn’t be expensive or involved.
Read: Why Is My Dishwasher Making Loud Noises?
Do plumbers work on dishwashers?
Plumbers don’t repair dishwashers but they often install them. Dishwasher installation involves hooking up water and power so plumbers are well suited for that and will do a good job.You should call an appliance repair technician if your dishwasher needs repair.
Why is my dishwasher beeping randomly?
Dishwashers do beep at certain points during the cycle to let you know one cycle is done and another started. However, beeps can also indicate a part is failing.
You will know this type of beep if it happens at unusual times or seems to be happening more often.
Resetting a GE Dishwasher to Clear Codes
It’s an easy task to reset the control panel to clear all codes in a GE dishwasher. Press the “start” button for five seconds. It will flash. Now, press both the “start” and the “select cycle” button down at the same time for five seconds.
The control panel should be cleared. It should light up with everything operating normally.
I follow all the instructions and when I start the normal cycle it will start collecting water and then instead of starting it just completely silent for a few minutes and then it starts draining the water. That’s all it does. I even change the cpu board on the bottom and it still does the same thing!?!?