Why GE Washer Won’t Start [Causes And Solution]

You probably want to know how to fix GE washer won’t start problem – as washers are high-end appliances. What you may not realize is that they can be quite common to break down. They often have a high number of moving parts, which can make them easy to break down.

​The washing machine isn’t something you should have to worry about — but if it stops working or breaks down, the sudden shift in your daily routine can be devastating. With our guide to the most common reasons your GE washer not starting, you’ll be able to troubleshoot issues and fix problems before they impact your daily routine.

Here are some troubleshooting tips to help you diagnose and repair the problem. Follow these suggestions, and if you still need further help, consult a GE service professional.

GE Washer Won’t Start – Troubleshoot And Diagnosis

Sometimes you’ll experience a problem with your GE washer that can be fixed with a simple DIY fix, while other times you’ll encounter problems that require professional service. The first step to solving the problem is determining why your washer isn’t working.

NOTE: Before beginning, this repair, turn off the appliance and unplug it. Next, put on your gloves and safety goggles. This will make sure you remain safe while you complete these steps.

1. Inspect Power Source

If the light on the washer doesn’t turn on, try restarting the washing machine by pressing the Start/Pause Wash button. The light should come on again.

If it still doesn’t turn on, check if the outlet’s power is on. If it is, unplug and plug in the washer to a different outlet. After that press and hold the Start/Pause Wash button until the washing machine starts.

First off, make sure the washer is plugged in properly, then check that the outlet is working by plugging something else into it.

Check first whether the power cord is properly plugged in. Is the power on? Then unplug the washer, wait for two to three seconds and plug it back in. Then press Start/Pause.

The first thing to do is check the power cord: unplug it from the wall and look for any cuts, frays or tears in the cord. Next, check that it’s plugged into a working outlet. Then, check that it’s plugged directly into the wall — never use an extension cord with a washing machine or any other appliance. 

The extension cord will not deliver the rated voltage and amperage that a washer needs to operate correctly, resulting in surges of dropped voltage which may prevent your washer’s cycle from completing.

The easiest way to identify the problem is to check the circuit breaker box. The breaker box is usually found in a utility room or basement of your home and usually has a cover that says “fuses” or “circuit breakers.” It could be inside the circuit breaker box that you find a tripped breaker, which would cause an electrical fire. To re-set the tripped breaker, you need to press it down and turn it back on.

If there is ever a power surge or failure during the laundry cycle, simply unplug the machine from the outlet. After two minutes, plug the unit back in and restart the cycle.

2. Disable The Control Lock

If your GE washer is on, but not starting, you may have accidentally locked yourself out of the control panel. Luckily, locking the control panel isn’t a permanent process; all it takes to unlock it is a simple push of a button. When you see that the Control Lock icon is active, simply press the Power button on your washer to turn it off and back on again.

There are two ways to turn off the Control Lock feature. The first is to hold the Lock button, located on the front of your washer, for 3 seconds until a beep or chime sounds and the icon on the display panel disappears.

For those of you who prefer a visual cue when turning off the control lock, simply press the Timer button until you see “Control Lock” appear on the display panel.

3. Door Is Not Properly Closed

GE knows that your washer is a big investment, and it’s not something you want to worry about. That’s why all their models come equipped with washer door locks and a leak detection system. Both of these great features work together to ensure that your washer has no chance of damage or leaks.

GE washer door interlock systems are designed to prevent the washer from filling and draining water until the door is properly shut and latched. The interlocks help ensure that people and pets are out of harm’s way while operating the washer and reduce the risk of property damage caused by flooding.

GE’s laundry machines include a safety feature that allows them to unlock for 15 seconds at the start of each cycle. This time allows your hands to be free and not have to hold the door open.

Check for debris or laundry that might be blocking the door from closing. If the door is still not closing properly, check the hinge screws and ensure they are tight and clean.

If you find some clothes that are trapped in the door, remove them and then see if the door closes again. If it still doesn’t close properly or if you can’t find anything trapped in the doorway, then your GE washing machine may have an issue with its latch.

Check the GE washer door latch — if it’s damaged or broken, or if there is no continuity, then that means you need to have your door latch replaced.

4. Check Washer Settings

To troubleshoot, check the display on your GE washer, particularly if you are receiving an error code.

If there is an error code displayed and your model comes with a troubleshooting guide, follow those instructions to clear the error.

Once the error has been cleared, pass through a complete cycle without adding any laundry to test whether the problem has been resolved.

The delay start feature can be an incredibly useful setting on your GE washer. However, if you’re not paying attention, you could end up leaving it on all day and forgetting about it entirely. There could also be some confusion with the delay start button itself, which may have accidentally been pressed without the user realizing it.

GE washers with no error codes present may have the Delay Start feature activated. It’s not immediately obvious to first-time users that this option exists, and can result in owner confusion. If you select a wash cycle and see the countdown timer to the start time appear, that means the Delay Start option is activated for your wash cycle.

The instructions on how to disable the Delay Start might seem lengthy, but the process is simple: simply hold down the Start button for 3 seconds and a message will appear on the display panel stating that Delay Start is disabled.

5. Check Timer

GE washers are notorious for piling up a laundry list of issues, but before you start replacing parts, try this simple fix. First, check the timer to see if it’s defective — thankfully, testing a timer is easy enough to do on your own. Using your multimeter, check the continuity of the timer by attaching one probe to the center contact and the other to either end contact.

Before you replace the timer, troubleshoot other common problems, like broken belts and water level switches.

6. User Control and Display Board

If some buttons on your GE washer work but others do not, the control board might be faulty.

First, try pressing all of the buttons — when some don’t respond, check to see if the problem is caused by a defective control board. If it is, you will need to replace it. If your control board doesn’t work, but has power, you may need to replace it.

7. Blown Line Fuse

If your GE washer is not performing as well as it should be, you may need to replace its line fuse. If the washer still does not work after replacing the fuse, you may need to check the circuit breaker that supplies electricity to the washer.

The main fuse protects the motor from getting overloaded or if the washer malfunctions, it will trip and stop the rest of the machine from working. A blown fuse can be hard to identify unless you have a multimeter. You’ll need to test for continuity on a new fuse before you replace it.

In addition, you should investigate the cause of the fuse. There are a number of components that can be faulty, so check wires, the washer motor, and the drain pump. If the fuse has blown again for the same reason, then this is an indication that there is something wrong with one or more of these components.