GE is a household name in many home because of its high quality dishwashers sets. But even for a brand this popular, an issue such as the GE dishwasher control panel not working is a big deal…
But why does the control panel fail in the first place?
Your GE dishwasher control panel isn’t working because the control lock is active, the touchpad has issue, or the main control board is faulty. There may be electrical issues with the unit, such as the power outlet not working or a blown thermal fuse.
If you buy a GE dishwasher, your expectation is the unit will work for longer without experiencing technical issues. Unfortunately, no dishwasher in the GE series is 100% error proof, so it’s likely you might run into the control panel not working as expected.
The good thing is you can diagnose the GE dishwasher control panel, identify where the problem is, and fix the error accordingly.
From my experience, many of the dishwasher problems are so easy to fix on your own that you don’t need to hire a professional service.
So if the control panel isn’t working, it should be easy for you to diagnose the issue and correct the error with a quick DIY fix.
GE Dishwasher Control Panel Not Working (5 Problems and Fixes)
The following table is a summary of why your GE dishwasher’s control panel isn’t working. The table also includes quick DIY fix for each problem, so you don’t have to call a professional for help.
| Problem | Recommended Fix | |
| 1. | Dishwasher control panel not starting at all | You may have disconnected the unit from the power source. Connect the power cable to a working power outlet and try running the unit again. |
| 2. | Thermal fuse may be faulty | Use a multimeter to check the thermal fuse for continuity. Replace it with a new one if the continuity is zero |
| 3. | The control lock is on by default | You should deactivate the control lock to get the control panel to resume working |
| 4. | Some buttons don’t respond to presses | Clean the ribbon to get rid of dust, grime, and rust. Check if the ribbon disconnected from the MCB and fix. |
| 5. | Faulty main control board (MCB) | Check if the connectors are loose and tighten them. If everything is fine, the Main Control Board may be broken, so consider replacing it with a new one |
Let’s discuss each of these issues even further.
1. GE Dishwasher Control Panel Not Starting
If you’ve pressed the control panel but noticed that it’s not starting, there may be an issue with power supply. Power supply issue is the simplest to fix and don’t require more than $20 to repair.
First, check the power cord. It may have fallen free from the wall, or you may have turned it off the last time you used the dishwasher to do the utensils.
Also, check the power supply source. If the circuit breaker is in the OFF position, push it back to the ON positon. If the fuse blew, replace it with a new one.
2. Faulty Thermal Fuse
I mention thermal fuse in just about any post about dishwasher troubleshooting, and for a good reason.
The thermal fuse is an important component that keeps a dishwasher from overheating. So if the fuse blows, the control panel won’t light up and it’s highly unlikely that it will work.
Look for a blown thermal fuse near the control panel first. It’s a little white or silver cylinder with two wires attached.
What you need to do here is to perform a continuity test. You can use a multimeter such as AstroAI 2000 Counts Digital Multimeter to do this. I recommend the model because it gives you the option to test for continuity.
Replace the thermal fuse if you notice that it doesn’t have continuity.
3. The Control Lock Keeps the Control Panel from Starting
When the Control Lock feature is active, the buttons on the GE dishwasher control panel freeze and won’t respond to presses.
Sometimes referred to as the kids’ lock, the control lock is an important feature that keeps a child from interrupting an ongoing wash cycle or starting a new one. It’s also a good way to keep them safe so that you never have to worry if you leave them home alone.
But as significant as the feature is, it shuts down the machine from working. And if it doesn’t cross your mind that you activated the control lock during or after a washing cycle, you might think the control panel is faulty.
Interestingly, even the GE dishwasher start button won’t work if you had the Control Lock feature previously activated.
I suggest you check if the control lock feature is active and deactivate it to get the control panel to resume working.
To do this:
Press and hold the “Heated Dry” button for 3 seconds. The Control Lock light will turn off, indicating you’ve had the lock disabled.
If the “Heated Dry” option doesn’t work, you can reset the unit by turning the power off, unplugging the unit, and then turning it back on after 30 to 60 seconds.
4. Some Buttons on the Control Panel Aren’t Working
If the lights appear to be working but some buttons do not respond when you press them, you may be having an issue with the control panel’s ribbon cable.
Clean the ribbon cable of any corrosion, rust, or grime. Doing so should solve the problem of a loose or bad connection between the main control board and the ribbon cable.
Sometimes the ribbon cable may have just disconnected on its own, making it difficult for some buttons to work properly or not to work at all. Just reconnect the cable to fix this problem.
5. Problem with the Main Control Board
The main control board is the engine of the dishwasher. I’ve heard some people refer to it as the brand of the unit with which the machine can’t work.
In other words, the main control board controls practically all the operations of the dishwasher. If the board fails, it will not send the electrical pulses required for the GE dishwasher won’t start and the control panel won’t function.
It’s not easy to repair the main control board and, in most cases, it may be impossible even for a technician to fix the problem.
The best solution is to replace the main control board.
A good recommendation for the GE dishwashers is GE WD21X24900 Dishwasher Electronic Control Board. You’ll love this recommendation because it’s compatible with over a dozen models.
Keep in mind that the assembly may include multiple parts, and therefore GE recommends checking the parts diagram so that you’re aware of the included list of parts.
Remember that you should replace the main control board only as a last resort. I suggest you first exhaust all other options before attempting this fix. And make sure you do enough tests because misdiagnosis can end up costing you a lot of money unnecessarily.
Before purchasing a replacement board, try unplugging the main feed in the board and connecting it back in.
Sometimes the issue with the main control board isn’t that it’s faulty. There might be a loose connector issue, which you can fix in under a minute and have the control panel working correctly after a reconnection.
GE Dishwasher Control Panel Replacement
If the main control board is in good condition, but the control panel still won’t work, your best option is to have the control panel replaced.
Keep in mind that if you’re replacing the whole control panel, you may have to remove the entire front panel as well as the door to get the new component attached in the place of the old one.
I recommend getting GE WD34X22262 EOM Dishwasher Control Panel for replacement.
Although this replacement differs in appearance from your washer’s current control panel, it’s a functional equivalent, and therefore it should work fine for a dishwasher.
Don’t forget to choose a control panel that matches your unit’s model number. The last mistake you want to make is to choose a replacement at random only to find out that it doesn’t fit as initially expected.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How Do I Reset My GE Dishwasher Control Panel?
How you reset a GE dishwasher’s control panel will depend on the model you have.
For the GE Profile PDW8000 series, press the reset button once and wait for two minutes for the machine to reset.
For the PDW9000, open the door about an inch, wait for the dishwasher to stop, and then press the reset button for the washing cycle to cancel and the control panel to reset.
You can also reset your GE dishwasher’s control panel by disconnecting the unit from the power source. Then, wait at least at least 60 seconds for the unit to reset before powering it back on.
2. How Much Does a GE Dishwasher Control Panel Cost?
The cost of a GE dishwasher control panel varies depending on the model as well as where you choose to buy it.
On average, you can expect the cost to be somewhere between $40 and $140 for a genuine EOM control panel.
Closing Thought: Why GE Dishwasher Control Panel Is Not Working
As you can see, it isn’t difficult to fix the errors causing a GE dishwasher control panel that isn’t working. All you have to do is reference this guide for possible causes of the panel not working and consider our suggestion to fix the problem.
Sometimes the issue may be as small as dirt and grime on the connector ribbon. At times, the issue could be a faulty touchpad or a broken main control board.
It may take some time to figure out what causes your GE dishwasher’s control panel not to work. But it should be easy to fix the problem once you identify it.
It costs money to fix some of the issues causing the GE dishwasher control panel not to work. But I can guarantee you won’t spend more than $400 on replacement parts. After all, accessories such as multimeter won’t cost you more than $30.