GE Dishwasher Start Button Not Working [10 Fixations 2024]

Having a faulty dishwasher at your place is frustrating. I mean you can come across various issues any time. But what you need to do is try to resolve those issues instead of ignoring them. In this guide, today I will be discussing how to fix a non-working start button present on your GE dishwasher. Moreover, I will also enlighten you all with the reasons which become the cause of this issue. So stay with me till the end!

GE Dishwasher Start Button Not Working – Potential Reasons

Following are the reasons why the start button on your GE dishwasher isn’t working.

  • Failed Power
  • Failed Water Supply
  • Locked Controls
  • Unlatched Door
  • Wrong Cycle Selection
  • Button being Stuck
  • Broken Button
  • Defective Touchpad
  • Faulty Control Board
  • Loose Wiring

So these are basically the top reasons why your GE Dishwasher’s start button isn’t working.

Troubleshooting Guide

Now that you have become familiar with the reasons, the next step is to adopt relevant fixes for each problem. In this section, first of all I will give a brief introduction about the problem and then I will jump on to its fix. If you really want to solve this problem then this section is definitely for you!

GE Dishwasher Start Button Not Working
GE Dishwasher Start Button Not Working

1. Insufficient Power Supply

It is lame to expect your dishwasher to run without power. I mean there is no chance that you can have your dishwasher all working without delivering power. You need to check the following things because they can interfere with the power supply.

  • Possible blackout 
  • Loosely plugged or unplugged dishwasher 
  • Failing to turn on the dishwasher 
  • Defective power outlet 
  • Tripped breaker 

Fix Method

The first thing that you need to check is the power. There should be power availability and make sure there is no blackout. In case there is a blackout then you need to wait for the power to be restored. Moreover, the power cable should be plugged in firmly. Lastly, don’t forget to check the socket in which the power cord is plugged in. If the socket is not working then you need to replace it. In the meanwhile, reset the circuit breaker if it is tripped.

2. Inadequate Water Supply

The second lame thing is to expect a dishwasher to work without water. When it comes to water then it is as important as power. Without a proper water supply your dishwasher will not work whatsoever. The reasons why your dishwasher isn’t getting water are as follows.

  • Water supply valve not turned ON
  • Presence of kinks in the water supply line
  • Faulty water inlet valve

Fix Method

Make sure that the water supply valve of the dishwasher is ON. In case it is OFF then turn it ON as soon as possible. Remove all the kinks and bends present on the water supply line. Take a multimeter and use it to test the continuity of the inlet valve. In case of damage, replace the valve at your earliest.

3. Enabled Control Lock

If the control lock is enabled then the dishwasher will surely not work. This happens because the control lock safety feature restricts the control panel from being operable. You need to disable this lock in order to start your dishwasher.

Fix Method

Consult your user manual to disable the child/control lock. This is important because the deactivation steps for every model are different.

4. An Opened Dishwasher Door

The dishwasher will only start when the dishwasher’s door is completely latched. Even if the door is slightly opened then the dishwasher will read it as open and won’t start. The dishwasher door can be opened due to the following reasons.

  • Failing to latch the door firmly 
  • Presence of obstructions
  • Broken door latch or switch 

Fix Method

Remove all the obstructions present and shut the door firmly. If the door doesn’t shut properly then you need to look at the possible damages on the latch and in case you find any you need to get it replaced as soon as possible. You can test the latch and micro switch using a multimeter.

5. Wrong Cycle Selection

There are some cycle options which restrict the dishwasher from starting right away while some of the options don’t allow it to start at all. Following cycle selections can be the real culprit behind your problem.

  • Delay Start
  • Demo Mode 
  • Sabbath Mode
  • Sleep Mode

Fix Method

You need to make your dishwasher run on default settings and to do this you have to reset it so that the old settings can be overridden.

6. Button Being Stuck

There is a possibility that the start button which you are trying to press is actually stuck. Due to dirt and grease present around it, it can become difficult to press it. You need to observe this thing visually to make a confirmation.

Fix Method

Clean the start button carefully and if it is stuck then make sure to un-stuck it.

7. Broken Button

Sometimes the start button could be unresponsive because it is broken. If this is the case then the start button won’t work.

Fix Method

Replace the control panel if a broken start button is present on it.

8. Defective Touchpad

You can say that the touchpad is defective if the buttons present on it are unresponsive. Touch all the buttons on the touchpad to make sure whether they are working or not. If some of the buttons are working and some are not then it is confirmed that the touchpad is defective.

Fix Method

There is no solution other than replacing the touchpad.

9. Faulty Control Board

If all the buttons present on the control board aren’t working then it is due to the presence of a faulty control board. Press all the buttons to be sure that all of them are unresponsive.

Fix Method

You need to replace the control board if almost every button present on it is unresponsive.

GE Dishwasher Start Button Not Working
GE Dishwasher Start Button Not Working

Check More DishWasher Fixation:

GE Dishwasher Fills with Water then Stops

Bosch Dishwasher Troubleshooting e15

Whirlpool Dishwasher Fills with Water then Stops

Bosch Dishwasher Cycles Explained

10. Loose Wiring

Sometimes the culprit is the least expected one. In this case, the presence of loose wiring can make it difficult to get your dishwasher started.

Fix Method

If no other option seems to be a valid one then you can simply call a technician and have the wiring fixed.

The End:

So in a nutshell, if the start button of your dishwasher isn’t working then you can consult this guide to overcome it. I have mentioned almost every problem along with its fix so you don’t have to face any inconvenience in the future.

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