GE Dishwasher Motor Repair Problem
Fri, Mar 9, 2007
Today, we’ll be covering a very common problem with older GE dishwashers. Below is a copy of a conversation between a homeowner and an AppliancePartsPros technician who sometimes participates in the DIY Network home improvement forum.
Digi:
Need help with 10 year old GE dishwasher -
the water fills up - the motor humms - but it doesn’t go into a wash cycle.
when you turn the main knob into a wash cycle nothing happens ( only hums )
Is this a bad motor? can I fix it myself?
Can you help and advise me??
or is it not worth fixing?
thanks
Digi
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APP tech:
Digi, post the dishwasher model (starts with GSD). I need to see whether it has the older or the newer pump/motor assembly. If it’s the older design, there is a way to release the motor.
Make sure to get the model number off the dishwasher itself. Here is our Model number locator if you need to know where the tag is.
Repair guy from Appliance Parts Pros.com
——–
Digi:
thank you for your help; here is the information
GSD 2000 Z02AD
I also checked the circut breaker and it was ok.
Appreciate your help - Hope you can help me with this information.
thank you
digi
——–
APP tech:
You’re in luck Digi,
This motor can be released. This is a very common problem on GE dishwashers. First, make sure to unplug the power to the dishwasher (unplug the cord), it may be obvious but I still have to mention it…
Remove the bottom kickpanel (four screws, one in each corner). Now you should have the motor exposed. There is a large blade that is right in the middle of the motor with its fins partially exposed. Rotate the blade a few times until you no longer feel any pressure. Using a flashlight check the floor for any signs of water damage. If none is present, put the kickpanel back on, plug the dishwasher cord in and try a cycle. It should work fine.
In rare cases the pump seal may break, so keep an eye out for any leaks during the drain cycle. If you find that the seal is bad, you can either rebuild the pump (not a complicated task) using a pump/motor rebuild kit or replace the entire pump/motor assembly if you don’t feel like spending the time. But again, this does not happen often, usually the pump is fine after the motor is released.
Breakdown diagrams for your model
Hope this helps,
Repair guy from Appliance Parts Pros.com
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Digi:
You were absolutely correct!!! We were in luck with the dishwasher. We followed your directions and the added info was very helpful. We now have a working dishwasher - it kicked in!
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU
Digi
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APP tech:
Glad to hear that it worked. It’s been a couple of weeks, I thought you’d given up and bought a new one.
I know those Sears commercials may be a little too persuasive, but appliances ARE made to last… with a little help that is 
Repair guy from AppliancePartsPros.com
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June 8th, 2007 at 1:52 am
I have the same problem with a GE Model GSD700G-01. Any chance I can do the same fix?
June 8th, 2007 at 5:03 am
I don’t see why not, Dan. This is a pretty common problem with GE dishwashers and this fix works in most cases. Sometimes, if the dishwasher is rather old, the seal might break. In this case, you can either rebuild the pump with a pump/motor impeller kit or replace the entire pump/motor assembly with a new one. Read and follow the APP guy’s instructions closely and don’t forget to let us know how it turns out!
AJ
June 8th, 2007 at 4:53 pm
Wow! Thanks for the help! It worked like a champ! I appreciate the help. I’ll be back should I need help again!
June 8th, 2007 at 6:26 pm
That’s great, Dan!
We’ll be here.
AJ
June 10th, 2007 at 3:17 pm
I have a similar sounding but differenr problem with my GE Dishwasher.
It makes a lot of noise. Until last week it used to wash with the noise. Now the noise is louder and water does not enter the dishwasher. I checked the water lines and they seem fine. So I removed the kick board and took a look at the motor. As far as I can tell there is no leak and the fins rotate freely. But the noise seems to originate from the motor when I run the machine.
I called service and they said it could be that the blades are broken.
Do you have any suggestions? Can I (is it even worth trying) fix this by myself? or should I run to homedepot to get a new one?
Oh I almost forgot, the model number is
GSD1180T55WW
Many tks in advance.
June 10th, 2007 at 6:56 pm
RR, Sounds like you may have two problems there. The no water problem may be caused by a faulty inlet water valve (at the bottom of the diswasher, to the left of the pump) or a clogged screen inside the valve. The sound you are describing probably means that the motor is bad. New pump/motor assembly is about $125. Water valve $30. If you fix it yourself, then you’re looking at spending about $160-$170 total. Add atleast $120 if you’re calling for service.
If you decide to get a new dishwasher, I would recommend getting a different brand. Whirlpool if you don’t want to spend too much, Bosch if you want to invest in a quality dishwasher. Can you get a new dishwasher for $300? Yes, you can even get one for $180. Will you be happy with it? Most likely not and it’d be a waste of $300.
Keep us updated.
AJ
December 10th, 2007 at 10:18 pm
If I have to spin the motor fins almost everytime, is there a way to lubricate the motor? I read somewhere about running a vinegar solution through a cycle?
December 13th, 2007 at 8:37 am
Sounds like it’s time for a new pump/motor assembly there, Royboy - http://www.appliancepartspros.com/part_details.aspx?part_id=2616850
December 28th, 2007 at 11:16 pm
I have the same problem with my built in dishwasher model GSD700G. Sounds like the motor is stuck. I removed the lower panel but the motor is not visible at all. Al I see is wiring and connectors. Where can I access the motor? Thanks.
January 1st, 2008 at 5:54 am
The motor should be visible once both kickpanels have been removed. If you can, take a picture and provide link here.
January 2nd, 2008 at 6:07 pm
Thanks for the response. Dont have a camera handy at the moment. Based on what you write, sounds like there is another panel that should be removed? BuAt the very bottom is just a metal panel that sits on the floor. I dont see any. I only see one lower panel which I removed, as stated in my previous comment. The wiring/connectors and some foam ( for sound proffing ) is visible.
Any other comments will be appreciated. bear in mind this built in model GSD700G is apprx 15 yrs old.
January 18th, 2008 at 2:07 am
I located the motor :). I checked the motor and spin the motor fins. it moved freely,OK. So what could be wrong? I tried again. I noticed that, after water filled in, the knob was turning slowly. So, the knob doesn’t seem stuck. Also, I smelled a bit burning. I turned it off when the wash cycle did not start. As I recall, the wash cycle used to start immediately after the water filled in.
Now the water is sitting in the dish washer. I guess I will remove the water manually as I did previously. Any thoughts?
February 2nd, 2008 at 10:43 pm
PLease ignore my previous Post. I was reading about the similar problem elsewhere ( FixYa) and there was a picture of the motor posted there. Looking at it I realize that I have been trying to move the “vane” at the wrong place. When I removed the panel, I see the back side of the motor. At the backside there are some vents and inside something that roatates with finger easily. But as I look at the picture, the vane is located on or closer to the front of the motor. Correct? There I was able to feel a large Blade and inside something that was very hard to move. So, it is stuck. I will try to put some pressure there and see if I can get it released. I guess it should move clockwise? Am I right? Thnx for all your help and would appreciate a response.
February 3rd, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Sounds like you found it. Doesn’t matter which way to move it. Good luck and don’t forget to check for water leaks afterwards.