With the control panel allowing you to select cycles, you wouldn’t want it to fail on your GE profile dishwasher. That, nonetheless, doesn’t mean that you give up on your dishwasher or replace it right away when the control panel becomes non-responsive, and that’s where this DIY guide on GE Profile dishwasher troubleshooting control panel comes in.
The troubleshooting guide will enable you to fix your GE profile control panel when it’s locked, won’t work (at all), or has no lights, and when some or all buttons are non-responsive.
Those are the five control panel issues we’ll discuss that are common among GE profile dishwashers. We’ll look at their triggers and the relevant fixes. Additionally, we’ll look at how you can replace a GE profile dishwasher’s control panel.
But first, let’s see how you can reset the control panel, as you can fix some control panel issues with only a reset. Let’s dive in!
In a rush? Check out an overview of the commonest GE Profile dishwasher control panel issues and their troubleshooting
GE Profile Dishwasher Troubleshooting Control Panel Issues – A Quick Guide
| – | Control Panel Problem | Likely Cause | Recommended Fix |
| 1. | Locked Control Panel | Active Control Lock-Out | Disable Control Lock |
| 2. | Control Panel Not Working At All | Control Lock, failed power, electrical fault, or a defective touchpad or control panel | Disable Control Lock, ensure the dishwasher turns on, and replace a defective touchpad or control panel |
| 3. | Control Panel Has No Lights | Failed power or unlatched door | Ensure the dishwasher has power and its door shuts |
| 4. | Some Buttons Are Non-responsive | Rusty or grimy ribbon cables or a defective touchpad or control panel | Replace rusty ribbon cables or a faulty touchpad |
| 5. | All Buttons Are Non-responsive | Failed power or a faulty door latch, door switch, or main control board | Ensure the dishwasher has power and replace a defective door latch, door switch, or main control board |
GE Profile Dishwasher Control Panel Reset
Sometimes, resetting is all it takes to troubleshoot a malfunctioning GE Profile dishwasher control panel. You can do it using any of these reset options:
Reset option 1 – Using the reset button
If you can access the reset button on your GE profile dishwasher, press it once and then open the door by ½ inch. Press the reset button again and wait for the dishwasher to work.
Reset option 2 – Unplug the dishwasher
Plug out the dishwasher from the power socket for at least 30 seconds. Plug it back and restart it to see if the control panel works. If it’s not, then consider the problems discussed below.
Troubleshooting 5 Common GE Profile Dishwasher Control Panel Problems
Below are 5 of the most everyday GE Profile dishwasher control panel issues for troubleshooting:
1. GE Profile Dishwasher Control Panel Locked
The Control Lock function on GE dishwashers deactivates most controls to prevent kids from operating the dishwasher. But since it locks most controls, the dishwasher is unable to start.
Fix
Disable Control Lock when you plan to run the dishwasher if it’s active. Press Heated-Dry for about 3 seconds or until the lock lights go off.
Alternatively, reset the dishwasher by turning it off from the breaker box or unplugging it for about half a minute.
2. GE Profile Dishwasher Control Panel Not Working at All
The dishwasher control panel may fail to work at all due to any of these reasons:
- Control Lock – As mentioned, if the control panel is locked (due to an active Control Lock), it won’t work and will also prevent the dishwasher from running.
- Failed power – The control panel won’t power up without power disruption. It could be a blackout, a power surge that trips the breaker or blows up the fuse, or a loose power cord.
- Electrical fault – The dishwasher’s control panel will also fail to turn on if there is an electrical fault. Issues to consider here include faulty wiring and a blown-up socket.
- Defective touchpad – The control panel won’t respond to any command if the touchpad is faulty.
- Defective control panel – The control panel itself could be defective. If so, then it won’t work at all.
Fix
Disable the control lock function if enabled and ensure your dishwasher has power. That means resetting a tripped OFF breaker, replacing a blown-up fuse (which will fail the multimeter’s electrical continuity test), and firmly plugging in the dishwasher’s power cable.
Call an electrician if you suspect an electrical fault and replace the touchpad if some control panel buttons are responsive while others aren’t. However, if the control panel looks damaged, replace it.
3. GE Profile Dishwasher Control Panel No Lights
Two issues could cause the dishwasher control panel not to light up, and they are:
- Failed power – Don’t expect the dishwasher control panel to light up if there’s no power in the first place. So, first, check if the dryer has power, and if it doesn’t, consider the issues I touched on earlier under ‘failed power.’
- Unlatched door – A GE profile dishwasher reads an unlatched door as a fault. So, the control panel may fail to light up as a result. And even if it lights up, the dishwasher won’t start.
Fix
Identify any issue stopping the dishwasher’s power supply and fix it. That includes an unplugged dishwasher, a defective power cord, and a tripped breaker.
In that case, firmly plug in the dishwasher and ensure the cable is not defective – if it is, replace it. And if the dishwasher door is not shut, try shutting it. Remove any obstruction on its door.
Then test the door switch with a multimeter if it still won’t close. If the door switch lacks continuity, replace it. And if the door latch looks damaged, replace it too.
4. Some GE Profile Dishwasher Control Pane Buttons Are Not Working
While you don’t expect some control panel buttons to be responsive and others non-responsive, that can sometimes happen. Possible issues to check out include the following:
- Rusty or grimy ribbon cables – The ribbon cables on your dishwasher may sometimes over-accumulate grime and, in some worst cases, rust. Once that’s the case, some control panel buttons become unresponsive.
- Defective touchpad – If the issue is not with the ribbon cables, the touchpad is likely malfunctioning if some buttons are working while others aren’t.
- Failed control panel – If the touchpad is not damaged and some buttons are still non-responsive, then it could be that the control panel is defective. The control panel and touchpad are bought in some dishwashers as a single unit.
Fix
Try cleaning the ribbon cables if they are grimy, but if they look rusty, replace them. Meanwhile, you can try to replace the touchpad first if the ribbon cables are okay. If the issue persists, replace the control panel.
5. All GE Profile Dishwasher Control Pane Buttons Are Not Working
If all the buttons on the control panel are not working when you press them, the cause could be any of these:
- Failed power – The control panel won’t receive any power when there’s an issue with its supply, which means all control panel buttons will be non-responsive.
- Broken door latch or malfunctioning door switch – You can know if this is the case if the dishwasher door won’t close. If the door latch won’t engage, the door latch has a problem, and if the switch fails the multimeter’s electrical continuity check, it’s faulty.
- Damaged main control board – If the cause is neither failed power nor a defective door latch or switch, it’s highly likely a damaged control board.
Fix
Check if anything is disrupting your dishwasher’s power supply and fix it. Call an electrician if you cannot do it. If the door latch or switch is defective, replace it and consider replacing the main control board as your last option.
GE Profile Dishwasher Control Panel Replacement
You may consider replacing the control panel as your last option when it’s unresponsive and can’t fix it using the tips shared earlier. Also, consider a replacement if the control panel buttons are stuck and won’t break free or are damaged.
But first, you must get a matching control panel for your GE profile dishwasher. And once you have it, follow these steps to fit it:
- Pull out the dishwasher from the power socket
- Unscrew the control panel from the dishwasher
- Remove the wiring harness from the dishwasher and connect it to the replacement control panel
- Fit in the replacement control panel together with the wiring harness
- Screw back the control panel and plug the dishwasher back into the power
- Turn on the dishwasher and try the control panel
People Also Ask
1. How Do I Reset the Control Panel On My GE Dishwasher?
You can reset a GE dishwasher’s control panel by pressing its reset button, powering it off from the breaker, or unplugging it for 30 seconds or more. And in case of a locked control panel, press Control Lock for 3 seconds to disable it.
2. How Do You Reset A GE Profile Dishwasher?
You can reset a GE profile dishwasher by pressing the reset button once, then opening the door slightly (by ½ inch), and then pressing the reset button again. Alternatively, power off the dishwasher from the breaker or unplug it for at least 30 seconds.
3. What Causes a Dishwasher Control Panel to Stop Working?
Different issues could prevent the dishwasher control panel from working. They include the following:
- Failed power supply
- Electrical fault
- Locked controls (active Control Lock)
- Faulty control panel or main control board
How Do I Know If My Dishwasher Control Panel Is Bad?
You can tell if your dishwasher control panel is bad if the door won’t latch even if you try to, you cannot select a cycle, or the control panel buttons are unresponsive. Additionally, if you cannot start the dishwasher from the control panel, then the control panel is likely defective.
Closing Thought:
Above is a practical guide on the GE Profile dishwasher troubleshooting control panel. Thus, consider using it on common dishwasher control panel problems. That includes when the control panel malfunctions or fails, preventing your dishwasher from functioning. And if you can’t fix the control panel, you can replace it.
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