Counted from our technicians' notes on 90 GE washer service calls.
It fills, then just sits there
A GE top-loader won't agitate or spin unless the lid is shut and the lid switch probe or magnet is intact. Without that, it'll fill and drain and never move. If the lid checks out and you can hear the motor but the basket doesn't turn, look at the drive belt, the motor or its speed sensor, or the control board.
Draining, siphoning and leaks
When pump-out takes too long, GE top-loaders show Po or flash the Rinse light. A kinked drain hose or a sock in the pump is a common reason. A pump that hums while the tub stays full needs service.
A washer that drains while it's still filling is usually siphoning. GE says the drain pipe should be at least 30 inches high, and the hose shouldn't go more than 5 to 7 inches down into it.
For front-loader leaks, check the folds of the door gasket and the detergent drawer, and find out whether someone put pods in the dispenser instead of the drum. On top-loaders, GE names oversudsing as the most common cause.
Water dripping in, or the tub filling with the washer turned off? That's typically a failed water inlet valve.
Messages a GE washer will show you
Most GE washers only show a handful of owner-facing messages. Below are the ones GE documents, and your model may not use them all.
| Code | What it usually means |
|---|
| dE or E2 | Top-load. The lid was opened mid-cycle. Close it and press Start/Pause. |
| Po or flashing Rinse light | Top-load. Pump-out took too long, which tends to mean a clog. |
| bALAnCINg / flashing Spin light | The load is lopsided. Spread it out and restart Drain and Spin. |
| CAnCELEd | An error or a long pause stopped the cycle. Run Drain and Spin, and unplug for a minute if it keeps happening. |
| H2O SUPPLY | Front-load. No water is coming in. Make sure both supply valves are on. |
| door | Front-load. The door wasn't fully shut when the cycle started. |
Things you can try yourself
- Check the breaker, then plug a lamp into the outlet to test it.
- Level the washer and snug down the locking nuts on the feet.
- On a top-loader, don't load past the balance ring.
- On a front-loader, clean the pump filter behind the lower access door and run Self Clean roughly once a month or every 40 cycles.
- Use HE detergent, and cut back the amount if your water is softened.
- Try GE's top-load motor reset. Unplug it for one minute, plug it back in, then lift and lower the lid six times within 12 seconds.
Tracking down the model tag
On top-loaders, check under the lid near the right hinge, on the back of the control panel, or on the back of the cabinet by the water inlets. Front-loaders have it inside the door opening or low on the right side of the cabinet.
A washer in a freezing garage
GE warns that when a washer sits below freezing, ice can form in the pump and lock up the motor. In an unheated Minnesota or Wisconsin space, wait until it's completely thawed before running a cycle.