Are you worried about your GE dishwasher underperforming lately, even though all looks well and good from the outside? We’ve got just the right solution to soothe that nasty hunch: the diagnostic mode!
GE dishwashers come with a handy diagnostic service that can quickly and effectively root out any trouble in your appliance. The best part of it is that it takes no time at all to access, so you can run it anytime you need.
This guide will show you how to do that in four simple steps!
How to Enter Diagnostic Mode in GE Dishwasher
To enter your GE dishwasher’s diagnostic mode, press the Start and Cycle Select buttons together for 5 seconds until the LEDs in the display light up.
Then, hold Cycle Select for another 5 seconds until a single LED flashes. Press Start to begin the tests.
Remember that your GE dishwasher can only enter diagnostics mode when it’s in Stand-by Mode — that’s when it’s in cycle selection mode and not running a cycle yet.
After pressing the Start and Cycle Select together for five seconds, a chime would sound and then all LEDs on the appliance’s display should light up at once. This means that your dishwasher is now in Error Code Display Mode.
The lights should be steadily lit up only once before turning they turn off again. If they start flashing instead, this means that the appliance is detecting an open door.
Once in Error Code Display Mode and after the LEDs return to normal, press Cycle Select again for five seconds or until the Normal LED flashes once every couple of seconds.
This means that your dishwasher is ready to run a test on each of its parts. Press Start to begin the diagnosis, and then press the button again if you need to stop it.
Your GE dishwasher will run these diagnoses individually. Once a test has finished, you have to press Cycle Select again to move on to the next one — no need to hold it down this time, though!
A single press should be enough. Afterward, you tap on Start, and a new test on a different part will begin.
Moreover, the Normal LED would flash a number of times to let you know which part is being diagnosed. Here’s a quick guide to the sequence of tests your GE dishwasher is running in this mode:
| No. of times LED will flash | Service Tested | Diagnosis Method |
| Once (1) | Drain Pump | The dishwasher will drain the tub for about 75 seconds. |
| Twice (2) | Water Valve | The dishwasher will pump water into the tub for about 60 seconds. |
| Thrice (3) | Circulation Pump | The dishwasher will activate the diverter and switch between the spray arms every 30 seconds. This will run for about 120 seconds. |
| 4 Times | Heater | The dishwasher will activate the heater for about 120 seconds. |
| 5 Times | Detergent Dispenser Module | The dishwasher will activate the detergent solenoid for about 15 seconds. |
After running these tests, the unit will send you error codes if it detects any issues.
Unlike with other appliances, you can’t clear out GE error codes manually. They will continue to flash until repairs are done or when the control panel no longer detects an issue.
Either way, once the tests are done, you’ll have to exit diagnostic mode manually. For most GE dishwasher models, you can do this by simply restarting the appliance.
Now if you’ve noticed that your particular GE dishwasher model doesn’t have any of the buttons mentioned above — or if pressing the same buttons doesn’t yield any results — don’t stress yourself out just yet!
Some GE dishwasher models may have a different approach to diagnostic mode.
Lucky for you, we’ve prepared a quick rundown on how to enter and exit diagnostic mode in them, too. Try to look for the model you’re using from the ones below:
GE Dishwasher Models GDF510PGD, GDF520PGD, GDF530PGD, GDF540PGD, GDF550PGD
Following the abovementioned steps to enter diagnostic mode will do the trick. To recount, here’s what you need to do:
- Step 1: Press the Start and Cycle Select buttons simultaneously for five seconds to enter the dishwasher’s Error Code Display Mode. Make sure that you’re not in the middle of a cycle as you do so.
Once you press the buttons, you should hear a chime followed by all the LEDs on the display lighting up briefly.
- Step 2: Once the LEDs are off, press Cycle Select again for another five seconds. The Normal LED should flash once to indicate that it’s ready to run the first test.
- Step 3: Select Start to begin the test on your unit’s drain pump. Press Start again if you wish to stop the test sooner than its set duration.
- Step 4: Press Cycle Select again to move on to the next test. The LED should now flash twice to indicate that it’s ready to start the second sequence.
Press Start to begin. Continue this pattern until the LED flashes five times.
Once you’re done, you can exit the diagnostic mode by holding the Start and Cycle Select buttons together for about three seconds.
| Quick Tip: For these models, the dishwasher will automatically Error Code Display Mode after 5 minutes of idle activity. Be careful not to leave your appliance in this mode for too long! |
GE Dishwasher Model GE GLDT690T
GE GLDT690T models have a distinctly different method of activating their factory diagnostic mode. Here’s what you have to do if you own this model:
- Step 1: Turn off your GE dishwasher. Make sure that there are no LED lights on.
- Step 2: Unplug the appliance to disconnect its power.
- Step 3: Open the dishwasher door, then plug it back in.
- Step 4: Once the power to the appliance is reconnected (with the door open), quickly press the Delay + ON/OFF pads at the same time within the next 60 to 180 seconds.
If you’ve successfully activated the diagnostic mode, all the LEDs, as well as the SDD (7-segment display), will flash every second until you do the next step.
- Step 5: Press the Select button on the display and select the part you wish to diagnose.
Unlike the previous models, which follow a sequence, a GLDT690T will let you choose your next step. Here’s an overview of the steps and the respective components that will be tested:
| Step No. | Component to Diagnose | SDD Code |
| 1 | Fill Valve | 09 |
| 2 | Wash Pump | 08 |
| 3 | Dispenser | 07 |
| 4 | Wash Pump and Heater | 06 |
| 5 | Drain Pump | 05 |
| 6 | All Load Off | 04 |
| 7 | Fill Valve | 03 |
| 8 | Wash Pump | 02 |
| 9 | Drain | 01 |
| 10 | End | F0 |
Once you’ve selected a step, remember to close the door.
When you’re done with the diagnoses, you can exit the mode by pressing the ON/OFF button to restart the appliance, or simply unplug it for a couple of seconds before plugging it back on.
GE Triton Series Dishwasher or PDW8900 Series GE Profile Dishwasher
These models of GE dishwashers typically share similar controls, so putting them into diagnostic mode — otherwise known as service mode — has pretty much the same method. It’s also simpler than other models!
To activate their diagnostic mode, all you have to do is press Cookware and Heated Dry at the same time and hold them for about three seconds. Your dishwasher will chime to let you know that it’s running in service mode.
If you wish to exit diagnostic mode, press Start/Reset — no need to hold it down for a couple of seconds!
PDW9700 and PDW9900 Series GE Profile Dishwasher
Similar to other GE Profile Dishwashers, the PDW9700 and PDW9900 Series have similar controls, though navigating to their diagnostic or service mode uses a different set of buttons.
But, otherwise, the method’s pretty much the same! Here’s what you have to do if you use these types of dishwashers:
Press and hold the Down arrow and Heated Dry buttons simultaneously for about three seconds until you hear a chime.
Exiting this mode is no different, either. To reiterate, you have to press the Start/Reset button once to cancel the diagnoses and exit service mode.
| Quick Tip: Similar to Error Code Display Mode in other GE dishwasher models, the Triton and Profile series’ service mode will time out after 5 minutes of inactivity. |
How to Read GE Dishwasher Error Codes
Remember how we mentioned that your GE dishwasher will flash an error code when it detects an issue after the tests? Well, if yours did and you’re wondering how to decode them, look no further — we’ve rounded them all of them up here!
GE dishwashers typically communicate errors via flashes of LED. Once your appliance finishes its diagnosis, keep an eye out for which lights will blink as each of them signify a unique error.
Here’s how to interpret them:
| LED Label | Type of Error | Error Description | Solution |
| Start | Communication Error | The user interface control could not communicate with the machine control. | Restart the appliance and run the diagnostic mode again. |
| Heated Dry | Temperature Error | The dishwasher has not met the minimum wash temperature of 120°F (49°C) for the past 3 to 5 washes. | Before starting a washing cycle, run the faucet adjacent to the dishwasher for a couple of minutes or until the water turns warmer. |
| Wash Boost | Thermistor Error | The dishwasher has detected a short/open circuit in the thermistor. | Turn off the power to the appliance at its circuit breaker for at least 30 seconds, then turn it back on and run the diagnostic mode again. |
| Clean | Turbidity Sensor Error | The dishwasher has detected a short/open circuit in the turbidity sensor. | Turn off the power to the appliance at its circuit breaker for at least 30 seconds, then turn it back on and run the diagnostic mode again. |
These error codes point to general issues in the parts that have been diagnosed.
But just because they’ve appeared doesn’t mean they need immediate solutions; some of them act as a warning for your next couple of washing cycles!
Some of them might even go away once you reset the appliance (how to reset ge dishwasher).
Moreover, once the control panel has detected an issue or an impeding issue, the indicator would keep on blinking until the issue is resolved or the control eventually rules it out as a non-issue.
But for matters such as a thermistor error or turbidity sensor error, the best way to resolve this matter is to take the appliance to service when their respective error codes persist.
| Quick Tip: Noticed that the Lock LED is constantly on but isn’t blinking or flashing? That’s normal! The Lock LED lit means that your dishwasher has successfully entered Error Code Display Mode. |
Their simple and easy diagnostic or service mode is just one of the few special features that make GE dishwashers a grade above other brands.
An important thing to remember about these appliances, though, is that troubleshooting methods may vary for each model — and that applies to navigating their diagnostic modes as well.
If your model uses a different set of buttons, there’s no better guide for it than your user manual.
