GE Dishwasher Beeps 3 Times and Won’t Start (QUICK FIX!)

After a long tiring day, you find out that the dishwasher is acting up. Now, your household has to face the big question: who’s gonna do the dishes? 

Well, if your GE dishwasher is beeping 3 times and not starting, we can tell you that the fix can be as simple as pressing a button. You might not have to wash the dishes by hand after all.

However, if a component has failed, a replacement might be necessary. On the bright side, you can perform the fix yourself and perhaps save a few hundred bucks.

So if you’d like to find out what’s causing your GE dishwasher to beep 3 times and how to troubleshoot it yourself, go over our repair guide below.

Why does my GE dishwasher beep 3 times and won’t start?

If a GE dishwasher won’t start but beeps 3 times, its door might not be latching properly and may require replacement. Check for signs of damage, such as loose screws, bent hinges, or a misaligned strike plate.

Another likely cause is a software glitch, which clears when you reset the dishwasher.

How to Fix a GE Dishwasher That Beeps 3 Times

To fix a GE dishwasher that beeps 3 times, unplug its cord or turn it off at the circuit breaker. Restore power after 30 seconds, and check if the beeps stop.

If it still beeps, press the Start and Cycle Select buttons for 5 seconds to check the door latch operation. Replace the latch, if necessary.

Safety Warning: Always unplug the dishwasher or turn off the circuit breaker before performing any repairs to prevent potential injury. Then, shut off the water supply valve. We also recommend wearing protective gloves, especially when repairs involve disassembling the dishwasher.

Below, we made a list of repairs so you know what to look for when you’re diagnosing your GE dishwasher. Learn how to troubleshoot your dishwasher with simple, easy-to-follow instructions.

Repairs	Instructions
Reset the dishwasher.	• Unplug the power cord, or turn it off at the circuit breaker. After at least 30 seconds, restore power to your dishwasher and test if it runs a cycle.
Check if Demo mode is active.	• Unplug the dishwasher for at least 30 seconds, then plug it back in to restore power.  • Push the Start and Delay Start buttons for 5 seconds.
Confirm that the spray arms turn freely.	• Turn the spray arms manually to confirm that they can make a full revolution.  • If they can’t, remove the dishes and load them properly in the right racks.
Inspect the control panel and buttons.	• Push the Dry Boost button or the Steam-Sani/ Presoak-Sani/ Sanitize button for 3 seconds.  • Since the button combination varies per dishwasher model, check your user manual for more detailed instructions.
Inspect the door latch for damages.	• Unthread the screws securing the dishwasher to the countertop. • Extend the upper rack and pry the tabs to release the end caps on the slide rails Then, pull the rack off the rails.  • Unfasten the screws on the access panel at the base of the dishwasher. Remove the panel and set it aside. • Carefully move the dishwasher out of the cabinet. • Open the door and unthread the screws securing the latch. • Disconnect the wire on the old latch to release it. Then, reconnect the wire to the new door latch. • Mount the latch in place using its screws. Gently slide the dishwasher into the cabinet. • Reinstall the access panel along with its screws. Reattach the top rack. • Rethread the mounting screws to secure the dishwasher to the cabinet. • Plug in the dishwasher and turn on the water supply.
Check the main control board.	• Open the door and unthread the screws mounting the dishwasher to the countertop.  • Carefully pull the dishwasher out of the cabinet. Then, put a towel down and gently lay the unit on its back. • Unthread the screws on the access panel at the bottom of the dishwasher. Remove the panel along with the insulation. • Unfasten the screws on the junction box cover. Remove the cover and disconnect the jumper wire. • Unplug the wiring harness that connects to the control panel. • Unthread the inner screws mounting the control board support panel. Then, pull down the support panel. • Disconnect the wires to release the control board. • Remove the grounding screws and press the mounting pins using pliers to free the old board from the support panel. • Align the new control board on the support panel. Push it down and secure it using the grounding screw. • Connect the wires to the new control board. • Mount the support panel and reinstall its screws. Then, plug in the wiring harness that connects to the control panel and the jumper wire. • Realign the junction box cover and replace the screws to mount it in place. Reinstall the insulation and the access panel. • Keep the dishwasher upright and mount it on the cabinet.  • Plug in the dishwasher and turn on the water supply.

Reset the dishwasher.

Power surges can often cause a software glitch, which makes your dishwasher malfunction. When it happens, your appliance might detect a fault even when there isn’t one.

Solution: To reset your GE dishwasher, unplug the power cord or turn it off at the circuit breaker. After at least 30 seconds, restore power to your dishwasher and test if it runs a cycle.

Quick Note: Some GE dishwashers have a kickplate reset button. You must remove the access panel at the bottom of the dishwasher to access the reset button, which should be mounted on the left side. If you are unsure about the location of the reset button on your dishwasher model, we recommend checking your user manual.

Check if Demo mode is active.

If your washer is in Demo mode, your control panel will be illuminated but none of the buttons will respond to your touch. Thus, pressing the Start button won’t activate any program.

Demo mode is often used by retailers to showcase the features of the dishwasher to prospective customers. However, it won’t actually run cycles until you deactivate this mode.

Model Numbers GDT225, GDT226, GPT145, GPT225, PDT145

Solution: Unplug the dishwasher for at least 30 seconds, then plug it back in to restore power. Push the Start and Delay Start buttons for 5 seconds.

Model Numbers Starting With ADT/CDT/DDT/GDF/GDT/PDT (excluding the units above)

Solution: Unplug the dishwasher for at least 30 seconds, then plug it back in to restore power. Push the Start and Heated Dry/Power Dry buttons for 5 seconds.

Confirm that the spray arms turn freely.

Another possible cause for the beeping is a malfunctioning spray arm. If the arms are obstructed by dishes, they can’t rotate and clean the dishes. 

Unfortunately, improper loading of dishes may often prevent the arms from doing full rotations. The most common items that block them include cutting boards, large pots or pans, and utensils.

Solution: Turn the spray arms manually to confirm that they can make a full revolution. If they can’t, remove the dishes and load them properly in the right racks.

Inspect the control panel and buttons.

If your GE dishwasher won’t run a cycle when you press the Start button, its Control Lock could be on. When this function is activated, it prevents unintentional changes to the settings. 

Your dishwasher is fine and doesn’t require repair. All you have to do is disable the Control function to get your dishwasher to start responding to your inputs.

Older GE Dishwasher Models

Older GE dishwasher models may have a dedicated button for the Control Lock. Just look for the padlock icon and the label on your control panel.

Solution: Push the Lock pad twice in 3 seconds to deactivate the Control Lock function in older GE dishwasher models. Wait for the beep and the light to turn off.

Modern GE Dishwasher Models

Modern GE dishwasher models may not have a dedicated Control Lock button. Instead, you’ll have to press a specific button combination to activate/deactivate the function.

Solution: To deactivate the Control Lock on a newer dishwasher model, press the right button combination for 3 seconds. 

• Method 1: Simultaneously push the Dry Boost or the Steam-Sani/Presoak-Sani/Sanitize button for 3 seconds. The Control Lock light will turn off when the function is disabled.

• Method 2: Simultaneously press the Cycle or Dry/Dry Boost and Steam buttons for 3 seconds. The Control Lock indicator lock will turn off when the function is disabled.

Tip: The button combination to lock/unlock the control panel may vary per dishwasher model. If you are unsure about which buttons to press, refer to your user manual for more detailed instructions.

Inspect the door latch for damages.

Three beeps may indicate that the dishwasher isn’t detecting a closed door possibly due to a malfunctioning door latch. 

Whether due to excessive wear or damage, a broken latch will require replacement. Your dishwasher won’t run a cycle until it recognizes that the door is closed properly.

Just open the door and look for signs of damage, such as bent hinges or a misaligned strike plate. Or, you can enter diagnostic mode to determine if the latch is functioning properly.

Solution: Enter diagnostic error code mode to check the door status and confirm if it is closed properly. If the latch is broken, replace it.

• Step 1: Push the Start and Cycle Select buttons at the same time for 5 seconds.
• Step 2: Close the door.
• Step 3: Check the LED lights on the display. 

If the LED light is blinking, it means that the dishwasher detects an open door. In this case, you must buy a new door latch and replace the faulty one.

What You’ll Need:

• Phillips screwdriver
• 1/4” drill driver or nut driver
• New door latch

To replace a broken door latch on a GE dishwasher, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Unplug the dishwasher and turn off the water supply valve.
• Step 2: Unthread the screws securing the dishwasher to the countertop.
• Step 3: Extend the upper rack and pry the tabs to release the end caps on the slide rails.
• Step 4: Pull the rack off the rails.
• Step 5: Unfasten the screws on the access panel at the base of the dishwasher.
• Step 6: Remove the panel and set it aside.
• Step 7: Carefully move the dishwasher out of the cabinet.
• Step 8: Open the door and unthread the screws securing the latch.
• Step 9: Disconnect the wire on the old latch to release it.
• Step 10: Connect the wire to the new door latch.
• Step 11: Mount the latch in place using its screws.
• Step 12: Gently slide the dishwasher into the cabinet.
• Step 13: Reinstall the access panel along with its screws.
• Step 14: Reattach the top rack.
• Step 15: Rethread the mounting screws to secure the dishwasher to the cabinet.
• Step 16: Plug in the dishwasher and turn on the water supply.
• Step 17: Test if the dishwasher runs a cycle.

Check the main control board.

A faulty main control board doesn’t happen as often as the other issues on this list. However, if your GE dishwasher is a few years old, you might want to explore this possibility.

Replacing a main control board won’t be cheap. Just the part alone can cost about $300, and if you request repair service, it will cost more.

You can cut costs by performing the fix yourself. Or, you can opt to get one of the newer dishwasher models, especially if your unit is a bit old.

What You’ll Need:

• Towel
• Needlenose pliers
• 5/16” socket or nut driver
• 1/4” socket or nut driver
• New main control board

Solution: To replace the main control board on a GE dishwasher, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Unplug the dishwasher and turn off the water supply.
• Step 2: Open the door and unthread the screws mounting the dishwasher to the countertop.
• Step 3: Carefully pull the dishwasher out of the cabinet.
• Step 4: Put a towel down and gently lay the unit on its back.
• Step 5: Unthread the screws on the access panel at the bottom of the dishwasher.
• Step 6: Remove the panel along with the insulation.
• Step 7: Use a 5/16” nut driver to unfasten the screws on the junction box cover. Then, remove the cover and disconnect the jumper wire.
• Step 8: Unplug the wiring harness that connects to the control panel.
• Step 9: Unthread the inner screws mounting the control board support panel.
• Step 10: Pull down the support panel.
• Step 11: Take a photo of the wires on the control board for reference.
• Step 12: Disconnect the wires to release the control board.
• Step 13: Use a 1/4” socket or nut driver to remove the grounding screws.
• Step 14: Press the mounting pins using pliers to free the old board from the support panel.
• Step 15: Align the new control board on the support panel. Then, push it down until it snaps into place.
• Step 16: Secure the grounding screw.
• Step 17: Connect the wires to the new control board. Pull up your photo reference.
• Step 18: Mount the support panel and secure it with its screws.
• Step 19: Plug in the wiring harness that connects to the control panel and the jumper wire.
• Step 20: Realign the junction box cover and replace the screws to mount it in place.
• Step 21: Reinstall the insulation and the access panel.
• Step 22: Mount the dishwasher on the cabinet.
• Step 23: Plug it in and turn on the water supply. Then, check if the dishwasher runs a cycle.

Frequently Asked Questions

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