The GE Cafe dishwasher has an issue with cleaning the dishes. After you’ve run the dishwasher, you notice many of your dishes aren’t clean and you have to rewash them by hand.
I tried a lot but sometimes when it does not work when it does not want.
Sometimes, the dishwasher doesn’t even turn on at all and you receive an error message stating that there are water issues and to check your pipes.
Luckily, there are some simple troubleshooting steps that can help fix these issues.
The plastic clips on dishwasher arms
Sometimes, when our dishwashers aren’t cleaning dishes as they should, we can figure out what’s wrong pretty quickly—if one of those little plastic clips that hold your arms in place has broken or popped off.
But if you find that a whole arm has just detached, or come loose? That’s a problem. We’ll walk you through fixing it with some simple tools, so you can get back to doing all that laundry.
It only takes about 15 minutes and requires no experience. You might be surprised at how easy it is! Just follow these steps
Tub not turning
You may have a clog in your drain. Remove any objects or food scraps that are stuck there. If you can’t see anything, remove some of the hose at both ends of your dishwasher and look through it with a flashlight.
If there is something in your drain, try to remove it before continuing troubleshooting. Turn off your power breaker and unplug your dishwasher. Take off one side panel on top of your dishwasher (two screws).
Use a straightened wire hanger to pull out any debris from inside. Unscrew the clamp on each end of your spray arm (one screw each) and then pull out both spray arms for cleaning; be sure not to lose their springs!
Clean them with warm water, soap, and an old toothbrush if necessary. Reattach everything according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Plug back in and turn on power breaker.
Run another cycle with dishes only (no soap). Check for leaks under the machine as well as around hoses connecting the machine to wall plumbing connections; tighten if necessary—but don’t overtighten!
Water valve
The water valve is an important part of your dishwasher. It is responsible for supplying cold water to your dishwasher and heating it up to get hot soapy water.
The next time you notice that your dishes aren’t getting clean, make sure that you don’t forget to check out your water valve! It may be worn down, or even broken.
This simple replacement can save you a lot of time and money, as well as dirty dishes! In fact, all you will need is a screwdriver and pliers, and you should be able to fix it within 15 minutes without much effort at all.
Detergent dispenser
When you start your dishwasher, make sure that it has enough detergent for an entire cycle. If not, it could be preventing water from getting into other parts of your dishwasher. Check your user manual for information on how to adjust your dispenser settings.
You might also have a clog in your soap dispenser’s tube. Run some vinegar through a short cycle to see if that solves the problem.
Keep in mind that you’ll need to run another full cycle using detergent once you’ve cleared out any clogs or adjusted your dispenser settings to clean dishes again after using vinegar alone.
If that doesn’t work, try putting in half as much detergent as recommended on the box and running another quick cycle just with water added (no detergent).
Drain pump
If your dishwasher isn’t draining properly, it could be due to a malfunctioning drain pump. Most likely, any issues with your dishwasher are related to either its heating element or water flow system.
In order to figure out what’s wrong, turn off your unit and check your water supply.
If there is no water coming into your dishwasher then it could be an issue with a clogged inlet valve that can easily be replaced by a qualified technician.
If you have adequate water entering your machine but still have issues with drains, it’s possible that you need to replace your drain pump. This is an easy fix as they only cost around $15 at most appliance stores.
Motor controller board
The motor controller board is probably damaged. If you can see inside through one of its holes, check for burned-out components or signs of water damage.
It’s a rare occurrence, but it does happen. If all looks good, try cleaning it with a soft cloth and some isopropyl alcohol or mineral spirits (basically, rubbing alcohol).
After you’ve cleaned all surfaces thoroughly, plug it back in and wait to see if that solved your problem. If so, replace your filter if needed and go on with life.
Also read: GE Dishwasher Drain Pump Not Working Issue Solved
Conclusion
The reason for your dishwasher not cleaning is likely due to a blockage in one of its hoses or tubes.
You can usually identify these issues by looking for water that is draining into your sink during a cycle or pouring into your kitchen floor after use.
If you see either of these problems, stop using your dishwasher immediately and contact a professional to inspect it.
This will save you from needing to repair any damage that was already done by it not cleaning. It will also ensure that you have access to uninterrupted service when you need it!
