GE Frontload Washer Pauses During Cycle
If your GE frontload washer pauses during the cycle, there are a number of
things that could be wrong. In my experience, the most common thing that causes
this is the water valve followed by the door latch; however, there are other
things that can cause GE front loader washer models to pause during the cycle so
read this page carefully. This page will walk you through the process you must
take to figure out what the problem is.
If your GE frontload washer pauses during the cycle, there are a number of things that could be wrong. In my experience, the most common thing that causes this is the water valve followed by the door latch; however, there are other things that can cause GE frontload washer models to pause during the cycle so read this page carefully. This page will walk you through the process you must take to figure out what the problem is.
Because of the way that these GE frontload washer models are set up, it can
be hard to figure out what the problem is without viewing the error codes. To
view the error codes enter the service mode as described below.
1. Close the door.
2. Clear current cycles by pressing the power
button. Make sure the screen is blank before attempting to enter the service
mode.
3. Disconnect power to washer for at least 30 seconds.
4.
Reconnect the power and within 30 seconds of reconnecting power complete the
next step.
5. Press signal -delay start -signal- delay start.
Note: Entering the service mode is a little
different on models GFWN1000, GFAN1000,GFWN1100, and GFAN1100. To enter the
service mode on these models press signal, extra rinse, signal and extra rinse.
Press the same button sequence to exit the service mode.
If you
successfully enter the washer into the service mode, t01 will be displayed and
the door will lock.
Never disconnect the power to the washer while it is in the
service mode. Doing so may result in a damaged control board.
To exit the service mode press signal -delay start -signal - delay start.
Rotate the knob until t02 is displayed then press start/pause to view the most recent error codes. Then press start/pause to rotate through each error code.
For a full list of error codes see this page GE Front Load Washer Error Codes
If the water valve is filling slowly on these GE frontload
washer models you should get the E22 slow fill Error code.
If the water takes more than 8 minutes to fill on a GE frontload washer, it will pause and not continue until you reset the washer and start again. However, if all you do is restart the washer it will likely pause again. You may be thinking that this can’t be my problem because it initially fills with water; however, this can still be your problem because if the cold-water side of the water valve isn’t working and you start the washer on a hot or warm temperature setting, the washer will fill with hot water. Then when it reaches the rinse cycle the washer tries to fill with cold water but takes longer than 8 minutes to fill then it pauses. So yes, it may fill to initially but then will not during rinse.
If you are getting this error on these GE frontload washer models you will
need to run the t08 and t09 test modes. First, exit the error code test mode by
pressing power.
Hot Water Valve Test Mode
To enter the hot water valve test mode, rotate the control knob until t08 is displayed in the control panel then press start/pause to enter the test mode. This is the hot water valve test mode. Once this test mode is entered, “hOt” will be displayed in the control panel and the hot water will start to run. Hot water will continue to run until the main water level is reached or you press power to exit the test mode. If the main water level is reached before the test mode is terminated, the washer will pump the water out and return to t08.
Note that some GE frontload washer models do not have this
test mode. This can be a little confusing because you can rotate the knob until
t08 is displayed; however, when you press start/pause you hear two beeps and the
display continues to display t08.
Cold Water Valve Test Mode
To enter the cold-water test mode, rotate the control knob until t09 is displayed in the control panel then press start/pause to enter the test mode. This is the cold-water valve test mode. Once this test mode is entered, “Cld” will be displayed in the control panel and the cold water will start to run. Cold water will continue to run until the main water level is reached or you press power to exit the test mode. If the main water level is reached before the test mode is terminated, the washer will pump the water out and return to t09.
Note that some GE frontload washer models do not have this
test mode. This can be a little confusing because you can rotate the knob until
t09 is displayed; however, when you press start/pause you hear two beeps and the
display continues to display t09.
Note that some of these washers do not have the t08 or the t09 test modes. If
this is the case, you will need to exit the service mode and test the water
valves manually. First, place the washer in a cycle using the cold tap water
temperature setting and you should note how well water comes into the washer.
Then place the washer in a cycle using the hot water temperature setting and you
should note how well water enters the washer.
If water flows slowly
during either of the tests, first make sure the water at the wall is turned on
fully. Then turn the water off and disconnect the hose at the washer. Get a
bucket and run both the hot and the cold water into the bucket to make sure you
have good water pressure coming to the machine. If not, there will be a strainer
in the hose that is most likely clogged; clean it out and your problem will be
repaired. If you have good pressure coming to the washer then you will need to
replace the water valve on the washer.
If the water valve is stuck you should get the E23 Error
code.
When the water valve sticks, the washer will continue to fill even after the washer stops “calling” for water. Once the water reaches the overflow level, the washer will stop and the pump will start to run. If this is the case, you will see water running into the washer. If you can see water running into the washer and the washer is paused unplug the washer and if the water continues to run replace the water valve.
Door Latch
The door latch can cause a GE frontload washer to pause during a cycle. If the door physically opens, the washer will pause. However, if the door stays locked but the switch is bad then the control will think the door is open and the washer will pause. If the door will not latch then the washer will not start. Error codes that are directly related to the door latch are E60/E61/E63/E64. If you are getting one of these errors, the door latch is more than likely your problem. Check for a loose connection between the latch and the control; if the connections are ok, replace the door latch.
All frontload washers are designed to run with HE detergent. If you do not use HE detergent, you will get too much suds in the machine. When the washer determines that there are too much suds, the washer will stop then the water valve and the pump will run to flush the suds out of the washer. This can continue for an hour or more; therefore, the cycle can be more than an hour longer due to using the wrong detergent.
An off balance load on a GE frontload washer can extend the wash cycle by as much as one hour. When
the washer detects an off-balance load, it will stop and tumble in an attempt to
balance the load itself. It will do so several times; however, if the load is
too far out of balance it will be unsuccessful in balancing itself. Therefore,
this can cause the cycle to pause. It is recommended to wash similar fabric
clothes together to minimize off balance issues. If the load is not off balance
but the washer vibrates badly then you may have a problem with the machine, see
this page for more GE Front Loader Washing Machine Vibration
There are a couple of ways that the water level control or the pressure tube
can cause a longer cycle or even cause the cycle to pause on a GE frontloader
washer. Above, we talked about how the washer will pause when the washer will
not fill. If the water level control or the pressure tube is bad then the washer
could “think” the water isn’t running when it really is. If this is the case,
the washer could be full of water (way past where it should normally) when it
pauses. If the washer is paused and full of water, the first thing I would be
checking for is a faulty water level control or a bad pressure tube.
Above we also talked about using the wrong detergent. I said that when
the washer determines that there is too much suds, it starts to run the water
valve and the pump at the same time. The way that the washer determines that
there is too much suds is by monitoring the water level control feed back. If
the water level control or the pressure tube is bad, the washer can “think”
there is too much suds when really it is not.
Above, we also talked
about how if the water level reaches the overflow level, the washer will stop
and start to pump out. Well you guessed it, if the water level control or
pressure tube is bad then the washer can “think” it has overflowed, so the
washer will pause and start the water pump.
Water Level Control/ Pressure Tube Test
If you suspect that you may have a faulty water level control or pressure tube, this is how to test them. First, the pressure tube is the tube that connects from the water level control to the bottom of the tub. If this tube is broken, clogged or has a hole in it, you can get one of the symptoms described above. If you determine that the tube is ok then run the water level test in the service mode as described below.
Follow the instructions below to enter the service mode on a GE frontload
washer.
1. Close the door.
2. Clear current cycles by pressing the power
button. Make sure the screen is blank before attempting to enter the service
mode.
3. Disconnect power to washer for at least 30 seconds.
4.
Reconnect the power and within 30 seconds of reconnecting power complete the
next step.
5. Press signal -delay start -signal- delay start.
If you successfully enter the washer into the service mode, t01 will be displayed and the door will lock.
Never disconnect the power to the washer while it is in the
service mode. Doing so may result in a damaged control board.
To exit the service mode on a GE frontload washer press signal -delay start -signal - delay start.
To enter the water level control test mode on a GE frontload washer, rotate
the control knob until t06 is displayed in the control panel then press
start/pause to enter the test mode. This test has five steps as described below.
Once you start the test, the water pump will begin to run and E will be
displayed in the control panel. The E being displayed means that the tub is
empty. If the tub is empty but E is not displayed then the water level control
is bad.
Press start/pause to advance to the next level of the test. At
this point the water will begin to run. When the water level in the tub reaches
the foam, level F will be displayed in the control panel and water will stop
running. Foam water level is about ¾ of an inch in the wash basket.
Press start/pause to advance to the next level of the test. Water will
start to run again and when the water reaches the main level, “nl” will be
displayed in the control panel and the water will stop running. The main water
level is about 2 ½ inches of water in the wash basket.
Press start/pause
to advance to the next level of the test. Water will run until overflow water
level is reached. Once the overflow level is reached, “oF” will be briefly
displayed in the control panel. Overflow is approximately 6 inches above the
door opening.
Soon after the overflow water level is reached, the water
pump will energize and pump the water out. Once the tub is empty again, E will
be displayed again. Pressing power anytime during the test mode will exit the
test mode.
If the water level doesn’t pass the test (test doesn’t go as described),
replace the water level control.
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