GE Frontload Washer Wont Start or Turns Off Abruptly - What to Check & Fix

GE's newest front load washing machines tend to have some issues where the machines simply won't turn on and run. We had that issue with this washing machine, so follow along and hopefully we can learn to diagnose and fix this kind of washing machine together. This is probably my most-requested repair video as of late, and I hope that this helps you diagnose the issue when the troubleshooting doesn't work.
Typical items used to fix issues on this style washing machine:
GFW650S - PFW950S Control Board: bens-appliances.com/products/...
GFW510S - GFW555S Control Board: bens-appliances.com/products/...
GE Front Load Inverter Board: bens-appliances.com/products/...
Drain Pump for all GFW-Series washing machines: bens-appliances.com/products/...
TSE-1 Spring Door Boot Tool: amzn.to/45psUQj
GE Front Load Washer Troubleshooting & Error Code Video: • GE Frontload Washer Er...
Link to troubleshooting & error code documents: drive.google.com/drive/folder...
Tools I use in all videos can be found at my Amazon Idea Page: www.amazon.com/shop/bensappli...
Did this video help you out? Send me a tip, and help me make more Appliance Repair videos for people to watch for free!
PayPal: paypal.me/BensappliancesYT?lo...
CashApp: $BenjaminSchlichter
Affiliate Disclosure Form: bit.ly/3oXeu3B
** Links to external websites and parts may result in me receiving a commission on sales.

[@captainluke90]

Thank you so much for making these videos Bens Appliances. I have that same front loader GE washer and the pump failed after 2 years. I went through all your trouble shooting videos and ended up buying both a new pump and new control board. I was able to fix it myself and for under $200 in parts from your store. Thank you so much!

[@luisgonzalez-jg9zc]

Excellent video

[@silicron]

Thank you for doing this video! We recently purchased this model, and your step-by-step guide and amazing detail will come in handy in the future if it ever breaks. Your videos are so detailed and practical. Thank you for your work!

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

Glad it was helpful!

[@robsmith4884]

I have the 850. This video helped me to Diagnose and repair. I bought the board , inverter, and pump from Ben. Only needed the board and the other two items will stay on the shelf if ever needed. Thank you for the content and the sale!

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

Awesome! Thank you so much!

[@ogee634]

Oh boy, lectronics ! Great info on triac and other faults. Way to go GE, vary the thread type for the people not paying attention.

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

Yeah, its rough - these washers are turning into massive fault-dumps seemingly 3 years in it seems.

[@zekenzy6486]

Great video. Thank you for sharing

[@jdretiree2433]

Thank you Ben...I have this washer but so far I haven't had an issue with it except the app for it keeps losing contact with the washer. Kind of a worthless app.

[@thecwwshow8036]

I was looking at these. Are they good? Will they typically last long?

[@scotts4125]

Mines a 650 and I looked at my pics from about a year ago and sure enough that triac is what went on my board. I thought the board took the pump out as I had no obstruction. I replaced both and all good. I have a squealing noise coming from the inlet valves. Replacing the valves will be easy. Pulling the machine out not so easy. lol I have the new valves waiting to be installed. As I am typing SmartHQ is updating the washer.

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

Crazy. I did shoot a water valve test & replacement video for this, so that'll be up soon on the channel! I also filmed an interter diagnostic video that I'll release later as well. I just had SO many people ask about this washer and issues with replacing the pump but it still being dead, so I hunted for a broken one of these to film.

[@scotts4125]

@@bensappliancesandjunk Awesome I will be looking for the inverter video. You forgot to post a link for the tool. I used your previous method with the wrench and wire ties. I know which tool it is but if you sell it I would rather buy it from you or at least use an affiliate link so you get something out of it. Thanks for the videos. SmartHQ updated my washer, dryer and DW today. lol We have the second to top tier model Monogram DW. Over the third rack is a clip for a sprayer. That clip is horribly welded to the top of the tub. Ours came loose and it was catching the third rack. I bought stainless epoxy and basically glued it back into position. This stuff is high temp rated. It worked great just in case you ever run into that.

[@mman454]

@@bensappliancesandjunkI’d be curious to know if there’s a way to have the valves shut a little more gently? Just watching the machine fill you can see the hoses jump when it shuts the valves. (Which of course it has to do many times instead of doing one continuous fill). Not really worried about the water hammer on the plumbing, but concerned it may not help the longevity of the hoses.

[@scotts4125]

@@bensappliancesandjunk Just finished my inlet valve replacement. Those little double wire hose clamps are a PITA. I have locking Knipex hose clamp pliers. They failed as they don't completely close all the way. On those little clamps the pliers have to close all the way. I then tried Astro Pneumatic's cable type hose clamp plier that was even worse. I had an old rusty pair of KD hose clamp pliers that finally worked. There is also 0 room in that cabinet. I think I found a hack. The dispenser housing sits pretty tight to the valves. I was able to move it off the frame and I wedged it up as far as the drum fill hose allowed. It give me all the room I needed to get the clamps and hoses off and on. Some appliance tech made a pair of vice grip type pliers for the smaller clamps. I ordered a pair. Repair came out great no leaks and no more inlet valve squeaking.

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

@@scotts4125 in my video I've already filmed (haven't uploaded). That was my solution too - move the dispenser forward to give more room, which makes removing the clamps way easier.

[@mman454]

Hmm. So according to the schematic only the 850 and above models have the fan in the front vent. Does this mean those models run a shorter ultrafresh vent cycle since they can force air through the machine, or is it the standard 8 hour run of cycling the drum on and off for 15 minutes? Edit: According to the service manual, apparently not. It’s literally only used for the 1 step wash and dry cycle.

[@Royals20]

Is there a way to test the inverter?

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

Yes. That video will release next weel

[@hakhinton8019]

are those 18 gauge wires used in this washer?

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

I didn't check, but honestly, I think so. Whirlpool went to these cheap-garbage wires and all kinds of harness breaks are cropping up just like this one.

[@tomtom8306]

Are GE and LG washer and dryers made by the same company?

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

Nope

[@yurii.5613]

Seems like these boards are really bad! I've replaced one like that recently. The door lock didn't work and there was an error code related to the door lock. Turned out the board was not sending 120v AC to the door lock at all. Likely these boards are relatively inexpensive. You did not mention this in the video, but this GE washer is actually made in China. I mean even assembled in China. I wonder if that's the main reason these have problems with main boards and motor inverters...

[@deisyrovalo647]

My washer is currently saying error and my clothes are soaked and there’s a pool of water that’s not going down. What can I do ?

[@FelipeLopes..-dc5xt]

Bens...?...( SMART HQ )..😕..?..

[@grantrennie]

I like to repair the boards where they haven't burned out, pump motors and solenoids/solenoid pumps need swapped out though as repair is not practical these days, cheap to buy new ones and they are welded shut usually or made from ultrasonic welded plastic casings..

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

thank you for the great comment. Here's a bit of fun: The defective board in this exact washer - I gave to my tech (who has a masters in electrical engineering). He ran tests with everything we have at our shop, and cannot figure out where the defect was on this exact board. The inverter relay was NOT the problem, as we replaced it and re-installed the bad board and it was still power cycling. We don't have a board-level schematic, but we cannot percieve what the defect is with the board - if its logic, or what. Many boards are repairable, but this one isn't. The retail price of the board has dropped ~$100 since I made the last video in 2022 on this, which tells me GE knows there's a massive problem with the system. And of course, its the same stuff on the GE Ultrafast combo, so it makes me think that at the 2-3 year mark, the inverter and drain pump on that system will fail. Sadly enough, I filmed replacement videos on that unit "Just in case" before I sold it, and I am now getting requests to compile those videos. Modern appliances are just so rough to make these videos on, because I really don't want to tell people to throw $300 in boards and pumps on a lemon, but maybe this sort of grand failure will make GE rethink how they do things, and other manufacturers to take note.

[@johnkarpontinis1410]

So a bad pump can kill a board? Wow

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

Yes. I've seen it MANY times on modern-ish Whirlpool toploaders, but it seems like the GE's are having the problem too. Those triacs are only able to handle a certain amount of wattage. So if the pump goes bad, the wires will melt/degrade and begin to pull more wattage from the control board. This will exceed the triac spec, and it'll explode, causing the drain system to either not work at all/not send voltage, or will fuse and run constantly.

[@Breadts1cks]

@@bensappliancesandjunkgiven this, should this be replaced every some odd years as a precaution? I have the 850 and it's fine but don't want to have to pay for so many parts if replacing the pump is so cheap.

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

@@Breadts1cks I'd just clean the pump every 3 months to ensure there aren't obstructions. That'd probably go further than buying a board and not needing it, honestly.

[@johnkarpontinis1410]

​@@bensappliancesandjunkinteresting. We have a older lg direct drive that had a drain pump go bad. We replaced both motors ( it has a drain pump and a recirculating pump in the same housing, both pumps are the same) one of the 2 was completely loose ( no binding points), just as you described. Also despite that, the machine works perfectly( its more than 15 years old, 1-2 full loads a day), so we are pretty happy with it.

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

For some reason, you don't see these issues as much on LG/Samsung board designs when a pump fails (and Lord knows that those pumps fail A LOT). I think (and I could be wrong), they use a sizable relay instead of a triac during the switching process, so it can handle the burnout. I think thats the case at least, I'd have to look at a few more schematics though.

[@iwrk]

So cheaply made

[@robsmith4884]

Pregnant.