GE PDW8600, PDW8500, PDW8200, PDW8400 owner manual Before you call for service…

Before you call for service… GEAppliances.com

Troubleshooting Tips

Save time and money! Review the charts on the following pages, or visit GEAppliances.com. You may not need to call for service.

Problem	Possible Causes	What To Do
Control panel lights go off	Time too long between	• Each pad must be touched within 30 seconds of the others.
when you’re setting controls	touching of selected pads	To relight, touch any pad again, or unlock and relatch door.
Noise	Some of the sounds you’ll	• Detergent cup opening.
	hear are normal	• The motor stopping during the drying period.
		• Water draining out of the tub immediately after you
		touch START/RESET pad.
	Utensils are not secure in the	• Make sure everything is secured in dishwasher.
	rack or something small has
	dropped into the rack
	Motor hums	• Dishwasher has not been used on a regular basis. If you
		do not use your dishwasher often, set it to fill and pump
		out once every week. This will help keep the seal moist.
Detergent left in	Dishes are blocking the	• Reposition the dishes.
dispenser cups	detergent cups
Water standing in	This is normal	• A small amount of clean water around the outlet on the
the bottom of the tub		tub bottom at the back of the tub keeps the water seal
		lubricated.
Water won’t pump	Drain is clogged	• If you have an air gap, clean it.
out of the tub		• Check to see if your kitchen sink is draining well. If not,
		you may need a plumber.
		• If the dishwasher drains into a disposer, run disposer clear.
Suds	Correct detergent wasn’t used	• Use only automatic dishwasher detergents to avoid sudsing.
		Cascade®, Cascade Complete® and Electrasol® dishwasher
		detergents have been approved for use in all GE dishwashers.
		• To remove suds from the tub, open the dishwasher and
		let suds dissipate. Add 1 gallon of cold water to the tub.
		Close the door until it locks into place. Pump out water by
		pressing START/RESET, then after waiting 10 seconds press
		START/RESET again. Repeat if necessary.
	Rinse agent was spilled	• Always wipe up rinse agent spills immediately.
Stained dishwasher parts	Detergent with	• Some detergents contain colorant (pigment or dyes) that
	colorant was used	will discolor the tub interior with extended use. Check the
		detergent cup for signs of any discoloration. If cup is
		discolored, change to detergent without any colorant. Cascade®,
		Cascade Complete® and Electrasol® Dishwashing Detergents
		have been approved for use in all GE dishwashers.
	Some tomato-based	• Use of the RINSE ONLY cycle after adding the dish to the load
	foods can stain	can decrease the level of staining.
Dishes and flatware	Low inlet water temperature	• Make sure inlet water temperature is correct (see page 6).
not clean	Water pressure is temporarily low	• Turn on a faucet. Is water coming out more slowly than usual?
		If so, wait until pressure is normal before using your dishwasher.
	Air gap is clogged	• Clean the air gap.
	Improper rack loading	• Make sure large dishware does not block the detergent
		dispenser or the wash arms.
		11

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