It’s no longer news that GE makes one of the most reliable washers on the market. You can get many years of use out of them with proper installation, water hardness conditions, and a leveled floor.
GE washers’ versatility also sets them apart. Some of their high-end washing machines come packed with features that make doing laundries a breeze. But like other brands, GE washers are not fault resistant. They can also develop fault.
Issues like GE washer stuck on sensing mode have been one of the many complaints about the machine. So, if yours have the same problem, you’re in the right place to find a solution.
Read to know the causes, including how to fix them.
Read: Maytag Centennial washer stuck on sensing
Why GE Washer Stuck On Sensing And Fixes To It
The issue of the GE washer stuck on sensing mode can be caused by several factors. These include a failed drain pump, faulty transmission, bad belt, or there is a chance you have a clogged drain pump. So, if you’re GE washer refuses to move past sensing mode, consider checking the possible causes we have just mentioned.
You can fix some of these problems using your DIY technique, but remember that some issues may require a trained technician.
Let’s discuss the issues affecting your GE washer’s sensing mode, including how to fix them.
But first, here is a breakdown of the factors mentioned above
- Blocked drain pump
- Damaged Drain pump
- Transmission issue
- Bad belt issue
1: Blocked Drain Pump Issue
A clogged drain pump will hamper the performance of your GE washer or any washing machine, for that matter. It will make it impossible for water in the tub to drain out.
You can’t use a GE washer or any other washer with a clogged drain pump. So, address this problem to continue your laundry.
Several things can block your drain pump and prevent water from leaving the tub. These include soap buildup, oil, grease, and fragments from the clothes you’re washing.
Now, is a blocked drain pump a breeze to fix?Yes, it is, provided you have the right tools and are sure drain pump blockage is why your GE washer has refused to move past sensing mode.
How to fix blocked GE washer drain pump:
The first thing is to check the drain pump to know if it has been blocked. Please don’t assume this is the problem. You have to check and be sure it is.
To fix the blocked drain pump, detach the machine’s power plug from the wall socket. Then move the washer outside or to a spacious and well-illuminated environment.
You’ll find the drain pump behind the washer’s back panel. Remove this panel gently so that you can reach the drain pump. Now have the drain and inlet hoses disconnected and checked for blockage.
After checking the drain and inlet hoses, check the drain pump for any blockage. If you find any, ensure you remove them. Then reconnect the drain and inlet hoses.
Now that you have finished fixing the problem, you can reattach the washer’s power supply cord to the wall socket and turn on the machine.
A Handy Tip: Your drain pump should start draining water out of the tub if the problem was an issue of blockage (which often happens) and not a damaged drain pump.
However, consider changing the drain pump if you have removed the dirt blocking it, but water refuses to leave your tub. There’s a possibility that you are dealing with a damaged drain pump.
How to manually remove and snake a clogged drain pump:
You can manually unclog your washer’s drain pump using the following technique, but ensure you have the necessary plumbing tools before you begin.
Without these plumbing tools, you may damage your washer’s drain pump or spend more time on the task.
Below are the techniques to remove and unclog your clogged drain pump.
Step 1: Get the needed plumbing tools:
Gather all the plumbing tools you need for this job. Please don’t start the unclogging process without any.
Here are the tools you need to unclog your drain pump manually.
- Screwdrivers
- Pipe and wire cutters
- Snakes or industrial drain augers
- Basin and the hex-shaped wrenches
Step 2: Remove the unit’s drainage system:
After assembling the needed plumbing tools, the next phase is to separate the drain from the washer. You’ll find the drainage system at the back of the washer.
You can remove the drainage system using a screwdriver, but be very careful. Have a bucket around to catch water left in the tub because of the clogged pipe.
After removing your washer’s drainage pipe, detach the drainage hose from the tube. This drainage hose is where most of the clogging takes place. It’s the pipe connecting the laundry unit to your plumbing system in your home.
After detaching the drain hose, have it snaked like any other drain fixture. By doing so, whatever is causing the blockage will fall off.
Step 3: Unclog the hose with a drain snake:
The hose is where the clogging mostly takes place. So you can focus your attention here.
Firstly, run your drain snake through the detached hose pipe. If you encounter any debris or material on the way, use your drain snake’s rotation knob to latch onto it.
You have to break the clog using three simple techniques. These include fluid, twisting the drain snake, and pressing the snake hard against the debris or material causing the blockage.
If you discover that the drain snake is no longer encountering any resistance when pushed, take it out gently.
Your drain hose is now free. You can now reattach it to the unit’s drainage system and turn on the machine to see if the same sensing problem continues.
2: Transmission Issue
The washing machine transmission is a critical component of the machine. All washing machines on the market have a transmission. The job of this component is not only to turn the washer’s tub.
The transmission also ensures the washing machine transits from one washing cycle to another. So, if you have a GE washer stuck on the sensing mode, and you’re sure the drain pump isn’t the cause, the transmission might be the culprit.
A faulty transmission isn’t such an easy problem to solve. Firstly, removing the transmission is an arduous task, and it is a job for a trained technician (unless you have some technical knowledge and believe you can get it done).
Furthermore, note that you cannot repair a faulty transmission. If your GE washer has a transmission problem, fixing a new one is the only way to solve it.
Now, here’s the problem. Transmissions are a bit pricey. And you may end up spending more money if you eventually hire a technician to install the new transmission for you.
Read: Maytag error E01 F09
3: Bad Belt Issue
The belt is another crucial component of the washer. It could cause your machine to remain stuck in the sensing mode.
In most cases, you may discover that your transmission is intact, but the problem is the washer’s belt. The belt causes the drum to spin, agitate, wash, and spin-wring the clothes before taking them to the dryer.
So, if your washer has a bad belt, note that the transmission won’t function properly.
How to fix it:
The truth is you can’t repair a bad belt. The only thing you can do is to have it replaced. You can also fix the new belt if you successfully remove the bad one.
A Handy Tip: Sometimes, the answer to a washing machine’s problem is a simple reset. So, you can try resetting your GE washer and see if it will start working correctly.
How To Identify a Faulty Transmission In Your GE Washer?
A faulty or damaged transmission can make it impossible for your GE washer to function, as it should. Your machine may even remain stuck in sensing mode when the transmission is bad.
You don’t have to wait for your GE washer to stop working entirely because of a transmission problem. Here is how to identify a faulty transmission in your GE washer.
- Washer stuck on sensing mode:
There’s a chance you could be dealing with a transmission issue if the washer remains stuck on sensing mode. In this case, the tub won’t spin in the machine’s spin cycle.
Shockingly, you’ll hear the motor spin, but the tub won’t turn. This is a sign that your transmission requires some attention.
- Noise:
Usually, washers may produce terrible noise when they’re imbalanced or overloaded. But the noise they make when the transmission is gradually dying is different.
You’ll hear a high-pitched whining noise from the washer when the transmission is faulty. The noise would be so different from when the machine was overloaded.
- Burning smell:
The smell emanating from the washer is another way to know if it has a fault or not. Issues such as failed bearings or belts can cause your washer to produce a burning smell.
The motor turns the drum, but the bearings must be in good shape to operate smoothly. If the bearings were in bad shape, the motor would have to work hard to cause the drum to rotate.
In this case, the friction between the drum and motor would be super high, causing more heat and a burning smell to fill your laundry room.
Warranty and Support
GE is a multinational brand that provides the best customer service on its product lines. If you are still not satisfied with the working of your dishwasher, you can contact GE customer support.
1-800-GECares (1-800-432-2737)
Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. ET
Saturday – Sunday: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. ET
Chat timings:
Monday-Friday: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. ET
GE also offers some quick troubleshooting videos that can help you to fix the issue on your own.
If you need help in getting your product model or serial number, this link may help you.
Conclusion
Why GE washer stuck on sensing is the primary focus of this post. The GE washers are among the finest and most reliable machines out there. But as you know, no machine is immune to faults.
We mentioned several issues that can cause your GE washer to remain stuck in sensing mode, including what you can do in the different scenarios.
The causes could be:
- Blocked drain pump
- Damaged Drain pump
- Transmission issue
- Bad belt issue
However, if you tried fixing the machine to no avail, or the cost of fixing the problem can almost get you a new washer, consider buying a brand new washer instead.