Washers have a locking mechanism in the door or lid which keeps them from unlocking during a wash cycle. Sometimes, when there is an issue with the locking system, the washer might keep locking and unlocking without control. In this article, we will discuss why your GE washer keeps locking and unlocking along with a guide to fix the issue easily.
GE washer keeps locking and unlocking
Your GE washer might be locking and unlocking due to the following reasons:
- Faulty Lid lock or Door lock
- Faulty control board panel
- Electrical wiring issues
Faulty Lid Lock or Door Lock
A GE washer has a lid lock in top load models and a door lock in front load models. The locks are controlled by the lid switch which secures the lid in place.
Generally, the lid switch doesn’t let the door unlock when a wash cycle is active. The control panel signals the lid lock switch to secure the lid lock so that it cannot be opened accidentally without pausing the washing machine.
But if the lid lock switch is faulty, then it might not be locking the lid or door properly and keeps unlocking during the wash cycle.
Sometimes, there are chances for the lock to have a mechanical fault. That is, the lock might be physically damaged which fails to secure the door in place with the lid lock setup. Also, there are chances for the door latch to be loose due to which the door cannot stay locked.
So, your GE washer door cannot stay locked due to
- a fault in the lid switch
- a physical damage in the locking mechanism
- a faulty door latch.
Fix
If you have confirmed an issue with the lid switch or with the door lock, you can simply replace the GE washer lid lock. The procedure to change the lock and the switch is easy and you can do it yourself. Check out our lid lock replacement guide in GE washers to solve the issue effortlessly.
When you choose to replace the lid switch, you might have to wait for a few days to get the replacement switch from the store. Meanwhile, you can use the washer without the lock with a simple bypass of the lid switch.
Faulty Control Board Panel
The control board is the brain of your washing machine. It keeps the lid latch locked during a wash cycle. If you find your washer to keep unlocking and there aren’t any issues with the lid switch, then, your control board has issues.
The circuit of the board might have been damaged due to a power surge. You might not realize the issue with your main control board until you encounter such problems.
You can confirm the issue with your control panel by checking out other functionalities. Turn off the control lock and check whether all the buttons on the control panel work properly.
Some models will have a lid lock light which can indicate the panel is getting feedback that the door is locked. If the light doesn’t flash, then you can confirm the issue with the panel.
Fix
- When you encounter control board issues, first try to reset the machine. Turn off the power switch and unplug the appliance from the power outlet. This will reset the machine and fix the control panel.
- If the reset doesn’t work out, check whether you hear any clicking sounds from the washer. This can mean that there is an electrical fault in the panel.
- You have to remove the control panel from the GE washing machine and check it physically for any short circuits. If there are short circuits then replace the control panel.
- Get a suitable replacement part for your washing machine model by referring to the model number. Once you have the replacement in hand, install the control panel and check whether the issues are fixed.
Electrical Wiring Issues
If there are issues with electrical wiring in your house, then it can make the washer turn on and off causing the machine to lock and unlock frequently. This can happen due to improper plugging in of the machine to the power outlet. When the power supply is not provided continuously, this issue can occur.
Fix
- Ensure that your washing machine is plugged in securely. If it is not properly plugged in or if you find some loose contact, then insert it into the socket properly.
- Check the electrical mains and ensure that the main switch is active. If there are short circuits or overload, the main switch might trip and turn off even if you turn it back on. If the switch keeps tripping off, then get an appliance technician to check the washing machine’s electrical connection and the household electrical wiring.
These are the ways in which you can solve the locking and unlocking problem with your GE washer. This also be followed for other washing machine brands like Whirlpool, Samsung, LG, etc.
