Electric GE dryer won’t start: A troubleshooting guide

If you own a GE dryer and it refuses to start, don’t worry! There are several potential causes for this issue that you can investigate yourself, without the need for an expensive professional service call.

Let’s walk through the steps together so you can find out what’s going wrong in your dryer and how you can fix it.

If you find out that you need any replacement parts for your GE dryer while you’re troubleshooting, you can enter your model number at AppliancePartsPros.com to order them. Most orders arrive in just two business days, and we have thousands of free guides to show you how to install your new parts.

Disclaimer: The troubleshooting information provided in this article is based on general service manuals and may not apply to your specific appliance model. While we strive to offer helpful advice for DIY appliance repairs, variations in models and configurations can lead to differences in troubleshooting steps, error codes and part replacements. For the most accurate guidance, we strongly recommend consulting the technical sheet for your specific appliance model.

WATCH: Electric Dryer Won’t Start – TOP 6 Reasons & Fixes – Whirlpool, Kenmore, and more

What you need

• Multimeter
• Flat-head screwdriver
• Phillips screwdriver
• Nut drivers

Disclaimer: The specific tools required may vary depending on the model of your appliance and the type of fasteners used on it. Always consult the user manual or refer to any specific instructions provided by the manufacturer for the recommended tools for your appliance model.

Safety precautions

When working on any appliance, remember to keep safety first. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

• Always power off and unplug your appliance or switch off the circuit breaker before you attempt any maintenance or replacement work. This keeps you safe by preventing any risk of electric shock.
• If the appliance has recently been used, give it plenty of time to cool down before working on it.
• Take your time while working to prevent accidents and personal injuries. Rushing is the enemy of precision.
• Work in a well-lit area so you can clearly see and access appliance parts.
• Keep your workspace free of clutter and other obstacles. Keep children and pets away from the work area.
• Never work on internal parts with wet hands. Make sure the work area is completely dry.
• Check the user manual to see if there are specific installation or safety instructions related to your appliance or replacement part.
• Be gentle when handling or removing parts. Excessive force might damage the appliance or cause personal injury.
• Wear insulated work gloves to protect your hands from sharp metal parts and debris.
• When working with wires, avoid touching any exposed wires or terminals. If you need to touch a wire, use a non-conductive tool or wear insulating gloves to prevent electrical shock.
• Don’t test live voltage with a multimeter if you’re unfamiliar with how to prevent short-circuiting.
• Consider wearing safety glasses and/or a dust mask when working with chemicals, dust or a large amount of debris to prevent irritation or injury.

Read more: Tips for Caring for Your Dryer | Clothes Dryer Maintenance

How to troubleshoot a dryer that won’t start

Check the following parts to find out what’s preventing your dryer from starting.

Step 1: Check the power supply

Before you start digging into your dryer, first check to see if the circuit breakers have tripped or failed.

Check the circuit breakers

1. Find the circuit breakers. Normally there’s one 30-amp double breaker or two side-by-side 30-amp single breakers.
2. Reset the breakers, even if they’re not tripped.

Check the wall socket

LIVE VOLTAGE WARNING: For this test, the dryer needs to be plugged in and powered on. Please be very careful to protect yourself from electric shock, which has the potential to cause serious injuries. Don’t ever test live voltage if you’re uncomfortable using a multimeter.

Remember that it’s normal for voltage measurements to fluctuate up or down by 10%.

1. Set a multimeter to Volts AC.
2. Use the meter leads to test each side of the wall socket. The meter should read 120 Volts AC for each side.
3. Use the meter leads to check the combined voltage. The meter should read 240 Volts AC here.

If the socket doesn’t have the correct voltage, then it or one of the circuit breakers may need to be replaced.

Step 2: Check the door switch

The door switch is a safety feature that prevents the dryer from starting if the door is open. If it’s faulty, it might make the dryer think the door is still open and prevent it from starting.

1. Turn the dryer off and unplug it from the outlet.
2. To access the switch, open the dryer door to access the screws that hold the top panel in place.
3. Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the screws located at the top corners of the door.
4. Lift the top panel until three tabs are released and remove the panel.
5. Find the screws that hold the front panel in place on each side and remove them with a Phillips screwdriver.
6. Gently pull the top of the front panel forward and lift the bottom off the mounting tabs.
7. Swing the front panel to the side to create space to access the wires that are connected to the door switch.
8. Flex and move aside the protective bracket that covers the wires.
9. Take note of the wire positions or take a photo of them to help you with reinstallation.
10. Remove the wires from the door switch. Use a small screwdriver if necessary to disconnect them.
11. Find the release tabs on each side of the door switch. Press the tabs while pushing the door switch out from the front panel. Repeat the process for both sides until the door switch is removed.
12. Clean off any debris that could be preventing the door from making contact with the switch.
13. Set a multimeter to the continuity setting, which looks like a sideways WiFi symbol.
14. Touch the multimeter’s test leads (also known as probes) together. If your multimeter has a continuity or beep function, it should emit a tone.
15. Touch the multimeter’s test leads to the terminals on the door switch where the wires were connected. It doesn’t matter which lead goes to which terminal.
16. Check the meter display. Your meter should beep if the switch has continuity. If there’s no continuity when the door is closed, it means the switch is defective and needs to be replaced.

If the door switch is good, move on to the next step.

WATCH: How to replace GE Door Switch WE4M415

Step 3: Check for a blown safety thermostat

The safety thermostat is a device designed to protect the dryer from overheating. It’s typically found on the heating element.
To access it:

1. Remove the three top Phillips screws at the back of the control panel.
2. Slide the control panel to the left to disengage the bottom locking tabs. Leave the control panel loose.
3. Use a 1/4-inch nut driver to remove the screw that holds the left side of the cabinet to the blower housing. This will let you bend the side panel out slightly.
4. Reach inside the dryer, under the drum, and push the idler pulley to the right. This will release the drive belt from the motor and the idler pulleys. Apply some force if needed to release the belt.
5. Remove the drum and belt from the dryer cabinet to access the heating element.
6. Set a multimeter to the continuity setting.
7. Touch the multimeter’s test leads to the terminals on the safety thermostat, where the wires were connected. It doesn’t matter which lead goes to which terminal.
8. Check the meter reading. If there’s no continuity, then the thermostat is bad and needs to be replaced.

If your thermostat has continuity, move on to the next step.

Step 4: Check the start switch

The start switch initiates the dryer’s motor and heating element.

1. Press or turn the start switch and listen for a humming sound. If there’s no sound when the start switch is pressed, it may be faulty.
2. To test the start switch further, remove the start knob or button and screws along the top or back of the control panel.
3. Depending on your model, you may need to slide the control panel forward or to the side to release the tabs. Set the control panel on top of the cabinet.
4. Remove the wiring connections to the start switch.
5. Set a multimeter to the continuity setting.
6. Touch the multimeter’s test leads to the terminals on the switch where the wires were connected. Test the switch when the start switch is pushed or turned to activate.
7. Check the meter reading. The meter should beep if the switch is good. If there’s no continuity, the switch is bad and needs to be replaced.

If the switch is good, move on to the next step.

Step 5: Check the drive belt

The drive belt connects the motor to the drum. A broken belt can trip the broken belt switch, which will prevent the dryer from turning on and the motor from running.

You should be able to access the drive belt after following the earlier steps. If it’s broken, replace it with a new one.

WATCH: How to replace GE Dryer Drive Belt WE12M29

Step 6: Check the drive motor

1. Remove the drum and belt from the dryer cabinet to access the heating element.
2. Find the motor terminals. There’s usually a set of wires connected to the motor, with each wire attached to a specific terminal.
3. Take a photo of the wire connections to the motor terminals so you can easily reassemble them later.
4. Carefully disconnect the wires from the motor terminals.
5. Turn on the multimeter and set it to the resistance (Ω) mode.
6. Touch the multimeter’s test leads to the start winding terminals. Then touch the leads to the run winding terminals.
7. Check the meter after each test. The resistance reading between the start winding terminals should typically be low, usually a few ohms. The resistance reading between the run winding terminals should also be low, but slightly higher than the start winding terminals.

If the meter displays the expected resistance values for the motor windings, then they’re likely intact. You can also check for any problems with the blower wheel attached to the motor.

If the resistance values are significantly higher or infinitely high (indicating an open circuit), then there’s a fault in the motor windings and the motor needs to be replaced.

Read more: How to Clean a Dryer Vent

Additional information

Thank you for reading! We hope this guide helped you get your GE dryer working again.

If you have any other appliance repair needs or projects, don’t hesitate to explore our other troubleshooting guides and videos.

If you need replacement parts or some extra help with ordering them, grab your model number and head over to AppliancePartsPros.com, where you can chat with a pro, read our DIY blog and more. We can also help you troubleshoot common dryer problems here.

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