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If you are reading this, chances are that your dishwasher is having problems and you want to test whether the door latch is the cause.
That being so, you will need a way to bypass the latch to see if it is in working order.
With that in mind, below we shall look at how to bypass a GE dishwasher door latch.
Let us jump in:
GE dishwasher door latch bypass (GE dishwasher door latch test)
Your dishwasher is probably not starting a wash cycle.
And once you run a diagnostic test, it indicates that the dishwasher is not detecting the door as closed.
Now, you have two parts that might cause this – the door latch and the door switch (The issue typically occurs if one of the parts is broken).
Of course, replacing both parts can be expensive so you will want to test both parts to identify the actual culprit and replace accordingly.
Problem is, manufacturers do not provide a direct way of testing the door latch.
The good news is bypassing the door latch is an easy way of knowing whether it is bad or not.
So let us see how you can bypass each of these parts and identify the part that is acting up…
GE dishwasher door latch bypass – how to test door latch on GE dishwasher (step by step)
The door latch works in a fairly straightforward way……
The door strike hits the latch and the latch holds it firmly in place – that signals that the door is indeed closed.
Now, if the latch fails, it means that either the door strike is not hitting it or the latch is not able to firmly hold the strike.
Either way, you can quickly bypass the latch to see if it is the cause of your dishwasher’s problems.
Here is how:
To bypass the door latch, first open your dishwasher door.
Next, using a screwdriver, depress the door latch and run a wash cycle while still depressing the latch.
Is the dishwasher starting?
If the dishwasher starts, it usually means that your door latch is defective and your best bet is replacing it.
Keep in mind that we recommend an OEM replacement part such as the GE OEM replacement door latch.
NOTE: This part above is sold individually so if your dishwasher’s door strike is damaged as well, you need to purchase it separately.
On the other hand, if the dishwasher does not start, you will need to test the door switch.
Here’s how…
GE dishwasher door switch bypass (how to bypass GE dishwasher door switch)
Quick tip: Before beginning, be sure to first disconnect your dishwasher from its power source.
Now, to bypass your GE dishwasher door latch switch, you will need to have a wire.
First, disconnect your door switch.
Next, connect your wire to the terminals of where you have just removed the door switch.
Here you may opt to either solder the wire in place or just tie it around the terminals and use an electric tape for a firmer hold.
It is now time to test the door switch.
To do that, you will need to plug in your dishwasher and try to run a wash cycle.
If it runs, it means that your door switch is the bad boy so you will need to get a replacement door switch.
Here is a complete Dishwasher Door Latch and Switch Assembly that you can order (ordering the two parts together is perhaps the right thing to do as this particular brand is cheaper)
Moving on, other than bypassing the door switch and latch, there is yet another way to test if these parts are behind your malfunctioning dishwasher- testing for continuity (you need a multimeter).
How to test GE dishwasher door latch for continuity
First, disconnect the wire harness that attaches the door switch to the door latch.
Next, with your multimeter, touch both terminals of the door latch with the multimeter probes- When the door is closed, your door latch should have continuity.
Conversely, once you open the door, your latch should now lack continuity.
How to test GE dishwasher door switch for continuity
Now, to test your dishwasher’s door switch for continuity, you will need to touch the terminals of the switch with your multimeter probes.
Just as with the door latch, when the door is closed, the switch should have continuity while it should not have continuity if the door is open.
If your door latch or switch fails these tests, it is likely that it is dead-Again we recommend the money-saving complete Dishwasher Door Latch and Switch Assembly
GE dishwasher door latch bypass – conclusion
If your dishwasher door sensor “thinks” the dishwasher is open, it is frequently an indication that either the door latch or the door switch is faulty.
And since replacing both parts is uneconomical, you may opt to bypass both parts as you try to figure out which part is indeed bad and replace it.
Alternatively, you can test both parts for continuity – which also helps in pinpointing the bad boy.
Happy troubleshooting!
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