GE Washer Not Spinning? Here’s The Fix!

A washer that won’t spin can be incredibly frustrating. Picture this: you’ve gone to get your clothes out of the washing machine, and they’re still all soaking wet! Perhaps you’ve noticed a loud, clunking noise during the spin cycle, or maybe your GE washer is displaying an error code. No matter how this problem presents itself, it’s a sign that there is something wrong. Thankfully, there are plenty of things a DIY enthusiast can do to troubleshoot and hopefully solve this issue. Read on for some easy fixes!

This guide refers to all main models of GE Washers, including:

CATL160RBL

CATL260RBL

GTWN2800D1WW

GTWN4250D0WS

GTWN4250D1WS

GTWN4250M1WS

GTWN4950L0WS

WASR3110W0AA

WASR3110W0WW

WBSR1060T2AA

WBSR1060T2WW

WBVH6240FW

WHDSR109J5WW

WHDSR315DAWW

WHDSR316G0WW

WHDSR316G1WW

WHRE5550K2WW

WJRE5550K2WW

WJSR2080T2WW

WJSR2080T5WW

WPRE6150K2WT

Redistribute the load

Sometimes, the simplest and most obvious solution is the answer! If your GE washer isn’t spinning, it may be because the load of laundry inside the drum is clumping together. This can cause the machine to become unbalanced, meaning it can’t spin properly. When your GE washer senses this, it will stop the spin cycle to prevent damage to your appliance. 

If this is the problem you may have noticed very loud clanking noises before your washer stopped. You will also notice that the spin cycle starts but doesn’t finish. Your clothes will still be very wet after the end of the cycle, but the water will be draining from the machine as normal. 

How to fix:

• Pause your washer and open the lid or door. 
• Manually redistribute the load around the drum.
• Restart the spin cycle. 

If you’ve attempted to wash a single very heavy item, such as a wool blanket, this issue might recur during the spin cycle. You can either keep redistributing the load or you can finish washing the item by hand if it happens too frequently. Unbalanced loads can be prevented by washing heavy items by hand and ensuring you always wash items of similar size together. 

Reset the washer

Sometimes an issue can occur with the electronics of your GE washer, causing it to pause during the spin cycle without any underlying issue. If this happens, resetting the washer can clear the issue and fix your appliance. 

If your home experienced a power outage or power surge just before the spin issue occurred, this glitch is likely the cause. Other signs are your washer displaying unusual error code lights on the display or the control pad not working. 

How to fix:

• Unplug your washer from the electrical outlet, or switch off the corresponding circuit breaker.
• Wait for one minute for the washer to fully discharge. 
• Plug the washer back in and turn it on. 
• Select a spin cycle and wait to see if it completes. If not, move on to the next step in our guide. 

Inspect the lid switch

The lid switch in a GE Washer is a feature that prevents the washer from spinning while the lid is open. With top loader washers, you can usually open them during the filling stages if you need to add extra laundry, but you are unable to do this during the spin cycle. This is for safety reasons—you could easily hurt yourself if you reached into the washer during this time! It could also lead to water and detergent spraying out, causing moisture damage in your home. 

If the lid switch on your GE washer is faulty, it could falsely indicate that the lid is open when it isn’t, interrupting the spin cycle. If this is your issue, you’ll notice your washer fills and drains as normal but doesn’t spin. You will also notice that the spin cycle on your washer doesn’t start at all. Lastly, when you close the lid of your washer, it won’t make any noise—if the lid switch is working, it should make an audible ‘click’ sound. 

How to fix:

• Locate the lid switch. You can check your GE manual for the exact location of your model. 
• Check that the switch is not obstructed or dirty, as this can prevent it from properly closing. 
• Check that the switch isn’t bent. If you can, bend it back into place. 
• If the switch appears damaged, you can try testing it with a multimeter to ensure it has continuity. If not, it will need replacing. 
• Order a replacement part, ensuring it is compatible with your model of washer. 
• Turn off the power to your washer and remove the old, faulty lid switch. 
• Put the new one in place, ensuring the wiring is connected correctly. 
• Turn on your machine and run a test cycle to ensure the switch is now working. 

Check the drive belt

The drive belt in your washer connects the motor to the drum and allows the drum to spin during the spin cycle. If the belt is loose, damaged, or broken, it won’t be able to spin the drum properly. 

If this is your issue, you might notice the motor running but the drum doesn’t spin. In some cases, if the belt is loose but not broken, the spin cycle might run a little, but the drum won’t move enough to remove moisture from your clothes. 

How to fix:

• Unplug your washer and pull it away from the wall. 
• Remove the rear panel to get access to the drum and the drive belt. 
• Closely inspect the drive belt for signs of damage. A damaged belt may appear worn, frayed, or cracked. You may also notice bits of rubber debris in the bottom of the washer interior. 
• A faulty belt will need replacing. Order a replacement belt, ensuring it fits your machine.
• Remove the old belt, taking careful note of how the belt is threaded on the pulleys.
• Put the new belt in its place.
• Put the washer back together, restore the power, and run a test cycle to ensure it works.