GE Monogram Dishwasher Repair

When your GE Monogram dishwasher acts up, it throws off your whole kitchen routine. This guide will help you figure out and fix common issues with these fancy machines.

We've fixed hundreds of Monogram units over the years, especially the ZDT870SIFII model. We’ve seen most problems more times than we can count.

First thing you should know - Monogram dishwashers have some complicated parts, but most problems boil down to a handful of common issues. You don't need to be a pro to fix many of them. You just need some basic troubleshooting skills and patience.

When you can’t fix a problem yourself, Sears Home Services is always standing by with the best dishwasher repair techs in the business.

Dishwasher Not Starting

• Press the buttons and nothing happens? Frustrating as it gets. Check the power first. Sounds obvious but you wouldn't believe how many service calls we've gone on where the breaker tripped or somebody accidentally hit the wall switch that controls the outlet. Go check your electrical panel. Make sure the dishwasher breaker isn't tripped.

• Door latch might be the culprit. The Monogram won't run if the door isn't fully closed and latched - it's a safety thing. Sometimes food crud gets stuck in the latch. Clean around it with an old toothbrush and try again.

• Control board could be giving you trouble if it still won't start. It's behind the control panel - the brains of your machine. Moisture gets to it sometimes and causes problems. Try resetting the dishwasher. Turn off power at the breaker for about 5 minutes. Turn it back on. Sometimes clears up electronic glitches. If not, schedule dishwasher repair service and we’ll fix the problem for you.

• Delay start feature causes headaches too. Make sure it's not accidentally set. Press and hold the delay button for a few seconds to cancel it. Or cycle through options until the delay light turns off.

• Child lock trips people up. Some Monogram models have this feature. If it's turned on, the dishwasher won't respond when you press buttons. Usually you can turn it off by holding down a button or combination for a few seconds. Check your manual for exact steps for your model.

Poor Cleaning Performance

Nothing worse than opening your dishwasher after a cycle and finding dirty dishes. Probably the most common complaint we hear.

• First thing, check the spray arms. They get clogged with food bits or mineral deposits. Take them out and run water through the holes to clear blockages. Sometimes need a toothpick or wire to clear stubborn clogs.

• The filter at the bottom needs regular cleaning. In Monogram models, it's usually a cylindrical piece in the bottom center. Turn it counterclockwise to remove, then rinse under warm water. Dirty filter means dirty water circulating through your machine.

• Water temperature makes a huge difference. Monogram dishwashers work best with water about 120 degrees. If your hot water heater's set too low, or if you're running hot water elsewhere in the house before starting the dishwasher, you might not get water that's hot enough. Try running hot water at the kitchen sink until it's hot before starting the dishwasher.

• Detergent matters more than most folks think. Cheap stuff often doesn't cut it for Monogram dishwashers. We've seen plenty of cleaning problems solved just by switching to better detergent. Gel detergents sometimes don't dissolve right. Powder or tablets usually work better.

• Loading mistakes cause cleaning issues too. Overloading or blocking spray arms with tall items prevents water from reaching all dishes. Make sure nothing's blocking spray arms from spinning freely. Don't nest items together.

• Water inlet valve could be failing if water isn't getting into the dishwasher properly. It's behind the lower access panel, connected to the water supply line. Controls water flow into the machine. If partially clogged or failing, not enough water gets in for proper cleaning.

Dishwasher Not Draining

Standing water in the bottom after a cycle means something's wrong with drainage.

• Check the drain hose for kinks or blockages first. It runs from the dishwasher to either the garbage disposal or drain pipe under sink. Sometimes it gets kinked behind dishwasher or where it connects under sink. Check for grease or debris clogs when the drain hose connects to the sink or disposal.

• Make sure the garbage disposal is clear if your dishwasher drains into it. A full disposal prevents dishwasher from draining properly. Also check that the knockout plug was removed from the disposal during installation if you just got a new disposal. This is a common installation mistake.

• Drain pump might be clogged or shot. It’s located at bottom of the dishwasher. You can sometimes hear it running during the drain cycle. If clogged, you'll need to remove debris. If failed, it needs replacement. An appliance repair technician typically needs to replace the drain pump.

• The check valve in drain line causes problems sometimes. This small valve prevents water flowing back into dishwasher. It sometimes gets stuck closed, preventing drainage. It is located in the drain hose or on the drain pump assembly.

• Air gaps cause drainage problems too. If your installation has an air gap (small chrome cylinder on back of sink), check if it's clogged. Remove chrome cap and clean out any gunk.

Leaking Issues

Water on floor around dishwasher? Never good.

• The door gasket is often the culprit. Check for cracks, tears, or food particles preventing good seal. Clean thoroughly with soft cloth and warm water. If damaged, it needs replacement.

• Check water inlet valve for leaks. Sometimes it develops cracks or loose connections that let water seep out. Look for moisture or water stains around valve.

• Spray arms cause leaks if cracked or not attached right. If water hits the door at high pressure during the cycle, it might leak out around edges. Spray arm problems can also cause wave action inside the tub that sloshes water over the front lip and of the tub and leaks out onto the floor.

• Make sure dishwasher sits level. An unleveled dishwasher causes water to pool on one side and eventually leak out. Use a level on the bottom rack rails and adjust legs if needed.

• Too much suds causes leaking too. Using too much detergent or the wrong type creates excessive suds that push water out around door. Use only detergent made for dishwashers, and don't use too much.

• The float switch might be stuck. This safety device prevents overfilling, but if stuck down, dishwasher might overfill and leak. Look for small cylinder or dome in bottom of tub and make sure it moves up and down freely.

Noisy Operation

Dishwashers make some noise, but weird sounds mean trouble.

• Grinding noise often means something caught in chopper blade area or pump. Turn off the dishwasher and check filter and pump area for foreign objects like broken glass or popcorn kernals.

• Buzzing or humming louder than normal could mean trouble with wash pump or drain pump. If motor struggles or bearing wears out, it makes more noise.

• Banging or knocking might be spray arms hitting something. Make sure they're not hitting dishes and can spin freely. Also check they're properly attached. Loose spray arm makes awful noise.

• Water hammering causes banging sounds. This happens in plumbing when the water inlet valve closes suddenly. Installing water hammer arrestor on supply line or replacing the water inlet valve helps eliminate this sound.

• Rattling noises usually just vibration from dishes or utensils not secured properly. Make sure everything sits properly in racks and can't move around during cycle.

Control Panel Problems

Buttons stop working or display shows error codes?

• For unresponsive buttons, try resetting dishwasher by cutting power at breaker for a few minutes. If some buttons work but others don't, control panel might need replacement.

• Error codes tell you what's wrong. Common ones on Monogram models:

  • PF means power failure. Just press Start to continue.
  • 1H or H01 means delay start is set. Press Delay Start to clear it.
  • CE means communication error between main control board and user interface. Power cycling might fix it.

If the display looks blank or partially lit, the control board or display board might be failing. Have an appliance repair technician examine the dishwasher and replace the bad part.

Water Fill Problems

Dishwasher not getting enough water?

• The inlet valve might be clogged or failing. Look for screens inside valve that get clogged with debris or mineral buildup.

• Check your home's water pressure. Low pressure prevents proper filling. Monogram dishwashers need at least 20 PSI to work right.

• The float switch might be stuck in the “up” position, making the dishwasher think it's already full. Check that it moves freely and isn't stuck.

If your dishwasher has flood float or float switch and it triggered from previous leak or overflow, this might prevent dishwasher from filling. Some models need manual reset after this safety feature activates.

Heating Element Issues

Dishes not drying or water not getting hot enough?

• The heating element might be the problem. It's the coil at bottom of tub. Look for visible damage like cracks or blistering. Replace the element if it’s damaged.

• If you see no damage to the element, test it with a multimeter if you know how. It should have some resistance but not completely open or shorted. A reading around 10-30 ohms is usually normal, but check the specs for your GE Monogram dishwasher model.

• The high-limit thermostat could be tripped or bad. This safety device prevents overheating, but if tripped or failed, heating element won't work. Usually small disc-shaped device attached to heating element or nearby.

• Temperature sensors fail sometimes. These tell the control board what water temperature is. If not working right, the dishwasher might not heat properly.

Pump and Motor Problems

The heart of your dishwasher is pump and motor assembly. If not working right, nothing else matters much.

• Humming noise but no water movement could mean motor tries to run but something jams the pump. Could be debris or motor bearings going bad.

• Check for objects caught in pump. Small pieces of glass, broken toothpicks, popcorn kernels - common culprits. You need to remove lower spray arm and filter to access pump area. Or you can have a Sears Home Services technician check it and repair the problem.

• If motor doesn't run at all, it could be an electrical problem. Have a technician check for proper voltage to motor. Capacitor issues also prevent motor from starting. The capacitor is small cylindrical part connected to the motor assembly.

• Bearings wear out eventually. If motor shaft has play or makes rumbling noises when turned by hand, the bearings are probably shot. This usually means replacing the motor assembly.

• Seals fail too, letting water get into motor. If you see signs of water leakage around the motor or rust, seals might have failed.

Dispenser Problems

Detergent not being released?

• Check the dispenser for clogs or mechanical problems. Sometimes detergent cakes up inside and prevents the door from opening properly. Clean thoroughly with warm water.

• The dispenser's spring mechanism wears out sometimes, preventing door from opening during cycle. You might need to replace the dispenser assembly.

• Water temperature affects dispenser operation. If water isn't hot enough, detergent might not dissolve properly. Make sure water heater set correctly.

• The dispenser wax motor could fail. This small actuator opens the dispenser door during the wash cycle. If not working, the dispenser door won't open to release detergent.

Dealing with Hard Water Issues

Hard water causes all kinds of dishwasher problems. White films on dishes, spotting, mineral buildup inside machine - all signs of hard water.

• Using rinse aid helps with drying and reduces spotting.

• Run a cycle with citric acid or dishwasher cleaner to remove existing buildup. Put 2 cups white vinegar in bowl on top rack and run normal cycle with no dishes or detergent.

• A whole-house water softener works best for hard water problems. If that's not an option, use dishwasher detergents made for hard water.

• Clean critical components more often when you have hard water. Filter, spray arms, inlet valve screens all clog faster.

When to Call in the Pros

Some repairs better left to professionals.

• If dealing with electrical components and don't know how to safely work with them, call a pro.

• Water damage to electronic control boards usually needs professional attention.

• If your GE Monogram dishwasher is still under warranty, DIY repairs might void it. Check paperwork before diving in. Schedule GE appliance repair and we’ll fix the problem for you with no risk to voiding your warranty.

• Complex seal replacements, especially around main pump assembly, get tricky and easy to mess up. Our repair professionals have done these procedures many times and our techs have the right tools to complete the job right.

If you've tried basic fixes in this guide and the problem sticks around, it’s probably time to call in reinforcements. Sometimes what seems like simple problem has a complex cause that needs diagnostic equipment to pinpoint.

We service Monogram dishwashers and usually diagnose and repair most issues in one visit. When repair gets complicated or parts hard to find, having a pro with access to factory parts makes a big difference.

Preventative Maintenance

It’s well worth your time to prevent problems before they start.

• Clean the dishwasher filter at least monthly, more often with a large household or if you don't rinse dishes well. This simple step prevents so many problems.

• Wipe down door gasket regularly to prevent mold and keep good seal. Just use damp cloth with bit of mild soap.

• Run hot water at sink before starting dishwasher. Makes sure first fill is hot rather than cold water sitting in pipes.

• Use dishwasher cleaner monthly, especially with hard water. It removes buildup that affects performance and causes odors.

• Leave the door cracked open after unloading to let moisture escape. This prevents mold and odor buildup, helps gaskets last longer.

• Check the spray arms every few months. Make sure holes aren't clogged and arms spin freely. Good water flow is essential for clean dishes.

• Don't let dishwasher sit unused for too long. Run at least weekly to keep seals moist and prevent parts drying out.

Schedule annual professional dishwasher appliance maintenance to keep your GE Monogram dishwasher in top shape and lasting longer.

Tools and Parts You Might Need

• Basic maintenance and simple repairs don't need much. Phillips screwdriver, flathead screwdriver, pliers, maybe a multimeter if you’re comfortable using one yourself for diagnosis and troubleshooting.

• Some repairs need special parts. Replacement filters and spray arms are common and pretty easy to install. Control boards, pumps, motors are more complex and best left to a technician.

• When buying replacement parts, stick with genuine GE parts when possible. Aftermarket parts might be cheaper but often don't last as long or fit quite right. Find parts through our Sears PartsDirect website.

• Keep basic supplies on hand for maintenance. Dishwasher cleaner, small brush for cleaning spray arm holes, towels for catching water during repairs.

• Safety comes first. Always disconnect power before working on dishwasher. Don't force parts that won’t move easily. Forcing them often leads to bigger problems. Schedule service when you’re unsure that you can fix a problem yourself.*

With patience and the right approach, you can keep you GE Monogram dishwasher running well for years.