GE GLD8000 User Manual

CDW9000 Series

GLD8000 Series
PDW8000 Series
PDW9000 Series

Owner’s Manual

Dishwashers

165D4700P369 49-55044 03-08 JR

ge.com

Write the model and serial
numbers here:

Model # __________________
Serial # __________________

You can find them on the tub wall
just inside the door.

Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . 2, 3

Operating Instructions

Care and Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Control Panel and Settings . . . . . . . . 4–6

Loading Place Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Loading the Racks . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12–14

Recommended Dishwasher

Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Using the Dishwasher . . . . . . . . . . . .8–11

Troubleshooting Tips . . . . . . 16–18

Consumer Support

Consumer Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Product Registration . . . . . . . . . . . .19, 20

Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

2

Operating Instructions Safety Instructions

Consumer Support

Troubleshooting Tips

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION.
READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE USING —
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS

WARNING!

For your safety, the information in this manual must be followed to minimize the risk of fire
or explosion, electric shock, and to prevent property damage, personal injury, or death.

WATER HEATER SAFETY

PROPER INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE

This dishwasher must be properly installed and located in accordance with the Installation
Instructions before it is used. If you did not receive an Installation Instructions sheet with
your dishwasher, you can receive one by visiting our website at ge.com.

■Contents washed in Anti-bacterial mode, if

available, may be hot to the touch. Use care
before handling.

■Using a detergent that is

not specifically designed
for dishwashers will cause
the dishwasher to fill with
suds.

■If your dishwasher is connected to a

wall switch, ensure that the switch is
on prior to use.

■On dishwashers with electronic

controls, if you choose to turn the wall
switch off between wash cycles, allow
5–10 seconds after turning the switch on before
touching START/RESET to allow the control to
reboot.

■Non-Dishware Items: Do not wash items such

as electronic air cleaner filters, furnace filters and
paint brushes in your dishwasher. Damage to
dishwasher and discoloration or staining of
dishwasher may result.

■Close supervision is necessary if this appliance

is used by or near children.

■Load light, plastic items so they will not

become dislodged and drop to the bottom
of the dishwasher—they might come into
contact with the heating element and be
damaged.

■Connect to a grounded metal, permanent wiring

system; or run an equipment-grounding
conductor with the circuit conductors and
connect to the equipment-grounding terminal
or lead of the appliance.

■Improper connection of the equipment-grounding

conductor can result in a risk of electric shock.
Check with a qualified electrician or service
representative if you are in doubt whether the
appliance is properly grounded.

■Dispose of discarded appliances and shipping

or packing material properly.

■Do not attempt to repair or replace any part

of your dishwasher unless it is specifically
recommended in this manual. All other servicing
should be referred to a qualified technician.

■To minimize the possibility of electric shock,

disconnect this appliance from the power supply
before attempting any maintenance.

NOTE: Turning the dishwasher off does not
disconnect the appliance from the power supply.
We recommend having a qualified technician
service your appliance.

WARNING!

CAUTION: To prevent minor injury or property damage

Under certain conditions, hydrogen gas may be produced in a water heater that has not been used
for two weeks or more. HYDROGEN GAS IS EXPLOSIVE.

If the hot water has not been used for two weeks or more, prevent the possibility of damage or injury
by turning on all hot water faucets and allow them to run for several minutes. Do this before using any
electrical appliance which is connected to the hot water system. This simple procedure will allow any built­up hydrogen gas to escape. Since the gas is flammable, do not smoke or use an open flame or appliance
during this process.

WARNING! RISK OF CHILD ENTRAPMENT

PROPER DISPOSAL OF THE DISHWASHER

Junked or abandoned dishwashers are dangerous…
even if they will sit for “just a few days.” If you are
getting rid of your old dishwasher, please follow
the instructions to help prevent accidents.

Before You Throw Away Your Old Dishwasher

Take off the door of the washing compartment or
remove the door latch (as shown).

NOTE: CDW9000 Series and PDW9200–PDW9900
Series models also have a latch screw which must be
removed (Step 1) as shown.

Consumer SupportTroubleshooting TipsOperating InstructionsSafety Instructions

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3

Screw

(

on some

models)

■Use this appliance only for its intended purpose

as described in this Owner's Manual.

■Use only powder, tabs, liquid detergents or rinse

agents recommended for use in a dishwasher and
keep them out of the reach of children. Cascade®,
Cascade®Complete and Electrasol®Automatic
Dishwashing Detergents, and Jet-Dry®and

Cascade Crystal Clear®rinse agents have been

approved for use in all GE dishwashers.

■On models with the SmartDispense™ system,

do not mix any chlorine bleach-based automatic
dishwashing detergent with any dishwashing
detergent containing enzymes as this could
cause the detergents to congeal and lead to
blockage of the SmartDispense

TM

system.

■Locate sharp items so that they are not likely

to damage the door seal.

■Load sharp knives with the handles up to reduce

the risk of cut-type injuries.

■Do not wash plastic items unless marked

dishwasher safe or the equivalent. For plastic
items not so marked, check the manufacturer's
recommendations.

■Do not touch the heating element during or

immediately after use.

■Do not operate your dishwasher unless all

enclosure panels are properly in place.

■Do not tamper with controls.

■Do not abuse, sit on or stand on the door or dish

rack of the dishwasher.

■Do not allow children to play around dishwasher

when opening or closing door due to the possibility
of small fingers being pinched in door.

■Do not discard a dishwasher without first removing

the door of the washing compartment or the door
latch.

■Do not store or use combustible materials, gasoline

or other flammable vapors and liquids in the
vicinity of this or any other appliance.

■Do not allow children to play with, on or inside this

appliance or any discarded appliance.

WARNING!

When using your dishwasher, follow basic precautions,
including the following:

READ AND FOLLOW THIS SAFETY INFORMATION
CAREFULLY.

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS

4

Operating Instructions Safety Instructions

Consumer Support

Troubleshooting Tips

About the dishwasher control panel.

You can locate your model number on the tub wall just inside the door. Throughout this manual, features and appearance may vary from your model.

Control Settings

Status Indicator Lights (Indicators vary by models)

The Status display tells you what is happening while the dishwasher is in operation and may flash,
indicating a malfunction. The lights will come ON indicating the sequence of the dishwasher operation.

LOW DETERGENT Displayed when the SmartDispenseTMneeds to be refilled with liquid or gel automatic

dishwasher detergent.
NOTE: If you are not using SmartDispenseTMand you want to turn the LOW DETERGENT

LED light off, press the ADDED HEAT pad 5 times within 3 seconds. You will hear 3
beeps; then the light will go off. You can turn the light back on by pressing the ADDED
HEAT pad 5 times within 3 seconds.

SENSING Displayed while the Clean SensorTMis measuring the amount of soil and temperature

of water. The dishwasher will adjust the selected cycle to achieve optimal performance.

ADD-A-DISH Displayed during prewash, indicating that dishes added now will still be cleaned.

WASHING Displayed during prewash, main wash and rinse periods.

RINSING Displayed during rinse periods.

DRYING Displayed during HEATED DRY.

SANITIZED Displayed when cycle has met sanitization conditions.

CLEAN Displayed when a wash cycle is complete.

Time Remaining Display (on some models)

During operation, the display shows the minutes remaining until the cycle is complete. The display may
adjust the remaining time while the Sensing light is on. The time displayed at the start of each cycle may
change from the factory setting as the unit customizes itself to home use. During a delay start, the display
will show hours of time remaining until the cycle starts.

Selections

PDW8000 Series and GLD8000 Series: Press the pad for the desired wash cycle.
CDW9000 Series and PDW9000 Series: Use the Arrow Pads to scroll through the wash cycles.

NOTE: All cycle times and water usage information contained in the following section are approximate
values. Actual results will depend on several factors, including but not limited to inlet temperature,
household water pressure and amount of soil in the wash water.

The light above or next to the selected pad will be ON to indicate which WASH CYCLE has been selected.

3

2

1

1

2

3 45

6

PDW8000 Series and GLD8000 Series

5

62 43

1

CDW9000 Series and PDW9000 Series

*

A

NTI-BACTERIAL

C

OOKWARE

N

ORMAL

S

PEED CYCLE

C

HINA CYCLE

P

LASTIC CYCLE

S

INGLE RACK WASH

R

INSE ONLY

LOW DETERGENT

S

ENSING

W

ASHING

D

RYING

S

ANITIZED

C

LEAN

Smart Dispense

Selections (continued)

ANTI-BACTERIA Heavy 8.8 gal., 105 min.

Medium 7.5 gal., 95 min.
Light 6.3 gal., 85 min.

This cycle raises the water temperature in the final rinse to sanitize your dishware. The
cycle length will vary depending on the temperature of your inlet water.

NOTE: The Anti-Bacteria cycle is monitored for sanitization requirements. If the cycle is
interrupted during or after the main wash portion or if the incoming water temperature is
so low that adequate water heating cannot be achieved, the sanitizing conditions may
not be met. In these cases, the sanitized light will not illuminate at the end of the cycle.

NOTE: NSF-certified residential dishwashers are not intended for licensed food
establishments

.

COOKWARE Heavy 10.0 gal., 80 min.

(POTS & PANS) Medium 8.8 gal., 70 min.

Light 7.5 gal., 60 min.

This cycle is meant for heavily soiled dishes or cookware with dried-on or baked-on soils.
This cycle may not remove burned-on foods. Everyday dishes are safe to be used in
this cycle.

NORMAL WASH Heavy 8.8 gal., 70 min.

Medium 7.5 gal., 60 min.
Light 5.0 gal., 50 min.

This cycle is for medium/heavily soiled dishes and glassware.

SPEED CYCLE 7.5 gal., 35 min.

(on some models)

This cycle is for everyday dishes and glassware.

CHINA CRYSTAL 7.5 gal., 35 min.

This cycle is for lightly soiled china and crystal.

GLASSES 7.5 gal., 30 min.

(on some models)

This cycle is specifically designed for glasses.

PLASTICS CYCLE Heavy 8.8 gal., 120 min.

(on some models) Medium 7.5 gal., 105 min.

Light 5.0 gal., 90 min.
The longer time for this cycle includes a built-in drying portion that is specifically

designed to reduce the risk of melting plastic items and improve plastic drying.
For removing red tomato-based stains, GE recommends the use of Cascade

®

Plastic BoosterTM.

SINGLE RACK WASH Heavy 8.2 gal., 70 min.

(on some models) Medium 7.0 gal., 60 min.

Light 4.6 gal., 50 min.
This cycle washes lightly soiled dishes on the upper rack only.

RINSE ONLY 2.5 gal., 10 min.

For rinsing partial loads that will be washed later. Do not use detergent with this cycle.

NOTE: On some models, the CHINA CRYSTAL/PLASTICS selector is a toggle pad; push pad to switch
between CHINA CRYSTAL and PLASTICS.

NOTE: This dishwasher is equipped with CleanSensorTMwith automatic temperature control; therefore,
cycle length and time may vary depending on soil and water temperature conditions.

NOTE: Only the Anti-Bacteria cycle has been designed to meet the requirements of Section 6, NSF 184 for
soil removal and sanitization efficacy.

3

5

Consumer SupportTroubleshooting TipsOperating InstructionsSafety Instructions

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6

Operating Instructions Safety Instructions

Consumer Support

Troubleshooting Tips

Enhancements

The light above the selected pad will be ON to indicate which ENHANCEMENT has been selected.

DELAY HOURS You can delay the start of a wash cycle for up to 24 hours (depending on model). Press

the DELAY START pad to choose the number of hours you want to delay the start of
the cycle; then press START/RESET.

PDW8000 Series and GLD8000 Series: The machine will count down and start
automatically at the correct time.

CDW9000 Series and PDW9000 Series: After closing the door, the machine will count
down and automatically start at the correct time.

NOTE: To cancel the DELAY START selection before the cycle begins, repeatedly press
the DELAY START pad until the display is blank.

ADDED HEAT When selected, the cycle will run longer with heating element on to improve both wash

(EXTRA HOT WASH) and dry performance.

NOTE: Cannot be selected with RINSE ONLY cycle.

PRE WASH For use with heavily soiled and/or dried-on, baked-on soils. This option MUST be

(on some models) selected PRIOR to starting the cycle. This option adds 15 minutes to the cycle time.

NOTE: Cannot be selected with RINSE ONLY cycle.

HEATED DRY Shuts off the drying heat option. Dishes will air dry naturally (PDW8000 Series and

Light Off GLD8000 Series) or fan dry (PDW9000 Series and CDW9000 Series) to save energy.

HEATED DRY Turns the heater on for fast drying. This will extend the total cycle time by 15 minutes

Light On for the ANTI-BACTERIAL cycle, 38 minutes for the NORMAL, SINGLE RACK WASH

and COOKWARE cycles, 8 minutes for the SPEED cycle, 15 minutes for the
PLASTICS cycle and 30 minutes for all other cycles.

NOTE: Cannot be selected with RINSE ONLY cycle.

LOCK You can lock the controls to prevent any selections from being made. Or you can lock

the controls after you have started a cycle.

Children cannot accidentally start dishwasher by touching pads with this option
selected.

To unlock the dishwasher controls, press and hold the HEATED DRY pad for 3 seconds.
The light above the lock pad will turn off. To lock the dishwasher, press and hold the
HEATED DRY pad for 3 seconds. The light above the LOCK pad will turn on.

RESET To change a cycle after washing starts…

PDW8000 Series and GLD8000 Series: Touch the START/RESET pad to cancel the cycle.

The START/RESETlight will flash while the water is pumped out if needed. This takes
approximately 2 minutes.

PDW9000 Series: Open the door slowly to prevent splash-out. Touch the START/RESET
pad to cancel the cycle. If the START/RESET light is flashing, close the door until the
water pumps out (this takes approximately 2 minutes) and the light stops flashing.

When the light stops flashing, the dishwasher can be reprogrammed and restarted.

Start

PDW8000 Series and GLD8000 Series

Close and latch the dishwasher door and select the cycle and desired enhancements. Touch the
START/RESET pad to begin the cycle. Water fill begins immediately, and approximately 60 seconds later
the wash action begins.

When the dishwasher door is fully closed and latched, the control panel lights will display the last settings
you selected. If you don’t want to change any of the settings, simply touch the START/RESET pad to
begin the cycle.

If the door is closed, the indicator lights will turn off if the START/RESET pad is not selected within 5 minutes.
To activate the display, open and close the door or press any pad.

5

4

About the dishwasher control panel.

7

Consumer SupportTroubleshooting TipsOperating InstructionsSafety Instructions

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Flashing display lights.

Status Indicator Lights What It Means

START/RESET Cycle has been interrupted by pressing the START/RESET pad, or there

has been a power failure. Light will stop flashing after the dishwasher
automatically drains out the water. The dishwasher will restart if the
interruption was the result of a power failure.

Recommended dishwasher products.

GE recommends the following products for use in its
dishwashers:

■ For your manual detergent dispenser, Cascade

®

and Electrasol® powder, liquid or gel automatic
dishwasher detergents are approved.

■ For your SmartDispense

TM

Detergent Dispenser, use
only the recommended detergents listed on page
10 of this manual.

■ Jet Dry

®

or Cascade Crystal Clear®rinse agents

to remove spots and prevent new film buildup on
your dishes, glasses, flatware, cookware and
plastic. Using rinse agent also improves dry
performance.

■ Cascade

®

Plastic BoosterTMto remove red staining

inside your dishwasher that can come from some
tomato-based foods.

■ Cerama Bryte

®

Stainless Steel Appliance Cleaner
to clean the exterior stainless steel panel of GE and
ProfileTMdishwashers (for stainless steel exterior
models only).

Start (continued)

PDW9000 Series

After selecting the cycle and desired enhancements, touch the START/RESET pad to ready the
dishwasher to begin the cycle. Close the door to start the cycle or begin the DELAY START countdown.
When the cycle starts, the water fill begins and approximately 60 seconds later the wash action begins.

The dishwasher will always display your last selection and enhancements. If you don’t want to change
the settings, simply touch the START/RESET pad to ready the dishwasher and close the door to begin
the cycle.

Also, if a power failure occurs NORMAL and HEATED DRY will automatically be programmed. Make any
new selections and touch the START/RESET pad to begin the new cycle.

When the door is opened, the indicator lights will turn off if the START/RESET pad is not selected within
5 minutes. To activate the display, open and close the door or touch any pad.

Clean

PDW8000 Series and GLD8000 Series

The CLEAN light is illuminated when the selected cycle and enhancements are complete. The light will
stay ON until a pad is pressed or the door is opened and then closed.

PDW9000 Series and CDW9000 Series

The CLEAN light is illuminated and a double beep will sound when the selected cycle and enhancements
are complete. You may remove the dishes at any time. The high-efficiency fan will run quietly for 30
minutes to 4 hours (depending on selected cycle) after the CLEAN light is illuminated to continue drying
the dishes. The fan can be turned off by opening the door and pressing any keypad.

ALL MODELS: To turn off the audible end-of-cycle signal (or re-activate it if it was previously turned off),
press the HEATED DRY pad 5 times within 3 seconds. A triple beep will sound to indicate the end-of-cycle
beep option has been toggled.

6

5

8

Operating Instructions Safety Instructions

Consumer Support

Troubleshooting Tips

Using the dishwasher.

The entering water should be at least 120°F and not more than 150°F for effective cleaning and to
prevent dish damage. Check the water temperature with a candy or meat thermometer. Turn on the
hot water faucet nearest the dishwasher, place the thermometer in a glass and let the water run
continuously into the glass until the temperature stops rising.

Check the Water Temperature

Jet-Dry®or Cascade Crystal Clear®rinse agent improves drying, removes spots and prevents new

film buildup on your dishes, glasses, flatware, cookware and plastic.

Use Jet-Dry®or Cascade Crystal Clear®Rinse Agent

Filling the Dispenser

The rinse agent dispenser holds 3.5 oz. of rinse agent .
Under normal conditions, this will last approximately
one month. Try to keep it full, but do not overfill.

Make sure the dishwasher door is fully open.
Turn the dispenser

cap to the left and
lift it out.

Add rinse agent until
the indicator window
looks full.

Clean up any spilled
rinse agent with a
damp cloth.

Replace the dispenser cap.

Rinse Aid Setting

The amount of rinse agent released into the final
wash can be adjusted. The factory setting is at the
midpoint. If there are rings of calcium (hard water)
spots on dishes, try a higher setting. If there is
foaming, use a lower setting.

To adjust the setting:

Remove the dispenser cap;
then turn the adjuster
counterclockwise to
increase the amount
of rinse agent or
clockwise to reduce
the amount of rinse agent dispensed.

5

4

3

2

1

Rinse agent
adjuster

■ No prerinsing of normal food soil is required.

■ Scrape off hard soils, bones, toothpicks, skins and

seeds.

■ Remove large quantities of any remaining food.

■ Remove leafy vegetables, meat trimmings and

excessive amounts of grease or oil.

Dish Preparation Prior to Loading

Indicator
window

Dispenser cap

A forgotten dish can be added any time before
the main wash.

Squeeze the door latch to release the door.
Do not open the door until the water spray

action stops. Steam may rise out of the
dishwasher.

Add forgotten dishes.
Close the door.

4

3

2

1

Forget to Add a Dish?

Consumer SupportTroubleshooting TipsOperating InstructionsSafety Instructions

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Some models come equipped with an automatic liquid
dishwasher detergent dispenser (SmartDispenseTM) and
a manual dispenser. You can use either of these dispensers
but don’t use both at the same time.

The cover of the manual dispenser will open during the
wash cycle. If you are using SmartDispenseTM, leave the
cover of the manual dispenser open before starting the
cycle.

For the manual dispenser, Cascade®and Electrasol

®

Automatic Dishwashing Detergents have been approved.
You may use powder, liquid, gel or tablets in this dispenser. It
is important to keep powdered detergents and tablets fresh
and dry so they don’t lose effectiveness. Therefore, do not
put detergent into the manual dispenser until you are ready
to wash dishes.

Filling Manual Detergent Dispenser

The amount of detergent to use depends on whether your
water is hard or soft. With hard water, you need extra
detergent. With soft water, you need less detergent.

Protect your dishes and dishwasher by contacting your
water department and asking how hard your water is.
Twelve or more grains is extremely hard water. A water
softener is recommended. Without it, lime can build up in
the water valve, which could stick while open and cause
flooding. Too much detergent with soft water can cause
a permanent cloudiness of glassware, called etching.

Use the information in the table below as a guide to
determine the amount of automatic dishwasher detergent
to place in the dispenser. You may use powder, liquid, gel
or tablets in this dispenser.

When using automatic dishwashing detergent tablets,
simply place one tablet in the main wash section and close
the cover.

For heavily soiled loads, use a bit more detergent. For water
temperatures above 140°F, use a bit less detergent.

For heavily soiled loads, use the Pots and Pans or Heavy Wash
cycle.

DO NOT USE HAND DISH DETERGENT

NOTE: Using a detergent that is not specifically designed

for dishwashers will cause the dishwasher to fill with suds.
During operation, these suds will spill out of the dishwasher
vents, covering the kitchen floor and making the floor wet.

Because so many detergent containers look alike, store
the dishwasher detergent in a separate space from all
other cleaners. Show anyone who may use the dishwasher
the correct detergent and where it is stored.

While there will be no lasting damage to the dishwasher,
your dishes will not get clean using a dishwashing
detergent that is not formulated to work with dishwashers.

Soft

Medium

Soft

Medium

Hard

Extremely

Hard

Manual Detergent Dispenser

Detergent Cups to Fill

Fill cup to soft line (1/3 full)

Fill cup to medium soft line (2/3 full)

Fill cup to medium hard line

(completely full)

Fill both main wash cup

and pre wash cup

Number

of Grains

Less than 4

4 to 8

8 to 12

Greater
than 12

SmartDispense

TM

Manual Detergent
Dispenser

9

PRE

MAIN WASH

WASH

10

Operating Instructions Safety Instructions

Consumer Support

Troubleshooting Tips

This dishwasher may have SmartDispenseTM, a
feature which automatically dispenses liquid
automatic dishwasher detergent into each cycle
based on soil level and water hardness.

To utilize the SmartDispenseTMDetergent Dispenser,
it must first be filled. Although any liquid or gel
automatic dishwashing detergent can be used in the
SmartDispenseTMsystem, all liquid or gel automatic
dishwashing detergents are not the same. Most
automatic dishwashing detergents are chlorine
bleach-based (such as Cascade®or Electrasol®)
while others contain enzymes (such as Cascade
Complete®or Electrasol®AdvancedTMGel).

Do not mix any chlorine bleach-based automatic
dishwashing detergent with any dishwashing
detergent containing enzymes as this could cause
the detergents to congeal and lead to blockage of
the SmartDispenseTMsystem. Check the detergent

label to determine if the detergent is chlorine
bleach-based or one that contains enzymes. It is
recommended that the same type of detergent be
used when refilling your SmartDispenseTMsystem.

CAUTION!Absolutely do not add

powder detergent, tablets or any liquid soap or
detergent normally used for washing hands or
dishes in a sink. Only use liquid or gel detergent
specifically designed for use in an automatic
dishwasher.

To open the dispenser for filling, push down and
turn the blue cap counterclockwise until the cap is
loose. Lift cap off.

Set the door at a comfortable angle to fill the
dispenser.

Aim the detergent bottle at the opening in the door
and begin to fill.

The dispenser will hold 45 oz of liquid dishwasher
detergent (standard size bottle).

When full, replace the cap and turn clockwise until
tight to ensure no water enters the SmartDispense

TM

dispenser. If residue is left on the door, it will be
washed off in the next cycle.

An indicator light will turn on to notify you when the
dispenser needs to be filled again. After filling, the light
will not turn off until the door is closed. A full dispenser
will last approximately 1 month for the average user.

NOTE: If you are not using SmartDispenseTMand you
want to turn the LOW DETERGENT LED light off, press
the ADDED HEAT pad 5 times within 3 seconds. You will
hear 3 beeps; then the light will go off. You can turn the
light back on by pressing the ADDED HEAT pad 5 times
within 3 seconds.

Using the dishwasher.

SmartDispense

TM

Detergent Dispenser (some models)

Light will
turn on
when
time to
refill

Turn clockwise.

(appearance may vary)

SmartDispense

LOW DETERGENT

S

ENSING

W

ASHING

D

RYING

S

ANITIZED

C

LEAN

Consumer SupportTroubleshooting TipsOperating InstructionsSafety Instructions

Prior to the first use, the dishwasher needs to
be calibrated for water hardness. Please follow
directions below to calibrate the dishwasher to
the hardness of your tap water.

Determine the Hardness of Your Tap Water

In the bag that contained these instructions, you
should find a water hardness test strip package. Read
the instructions on the package, remove the test strip
and follow the instructions to determine the hardness
level of your tap water. You will use this information to
calibrate your dishwasher to dispense the optimal
amount of detergent.

Water hardness test strip indication

Calibration of 12-Button Front-Control
Models With 3-Digit Display

Close and latch the door (lights on, dishwasher
not running).

Press the COOKWARE and DELAY HOURS pads
at the same time for 3 seconds. The display will
show a number from 1 to 5. This is the water
hardness value currently set.

Press the COOKWARE pad to raise the value or
the NORMAL pad to lower the value. Set the
water hardness value to the number determined
with the test strip and table above.

Once the water hardness is set, press the
START/RESET pad to save the setting and return
the dishwasher to normal operation.

Calibration of 7-Button Front-Control
Models With 3-Digit Display

Open the door and touch a pad (other than
START) to turn lights on.

Press the “Up” Arrow Pad and DELAY
HOURS pad at the same time for 3 seconds. The
display will show a number from 1 to 5. This is the
water hardness value currently set.

Press the “Up” Arrow Pad to raise the value
or the “Down” Arrow Pad to lower the value.
Set the water hardness value to the number
determined with the test strip and table at the left .

Once the water hardness is set, press the
START/RESET pad to save the setting and return
the dishwasher to normal operation.

Calibration of Models Without a 3-Digit Display

Front controls

Close and latch the door (lights on, dishwasher
not running).

Press the COOKWARE and DELAY HOURS pads
together for 3 seconds. All lights will light up and
you will hear 1 to 5 beeps. The number of beeps
indicates the current hardness value.

To change the setting, press the DELAY HOURS
pad the number of times that corresponds to the
water hardness value determined at the left. The
control will beep each time you press the pad.

Once finished pressing the pad, you will hear a
confirmation with beeps for the number of times
you pressed the pad.

If the number of beeps is not what you desire,
start pressing the DELAY HOURS pad again to
reenter a new water hardness level.

Once the water hardness is set, press the
START/RESET pad to save the setting and return
the dishwasher to normal operation.

Top controls

Open the door and touch a pad to turn lights on.
Press the “Up” Arrow Pad and DELAY

HOURS pad at the same time for 3 seconds. All
lights will light up and you will hear 1 to 5 beeps.
The number of beeps indicates the current
hardness value.

To change the setting, press the DELAY HOURS
pad the number of times that corresponds to the
water hardness value determined at the left. The
control will beep each time you press the pad.

Once finished pressing the pad, you will hear a
confirmation with beeps for the number of times
you pressed the pad.

If the number of beeps is not what you desire,
start pressing the DELAY HOURS pad again to
reenter a new water hardness level.

Once the water hardness is set, press the
START/RESET pad to save the setting and return
the dishwasher to normal operation.

NOTE: You should recalibrate the dishwasher control
if water conditions change; for example, if a water
softener system is added or removed from your
home.

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ge.com

SmartDispenseTMDetergent Dispenser
Water Hardness Calibration

0 RED

1 RED

2 RED

3 RED

4 RED

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HARD

Value to Enter

into Dishwasher

Press at the same time.

Display

Press at the same time.

Display

11

SINGLE RACK WASH

SPEED CYCLE

A

NTI-BACTERIAL

C

OOKWARE

NORMAL

RINSE ONLY

CHINA CYCLE
PLASTIC CYCLE

Smart Dispense

LOW DETERGENT

D

RYING

S

ENSING

S

ANITIZED

W

ASHING

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LEAN

Lower Rack

The lower rack is best used for plates, saucers
and cookware. Large items such as broiler
pans and baking racks should go along the
left-hand side. Load platters, pots and bowls
along the sides, in corners or in the back. The
soiled side of items should face the center of
the rack. If necessary, oversized glasses and
mugs can be placed in the lower rack to
maximize loading flexibility.

Also, be careful not to let a portion of an item
such as a pot or dish handle extend through
the bottom rack. This could block the wash
arm and cause poor washing results.

Fold-down tines (on some models) provide
flexibility for extra-large and hard-to-fit items.
The tines may be left in the up position or
folded down to customize the lower rack.

Operating Instructions Safety Instructions

Consumer Support

Troubleshooting Tips

12

Loading the dishwasher racks.

For best dishwashing results, follow these loading guidelines. Features and appearance of racks and silverware
baskets may vary from your model.

Upper Rack

Although the upper rack is primarily for
glasses, cups and saucers, pots and pans can
be placed in this rack for effective cleaning.
Cups and glasses fit best along the sides. This
is also a secure place for dishwasher plastics.

The utility shelf (some models) may be placed
in the up or down position to add flexibility. A
wine glass holder (some models) secures wine
glasses for best washability.

Some models have contoured metal cup
shelves that can secure up to 12 wine glasses
(as shown).

Because wine glasses come in various sizes,
after loading, slowly push in the rack to make
sure they will clear the top of the dishwasher.

Some models have an Angled Rack System,
which allows you to angle your dishes, such
as coffee mugs, for better cleaning and
quicker drying. To position the tines, pull the
lever forward then drop the tines into
position, then release the lever.

The upper rack is good for all kinds of
odd-shaped utensils. Saucepans, mixing
bowls and other items should be placed face
down. Fold-down tines (on some models)
provide flexibility for extra-large and hard­to-fit items.

Secure larger dishwasher-safe plastics over
2 tines when possible.

Make sure small plastic items are secure so
they can’t fall onto the heater.

Be sure that items do not protrude through
the bottom of the rack and block rotation of
the middle spray arm. This could result in
poor wash performance for items in the
upper rack.

Check to make sure that no items will block
rotation of the wash arm.

NOTE:

The Single Rack Wash selection, on
models with this feature, washes the upper
rack only. If you use this feature, do not load
items in the lower rack.

Adjustable Upper Rack

The standard position of your adjustable rack
is “up” which allows for maximum clearance
for your taller items in the lower rack. If you
have taller wine glasses, tumblers or other
items to place in the upper rack, you may
want to adjust the rack to the lower position.

To lower the rack, support the weight of the
rack with your hands as shown and press
both finger pads about 1/4″ toward the inside
of the rack as indicated and guide the rack
down to its lower position.

To raise the rack to the “up” position, pull up
on the center of the rack side frame until the
rack locks into place.

Removing the Upper Rack

Your new dishwasher has the capability to
wash extra large items in the lower rack. This
is accomplished by removing the upper rack
and installing a nozzle over the port that
normally supplies water to the upper rack.
The nozzle is not included with your
dishwasher, but is available for purchase from
GE. Call GE at 1.800.626.2002 or go to the GE
website ge.com and request Nozzle Spray
Asm, part number WD12X10134.

Customers in Canada can order on-line at
geappliances.ca 24 hours every day, or by
phone at 1.800.661.1616 during normal
business hours.

NOTE: Do not use the SINGLE RACK WASH
cycle (some models) with this feature. Single
Rack Wash cycle is for upper rack wash only.
The recommended cycle for lower rack only
use is the COOKWARE cycle.

NOTE: Nozzle must be in place with upper
rack removed. If not installed properly, poor
wash performance and noise will result.

To remove the upper rack:

Press thumb tab out and remove the
front end caps on each side of the rail.

Pull the rack straight out and off the rails.
Replace the end caps.
Push the rails all the way back into the

dishwasher.
Slide the shower nozzle attachment over

the spout.

Then fill the lower rack and begin
your cycle.

NOTE: Don’t forget to remove the shower
nozzle attachment before you replace the
upper rack.

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13

Consumer SupportTroubleshooting TipsOperating InstructionsSafety Instructions

Remove end cap

Press thumb
tab out

ge.com

Shower nozzle
attachment

Don’t let any
item extend
through bottom.

To remove end baskets, grasp the
basket at opposite corners and
slide apart.

Three-piece basket (on some models)

One-piece basket (on some models)

Silverware Basket

To load flatware, simply push the adjustable
handle to either side (on some models). Put
flatware in the removable basket with fork
and knife handles up to protect your hands.
Place spoons in the basket with handles
down. Mix knives, forks and spoons so they
don’t nest together. Distribute evenly. Small
plastic items, such as measuring spoons and
lids from small containers should go in the
bottom of the silverware basket with the
silverware on top.

The one-piece silverware basket (on some
models) can be placed in the front, right side
or back of the lower rack.

A variety of options is available regarding
the three-piece silverware basket (on some
models) in your dishwasher. The complete
basket is designed to fit on the right side of
the lower rack. Additionally, each end of
the basket is removable to add loading
flexibility to accommodate flatware and
lower rack capacity needs.

The lids of both end and middle baskets (on
some models) can be closed to contain small
items. Long items can be placed on the utility
shelf in the upper rack.

Shower Nozzle Service

Part Number WD12X10134

Operating Instructions Safety Instructions

Consumer Support

Troubleshooting Tips

14

Loading the dishwasher racks.

Extra Rack Features (on some models)

Cutlery Tray

The cutlery tray holds up to 4 large knifes
such as a carver, chef’s knives, bread knife,
etc., that are too tall to fit in the silverware
basket.

Hook the tray onto the rear of the upper rack.
Lay the knives between the guides
(as shown).

Bowl Tines

The special large-bowl tines in the lower rack
add flexibility to your loading pattern. They
are useful for serving bowls or other large
bowls.

To use the bowl tines, fold down the
2 rows of flex tines in front of the bowl
tines and load bowls just as you would
in the upper rack.

Loading place settings…

Follow these guidelines for loading 10 place settings. Features and appearance of racks and silverware baskets may
vary from your model.

NOTE:

Silverware should be individually loaded into the slots on the silverware basket lid.

Upper Rack—10 place settings Lower Rack—10 place settings

Follow these guidelines for loading 12 place settings. Features and appearance of racks and silverware baskets may
vary from your model. NOTE: Silverware should be individually loaded into the slots on the silverware basket lid.

Upper Rack—12 place settings Lower Rack—12 place settings

These tines fold down

Large-bowl tines

Consumer SupportTroubleshooting TipsOperating InstructionsSafety Instructions

Caring for the dishwasher. ge.com

Cleaning the Exterior Door Panel

Before cleaning the front panel, make
sure you know what type of panel you have.
Refer to the last two letters of your model
number. You can locate your model number
on the left-hand tub wall just inside the door.
If your model number ends with BB, CC, WW,
SA or BG, then you have a Painted Door
panel. If your model number ends with SS,
then you have a Stainless Steel Door panel. If
your model number ends with CS, then you
have a CleanSteel panel.

Follow the instructions below for cleaning the
door panel for your specific model.

Painted Door Panel (model numbers ending
in BB–black, CC–bisque, WW–White, SA–silver
metallic or BG–graphite black)

Use a clean, soft, lightly dampened cloth,
then dry thoroughly. You may also use a
good appliance wax or polish.

Stainless Steel Door Panel (model numbers
ending in SS)

The stainless steel panels can be cleaned
with Stainless Steel Magic or a similar product
using a clean, soft cloth. Do not use appliance
wax, polish, bleach or products containing
chlorine on Stainless Steel doors.

You can order Stainless Steel Magic
#WX10X15 through GE Parts by calling

800.626.2002.

CleanSteel Door Panel (model numbers
ending in CS)

Use a clean, soft, lightly dampened cloth,
then dry thoroughly. Do not use appliance
wax, polish or any chemical agent on
CleanSteel doors.

Do not wipe the dishwasher with a soiled
dish cloth or wet towel. These may leave
a residue. Do not use scouring pads or
powdered cleaners because these products
can scratch the finish.

Cleaning the Control Panel

To clean the control panel, use a lightly
dampened cloth. Then dry thoroughly.

Check the air gap any time
your dishwasher isn’t draining
well.

An air gap protects your dishwasher
against water backing up into it if a drain
clogs. The air gap is not a part of the
dishwasher. It is not covered by your
warranty. Not all plumbing codes require
air gaps, so you may not have one.

The air gap is easy to clean.

Turn off the dishwasher and lift off the
cover.

Remove the plastic cap and clean with
a toothpick.

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Does Your Dishwasher Have an Air Gap?

Stainless Steel Interior—Tub and Inner Door

The stainless steel used to make the
dishwasher tub and inner door provides
the highest reliability available in a GE
dishwasher. If the dishwasher tub or inner
door should be scratched or dented during
normal use, they will not rust or corrode.
These surface blemishes will not affect
their function or durability.

15

If your dishwasher is left in an unheated
place during the winter, ask a service
technician to:

Cut off electrical power to the
dishwasher. Remove fuses or trip
circuit breaker.

Turn off the water supply and disconnect
the water inlet line from the water valve.

Drain water from the water inlet line
and water valve. (Use a pan to catch
the water.)

Reconnect the water inlet line to the
water valve.

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Protect Against Freezing