GE Potscrubber III

[63kenmore]

We just bought a home in NC with what looks like all 1980-81 original appliances. I just turned on the dishwasher for the first time and all I hear is a loud hum. Uh-oh my husband just left for a week and now I need to know if I should call a repairman. Do these appliance repairmen even know how to work on something that old? The model # is GSD900-03. Serial # AG708991B. Thanks for any help. BTW, It is hooked up to a light switch style switch, not sure why.

 

[repairguy]

A lot of times when these older GE machines sat for a time unused the motor would stick. Usually the motor can be spun by hand and hopefully all will work out for you.

 

[repairguy]

It was built in January of 1980.

 

[63kenmore]

Spin the motor

I will have my husband try that when he get back, but if that isn’t the problem is there something else we should be looking at? Thanks so much for the help.

 

[repairguy]

I would start with checking to see if the motor is stuck first. That was a common problem on these dishwashers if they sat for a long time unused. I’d rather not speculate any further until the motor is checked.

 

[tomturbomatic]

RE: The Light Switch

I remember an apartment complex in Atlanta where the dishwasher circuit was controlled by a switch over the counter. It was code in some places.

 

[bradfordwhite]

Yes

"It was code in some places."

It's a safety feature allowing one to quickly shut off power to the dishwasher.

If it's an electronic dishwasher I would shut off the switch when ever it's not in use. People don't realize that electronic timers are susceptible to power surges and when ever we can turn off power to the timer it protects them and resets them. I always turn off the power to my Whirlpool duet washer and my MD central vacuum when not in use for example. And never leave computers connected to electric when not in use.

There was a time when I did and on a different Duet I had timer problems. As soon as I figured out to simply disconnect it from power when not in use, the problem stopped.[this post was last edited: 11/29/2021-10:58]

 

[combo52]

Wall Switches Above The Counter For Built-In DWs

These were to child-proof the DW, they are required by code in some areas of the country.

 

They sure caused a lot of service calls when the DW will not work and people either don't know the switch is there or they forget it is there.

 

John

 

[pierreandreply4]

pic of the dishwasher

here the pic of the ge potscrubber 3 but the pic i found on google is the portable version

 

[63kenmore]

Thanks for the information

Thanks everyone for the information. It never occurred to us that the switch could be code. We moved every 2-3 years with the Air Force for 25 years and never encountered a light switch for a dishwasher. As soon as hubby gets home he said he will check out the motor, and I think Pierre’s photo of the Potscrubber III must be newer than mine. Mine has lots of chrome, a different dial and a wood grain panel. How long did they make the Potscrubber III?

 

[cam2s]

You probably have the model below mine. I’m not sure of the production run but from what I can decode from the serial number is was made in March of 79.

 

[appnut]

Cameron, Potscrubber III came out late 1977/early 1978. The picture Pierre showed was the searies/design which followed sometime around 1983 or 1984. To be honest, I don't think the subsequent series Pierre showed was any much different, most likely just dropped III ensignia when the control panels were redesigned. If my feeble memory serves me corr3ectly, the initial GSD1200 had the III on the control panel. I visited friends of my next door neighbor at the time and their kithen was equipped with the model just below yours as it had a bit more spacing between the buttons. Needless to say, I still drooled over it compared to my crappy Kenmore in my house. This was like 1983 or 1984 and the house I visited, they weren't the original owner. Maybe 5 years old at the most.

 

[bradfordwhite]

Do we know what the various designations represent?

I mean, for example, on Sears Kenmore dryers made in the 70s and 80s with the Wrinkle Guard I and II and III we knew the higher the number, the more extended no heat drying and intermittent tumbling was added to certain cycles.

So what's the difference between Potscrubber I, II, III, and so on. What number are they up to? lol

 

[reactor]

Potsrubber designations

The original Potscrubber, with the wash tower system, had no numerical designation. It was just labeled "Potscrubber."

Then General Electric did a redesign, with amenities such as an upper wash arm, and fan assisted drying. They designated this as the "Postcrubber II."

Shortly thereafter they returned to their traditional tower wash system and re-designated this as the "Potscrubber III." Over time they dropped the "III" designation and went back to the original Potscrubber name.

 

[bradfordwhite]

Didn't they also have an extended wash or additional wash or rinse in the aforementioned cycle?

 

I actually found one of those two level wash GEs but I can't remember fan forced air drying on it.

 

[reactor]

Potscrubbers

Yes, The Potscrubbers, from the onset had an extended wash period in the Potscrubber cycle.

Long after the Potscrubber III, GE later returned to an upper wash arm in some selected 2 panel models, such as the "Profile Performance Triton."

Of course, all of their tall tubs (single front panel) models have had upper wash arms.

 

[63kenmore]

That’s mine

Outside of two extra chrome buttons, that is exactly my Potscrubber.

 

[cam2s]

These older Potscrubber III models don’t really show up that often, curious to know what features your 900 does or does not have. Mine has the steel frame around the tub, the multi orbit system, power tower, power shower, the self cleaning filtration, GEs super racks, as well as a push to start timer(instead of turn to start).

 

[appnut]

The 900 had deluxe deep upper rack, no self cleaning filter but it did have soft food disposer, no multi-orbit wash arm but 3 level wash action. 4 pushbutton cycles were potscrubber,normal, light, and Rinse & Hold. The 3 main cycles were all the same length, just eliminated water changes.