Can't resist a guess at this, since I repaired appliances for 16 years before doing the A/V thing.
Key comment: *** Nothing but a very disturbing hum ensues.***
Not just a hum, but a disturbing hum, which I'm assuming it was louder rather than softer in intensity. This points to the motor, or the relay that sometimes is used to start the motor. A faulty relay often becomes erratic, thus the motor may start sometimes and at other times not. The problem usually gets worse over time. Repair-- replace the relay. If the motor is bad, see the next paragraph, GE make or no.
If the D/W is an older GE model, it's probably the motor shaft getting rusty and swelling up, causing the motor to bind. Repair-- rebuild the pump asm. (it's leaking, that's why the motor shaft is rusting) and clean the rust off the shaft, or replace the motor & pump asm. If the D/W is very old, (more than 12-15 years) it's usually better to buy a new one.
In some cases it could be a faulty timer, but this is rare. It's not the lid/door switch, or there would be no hum at all.
Only other cheap item would be a water inlet valve, but to call this one I'd need to know whether the pump motor starts immediately when you star the machine, or if it fills with water first, then starts pumping.
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Date: 2006-01-11 04:10 am (UTC)Key comment: *** Nothing but a very disturbing hum ensues.***
Not just a hum, but a disturbing hum, which I'm assuming it was louder rather than softer in intensity. This points to the motor, or the relay that sometimes is used to start the motor. A faulty relay often becomes erratic, thus the motor may start sometimes and at other times not. The problem usually gets worse over time. Repair-- replace the relay. If the motor is bad, see the next paragraph, GE make or no.
If the D/W is an older GE model, it's probably the motor shaft getting rusty and swelling up, causing the motor to bind. Repair-- rebuild the pump asm. (it's leaking, that's why the motor shaft is rusting) and clean the rust off the shaft, or replace the motor & pump asm. If the D/W is very old, (more than 12-15 years) it's usually better to buy a new one.
In some cases it could be a faulty timer, but this is rare. It's not the lid/door switch, or there would be no hum at all.
Only other cheap item would be a water inlet valve, but to call this one I'd need to know whether the pump motor starts immediately when you star the machine, or if it fills with water first, then starts pumping.
Gee, this could be a new meme! (Not...)