How to Tell If Your GE Washer Inverter Board Needs Repair

Posted on September 22nd, 2025

When your GE washer starts acting out—skipping spins, making weird noises, or just throwing attitude—it’s easy to assume the worst.

But before you chalk it up to appliance betrayal, know this: your machine might just be trying to tell you something.

One usual suspect? The inverter board. It sounds technical (because it is), but don’t worry, you don’t need an engineering degree to get what’s going on.

That little board plays a big role behind the scenes, and when it starts to slip, your washer lets you know—just not in plain English.

Interpreting those signs isn’t guesswork if you know what to look for.

Stick around, and we’ll break down what the inverter board actually does, what can go wrong, and how to spot the signals without spiraling into DIY chaos.

Identifying Error Codes and Their Meanings

When your washer throws up a string of letters and numbers, it’s not glitching—it’s talking.

Error codes might look cryptic, but they’re built-in cheat sheets designed to help you figure out what’s going wrong. Instead of guessing, you get a direct line to what your washer’s dealing with.

Some codes point to minor hiccups: a loose door, a clogged pump, or maybe a cycle that didn’t finish right.

Others suggest deeper electrical issues, especially the kind that trace back to the inverter board. Knowing which one can save you time, effort, and more than a few headaches.

Here are a few that tend to pop up when the inverter board’s on the fritz:

• E57 – Lost communication between the motor inverter and control board. Basically, the brains and the muscle aren’t talking.

• E58 – Overcurrent detected in the motor circuit. The inverter’s working overtime and tripping out.

• E43 – Drive motor not responding properly. It could be a motor issue, but the inverter board’s usually tied up in it.

• E47 – Motor won’t lock or unlock. Sometimes electrical, sometimes mechanical, often a combination of both.

These codes don’t solve the issue for you, but they do point you in the right direction. Think of them as warning lights on your car’s dashboard—they won’t tell you exactly what part needs swapping, but they’ll tell you where to look first.

The smart move? Pay attention when they show up. A single error might clear itself. Repeated ones mean something’s not right under the hood. Ignoring them just invites bigger problems later.

Washer acting up? These codes are your first clue. Keep them in mind—they’re not just random numbers; they’re your machine’s version of tech support.

Diagnosing Washer Performance Problems On Your Own

Once those error codes point you in the right direction, the next step is figuring out what’s actually going on behind the scenes.

Let’s say your washer’s motor refuses to spin. It sounds serious, but the fix might be as simple as checking the plug or resetting a tripped breaker—small things, easy to miss.

Make sure the lid’s fully closed too. Some models won’t spin if the latch isn’t locked, no matter how many times you hit start.

If all the basics check out and the drum’s still silent, you’re likely dealing with something more technical. When paired with error codes like E57 or E58, that no-spin issue usually leads back to the inverter board.

Since this board controls motor speed and power delivery, any electrical hiccup here can throw the entire cycle off. That’s your cue to pause and think—how deep into this are you willing to go before calling in backup?

Another issue that tends to raise eyebrows: the washer stops halfway through a cycle. First instinct might be to blame the machine, but run through a few checks before assuming the worst.

Confirm the water supply is on and that the pressure’s strong enough. An unbalanced load or a blocked drain can also trigger a mid-cycle shutdown.

If none of those are the problem, it’s possible the inverter board is struggling to regulate motor activity during longer runs.

You don’t need a voltmeter and a toolkit to be part of the solution. Just paying attention to how the machine behaves—when it fails, what it tries to do before stopping—can give you solid clues.

But keep one rule in mind: safety first. Unplug the washer before touching anything internal, and if the job starts sounding more like an electrical repair than a quick fix, step back.

Getting your hands dirty can be helpful, but only to a point. You’re not expected to become an appliance tech overnight.

Still, even a quick round of checks can help narrow things down or at least make you sound like you know what you’re talking about when you call a pro. And that’s half the battle—knowing when to try, and when to tag someone in.

When to Call in the Professionals

There comes a point when even the most confident DIYer has to draw the line. If you’ve worked through the usual troubleshooting steps—checked the power, leveled the load, cleared the drain—and your washer’s still being stubborn, it’s probably time to call in a pro.

Take the door lock issue, for example. If your washer refuses to lock the door and won’t start a cycle, that’s not just annoying—it’s your machine putting safety first.

A faulty lock can be a red flag for something deeper, especially if it keeps happening. Often, it’s tied to control board misfires or inverter board glitches.

Those aren’t easy to spot with the naked eye, and poking around without the right tools can make things worse. This is the kind of problem that needs proper diagnostic equipment and a trained hand.

Or let’s say your washer starts a cycle, then pauses halfway through for no clear reason. It might restart. It might not. Maybe it does this once a week, maybe every time.

Sporadic issues like this are notoriously difficult to diagnose without specialized gear. A professional technician knows how to trace those signals, test the inverter board, and isolate the failure without taking apart your whole laundry room in the process.

And when electricity’s involved, caution matters more than curiosity. If you’re unsure or uncomfortable around electrical components, that’s your cue to step back.

Washer repairs can require tools like oscilloscopes or multimeters—not exactly standard garage items.

Pros not only have access to this gear, but they also know how to use it safely and accurately. That’s especially important when dealing with high-voltage components and delicate boards.

Calling a local technician isn’t just about solving today’s issue—it’s about preventing the next one. A good repair specialist doesn’t just swap out parts and leave.

They’ll check for signs of wear, recalibrate if needed, and offer advice to help you avoid future breakdowns. That’s a win for your washer and your wallet.

So if your GE washer’s acting erratic, refusing to cooperate, or flashing codes you’ve never seen before, don’t wait until a minor glitch becomes a full-blown meltdown. Sometimes the smartest fix is knowing when to hand it off.

Restore Your Washer’s Performance And Avoid Costly Breakdowns With Phoenix Appliance Repair

Washer problems don’t fix themselves, and waiting usually makes things worse.

If your GE washer’s acting up—whether it’s flashing confusing error codes, stalling mid-cycle, or just refusing to cooperate—it’s worth bringing in someone who knows the ins and outs of these machines.

At Phoenix Appliance Repair, we handle everything from inverter board issues to full system diagnostics.

We’ve helped countless homeowners across the Valley get their appliances back on track quickly, without the stress of guesswork or wasted time.

When you book a service with us, you’re not just getting a quick fix. You’re getting a trained technician who knows how to spot potential issues before they turn into expensive problems.

That kind of preventative care saves time, money, and plenty of headaches.

And we don’t stop at washers. Need help with your fridge, oven, or cooktop? We’ve got that covered too. Our goal is simple: keep your household running smoothly with expert service you can actually rely on.

If your washer's already giving you trouble—or you're just ready to stop playing appliance roulette—give us a call at (602) 429-9058 or send us an email at [email protected].

Schedule a washer repair service with Phoenix Appliance Repair today.

We'll get you scheduled and sorted without the runaround. Your appliances should work for you, not against you. Let’s keep it that way.