How To Reset GE Refrigerator Motherboard

Are you facing problems with your GE refrigerator motherboard? Well, the control panel is technically the motherboard as it is a circuit that has all the right connections to make your fridge work.

GE refrigerators are one of the most reputed brands in the industry so you cannot expect them to build a problematic appliance. However, it is all upon your usage pattern.

Electric appliances are prone to malfunctions. There is no definite time period or reason behind a specific problem. If the display of your fridge or any other component is not working then there can be a problem with the control panel.

There are two control panels in the fridge. The main control panel is located at the back of the fridge while there is a secondary control panel called the dispenser control panel (located beside the dispenser).

All the components in your fridge are connected to these control panels. A problem in your fridge will have some connection with the control panel which is why you should know how to reset it.

How to reset the GE refrigerator motherboard?

Control panel/control board reset

The control panel reset is one of the most common fixes to malfunctions. The basic reset is pretty simple to perform. The procedure is as under:

1. Unplug the refrigerator from the power source. If the power cable is not easily accessible then turn off the circuit breaker to make sure that the fridge is not connected to a power supply.
2. Let the fridge rest for around 30 to 60 seconds. This will allow the fridge to erase the temporary memory. All the temporary glitches will be removed and the control panel will be reset to the default settings.
3. Replug the refrigerator back into the power source. The reset is now complete and you will need other things to do.

The voltage check

Control board at the back

If the touch panel is not responding and there is no light depicting a dead control panel then you should check the voltage supply. The main control board is located at the back of the refrigerator. Check the bottom right of the back of your fridge. Unscrew the lid fixed at the back.

Bring your multimeter and connect it to the control board to check the input and output voltage. Make sure that the voltage is between 12 and 14. A low voltage would mean that the board is not producing enough voltage.

Broad below the display

Once you have checked and confirmed that the rear board is fine. The next thing to check is the board under the digital display. Grab the control panel by placing three fingers of both hands below it. Pull the control panel from the bottom and the circuit will come out. See the wire connections on the back of the panel to ensure that all the wires are connected properly.

Connect a multimeter to the board to check the voltage. The voltage must be between 12 and 14 volts. Once you have checked it, proceed to the ice maker. You will find a shutdown button inside the ice maker. Turn it on and off three times consecutively. This will complete the whole procedure.

Why does a GE refrigerator control panel malfunction?

Knowing the solution to a problem is always satisfying. However, one must understand what the problem is. The GE refrigerator control panel might have the following issues:

Glitches

The glitches are one of the most common and simple kinds of errors that you will come across. GE refrigerators are electric appliances, they have components that are prone to malfunction from time to time. A glitch does not mean that the control panel is faulty. It depicts that the panel is going through a small operating inconsistency. This can be resolved by simply unplugging the fridge and performing a control panel reset.

No power supply

Another reason why your control panel is unresponsive can be the inconsistent or no power supply at all. This happens when the electricity voltage is not what the fridge needs. A power supply cut-off will stop your GE refrigerator from performing certain basic functions like water dispensing.

Demo mode

The demo is not a problem but rather a mode integrated by the manufacturer. The demo mode is tailor-made for a showroom display. In this mode, all the lights turn on and other functions are turned off. This feature is also very handy whilst repairing the refrigerator.

When the demo mode is turned on, you are unable to render commands to the control panel. All the functions are disabled so you might confuse the demo mode with a control panel malfunction. The “showroom mode” displayed on the control panel screen is a clear indicator that your appliance is in demo mode.

Control board malfunction (dispenser)

There is a control board with the dispenser. You interact with it every day because it is located under the display. This control board is an electric circuit that is vulnerable to malfunctions and short circuits.

These issues can render the whole board useless and unresponsive. On the contrary, the board might be partially unresponsive. In this case, a few buttons will work while others will be dead. Apart from the electric malfunction, the dispenser control panel might be depreciated due to long usage.

Main control board

Like the dispenser control board, the main control board is also an electric circuit that has all the necessary components connected to it. You should make sure that you check this board in the end. A fault in the main control board can influence the whole fridge.

The reset did not solve the problem

Did the reset not solve the problem that you face with your control board? Well, there are other things that you can try. These solutions are summarized as under:

1. Check the power cable as a worn-out power cord can be the reason why the control board is not working. Change the power cable to ensure an uninterrupted flow of electricity.
2. Perform a voltage check on both control boards to check if the electric current is normal. Interrupted or fluctuating electric current will usually cause the control panel to misbehave.
3. Try exiting the demo mode. The method varies from model to model. Check your user manual or search the internet for finding the right procedure.
4. If the dispenser control panel is not working and you have tried everything then go with replacing the dispenser control panel.
5. If the dispenser control panel is not faulty and everything else is fine then go for the main control panel replacement.
6. The wiring in the fridge door serves as the connection between the dispenser control board and the main control board. If both the boards are fine but still there is a disconnection between the both then inspect the door wiring.

Conclusion

The motherboard or the control board is considered the brain of a refrigerator. It is an electric board that is connected to all the components. This board transmits signals to the components so that they can operate as required.

All the minor problems such as small error codes and uncharacterized functionality can be handled by merely resetting the control board. The resetting procedure is pretty simple as we have mentioned above.

For other issues that do not get resolved with a reset, you should try and find other solutions that are more effective. However, your understanding is a critical thing. If you do not understand the problem or the solution then you should consider calling a professional technician.

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