How to replace door cable and spring kit on a GE dishwasher


Steven E / Thursday May 1, 2025


Is your GE dishwasher door failing to glide open and close effortlessly? It’s likely that the door cable and spring kit needs a replacement—a fix that can save you the expense of hiring a technician. Dive into our easy step-by-step guide and accompanying video below to learn how you can tackle this repair on your own in just a few minutes!

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On a GE dishwasher, the door cable and spring kit is responsible for allowing the door to open and close smoothly. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily replace the door cable and spring kit yourself, restoring your dishwasher and saving money on a professional technician. This repair is relatively straightforward and should only take a few minutes to complete. So, let’s get started and get your GE dishwasher back in working order!

Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBze_Hxo0jc

The information in this article may not apply to your specific appliance model. We recommend consulting your manufacturer’s documentation or contact us with any questions.

What you’ll need

  • 5/8″ wrench
  • 5/16″ nutdriver
  • Phillip’s screwdriver
  • 1/4″ nutdriver

Safety precautions

  • Always power off and unplug your appliance or switch off the circuit breaker before attempting any maintenance or replacement work. This keeps you safe by preventing any risk of injury from electric shock.
  • Turn off the water supply at the outlet before beginning repairs to any appliance parts that hold water. Have towels ready for any residual water in the system when removing parts. 
  • Wear insulated work gloves to protect your hands from sharp metal parts, pinching hazards and debris.
  • Don’t test wiring with a multimeter for live voltage if you’re unfamiliar with how to prevent short circuiting when testing. 
  • When working with wires, avoid touching any exposed wires or terminals. If you need to touch a wire, use a non-conductive tool or wear insulating gloves to prevent electrical shock.
  • Take your time and don’t rush while working to prevent accidents and personal injuries.
  • Work in a well-lit area so you can clearly see and access the interior parts.
  • Clear your workspace of clutter and other obstacles. Keep children and pets away from the work area.
  • Never work on internal parts with bare wet hands. Make sure the work area is completely dry.
  • Check your user manual to see if there are specific installation or safety instructions for your part or appliance. 
  • Be gentle when handling or removing parts. Excessive force might damage the appliance or cause injury.
  • Wear safety glasses when working with chemicals, dust or cleaning large debris to prevent injury. 
  • If the appliance has recently been used, give it plenty of time for any heating parts to cool down before working on it. 

Replacement steps

Removal

  1. Disconnect the fill line connected to the hot water valve. Make sure the water valve is turned off. Place a towel down to catch any water.
  2. Use a 5/8 inch wrench to loosen up the hose connected to the fill line.
  3. Once it is loose, unscrew it by hand and set it down.
  4. Locate the drain hose and follow it to its end at the garbage disposal or air gap.
  5. Use a 5/16 nut driver to loosen the clamp holding the drain hose.
  6. Once the clamp is loose, pull the drain hose free and set it down.
  7. Open up the dishwasher door and use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the screws holding the mounting brackets to the countertop.
  8. Lift up on the door and carefully pull the dishwasher out a little bit.
  9. Grab the frame and pull the dishwasher out the rest of the way.
  10. Unhook the spring from the frame on the side of the cabinet and stretch it out.
  11. Unhook the spring from the hinge.
  12. Repeat the process for the other side by unhooking the spring from the frame and then unhooking the cable from the roller and hinge.
  13. Once both sides are free, pull the cables off the dishwasher.

Installation

  1. Put the new cable onto the pulley. If needed, open the door slightly to make it easier to attach.
  2. Route the cable underneath the pulley.
  3. Hook the new spring onto the other end of the cable.
  4. Hook the spring into the frame in the back.
  5. Repeat the process for the other side by attaching the cable and spring.
  6. Hook the cable onto this side, making sure not to drop the door.
  7. Close the door and route the cable underneath the pulley.
  8. Hook the door cable onto the pulley.
  9. Hook the cable into the back frame.
  10. Once the cable and spring kit are installed, put the dishwasher back into the cabinet.
  11. Push the dishwasher in about halfway.
  12. Check that the lines are not caught on anything by pulling on them from underneath the sink.
  13. Push the dishwasher in the rest of the way.
  14. Reconnect the drain hose by using a 5/16 inch nut driver to tighten down the clamp.
  15. Push the drain line into place and make sure it is snug.
  16. Use a 5/8 inch wrench to tighten the water line connection to prevent leaks.
  17. Close the dishwasher door and use a Phillips screwdriver to secure the mounting brackets to the countertop.
  18. Plug the dishwasher back in.Turn the water back on and run a test to check for any problems.

Additional information

Thanks for reading! We hope this guide helped you replace the door cable and spring kit on your GE dishwasher. 

If you still need some replacement parts, grab your model number and head over to AppliancePartsPros.com. We offer over two million parts and most orders arrive in two business days. If you need some help with finding the right part or placing an order, you can contact our team at 1 (877) 477-7278.

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