Hello fine folks of the appliance repair forum! So, I'm having what appears to be a not-uncommon problem with my GE front-loader, Model Number WCVH6800J1WW. It won't agitate. It appears to fill with water just fine, and I can cause it to spin/drain without a problem -- but during a normal wash cycle, the machine will just stop and the START/PAUSE button will flash.

I downloaded the "SERVICE TEST MODE AND ERROR CODES -- WBVH" document that the user Gene so helpfully provides, and I ran all the tests. All tests ran fine except what's indicated below:

Test "T02" returns an error code of 23.

When I ran test "T06," the first two stages seem fine (eventually displaying "F" and "nL"), but I aborted the third stage -- the entire machine almost filled up with water and I got a little freaked that I'd cause a flood. So it never got the chance to display "oF."

Tests "T08" and "T09" won't run. When I press the "START/PAUSE" button to initiate the tests, there's a double beep and nothing else.

Test "T11," I got to ~400RPM in the first stage, but only ~600RPM (not 1000RPM as the document indicates) in the second stage. Also, when at 600RPM, the display would alternate between the RPMs and "A99" and A98."

Test "T14" seems to differ from what's described in the document. The document suggests it's some sort of spin test, but my washer spun, then filled with water, then agitated, then filled with more water. Then, here again, the machine filled with so much water than I eventually aborted the test.

So. The "E23" error code, coupled with the fact that tests "08" and "09" won't run, seems to be pointing to some problem with the "foam"switch or the water valves? Does anyone have any advice how I ought to proceed?

One last piece of information that may or may not be helpful: the washer stopped working during a load in which I had placed two pair of tennis shoes along with some towels. I've successfully washed shoes before, but never two pair at the same time -- did these maybe result in some kind of imbalance or vibration that caused the problem I'm now having?

Thank you so much!