How To Repair A Microwave That Isn’t Working

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Ocean Appliance
January 6, 2022
Microwave Repair

Microwaves have become a staple of most households. When you need to quickly heat some food or a drink, they are a great appliance to have. Unfortunately, sometimes they can stop working and need to be repaired. 

If your microwave isn’t working, this step-by-step guide will tell you how to find the cause and repair it so you can start using it again.

Step 1. Make sure the power is working

The first step is to check that the power is working correctly. If you know for sure that the power is working you can move on to the next step. 

To check the power source, you need to:

  1. Plug the microwave power cord into another power socket and check if the microwave works. If it does work, this indicates the problem is the power socket which you’ll then need to get fixed.
  2. If the power doesn’t work in another power socket, check your fuses/circuit breakers to make sure they’re not blown. If they are, they’ll need to be repaired. If the microwave doesn’t work in another power socket and the fuses are not blown, the power source isn’t the cause of the problem and you can move on to step 2.
  3. Once the power socket or fuse/circuit breaker is repaired, check to see if the microwave is now working. If not, move on to step 2.

Step 2. Reset the clock and unlock the microwave

Some microwave models won’t work if the clock isn’t set or if the microwave lock button has been pressed. These are both simple problems to fix. 

  1. To reset the clock, press the ‘clock’ button, then set the time by pressing the number buttons. (Some models might have a different way to set the clock so check your manual if you’re not sure.)
  2. To make sure your microwave isn’t locked, locate the lock key and press it down until your microwave becomes unlocked. Some microwaves have an off switch that you press to unlock your microwave. If you’re not sure, check your user manual.
  3. If your microwave still isn’t working, move on to step 3.

Step 3. Make sure the turntable works

Another possible cause of your microwave not working is a faulty turntable. This is the component that rotates your food when you’re cooking. If the turntable becomes defective, your microwave may not work. 

Checking the turntable is relatively simple, you just need to: 

  1. Turn the microwave onto a cooking cycle, then check if you can see the turntable rotating. If it isn’t rotating, this indicates a problem with the turntable. If it is rotating, move on to step 4.
  2. To repair the turntable, open the microwave door, remove the rollers and the hubs and thoroughly clean them. Once clean, put them back in the microwave and see if the turntable now rotates around. If not, you’ll need to replace the turntable component entirely.
  3. After you replace the turntable unit, turn the microwave onto a cooking cycle and check if the problem has been solved. If not, move on to step 4. 

Step 4. Test the line fuse

If you still haven’t managed to get your microwave to work, you’ll need to check some of the microwave’s internal components. Before you attempt any of these checks, we must point out that working on microwaves is extremely dangerous due to the risk of electric shocks. You shouldn’t attempt any of these checks unless you are qualified and experienced to do so. You’ll also require a mult-meter to test the components.

The first internal component to check is the line fuse. The line fuse will stop your microwave from working when there is too much current passing through the circuit. 

To check the line fuse, you need to:

  1. Turn the power off to the microwave and unplug it from the wall.
  2. Take the case/cabinet off your microwave. You’ll need to remove a few screws at the back of the microwave to do this.
  3. Locate the line fuse. Check your manual if you don’t know where it is.
  4. Check the line fuse with a multimeter.
  5. If the test shows the line fuse has continuity, it’s working fine and you can move on to the next step. If it doesn’t have continuity, it will need to be replaced.
  6. Once the new fuse has been installed, check to see if your microwave is working. If not, move on to the next step.

Step 5. Make sure the thermal fuse hasn’t blown

The purpose of the thermal fuse is to turn your microwave off when it overheats. When this happens, the fuse can sometimes blow and will need to be replaced before your microwave will work again.

To check the thermal fuse, you need to:

  1. Turn the power off to the microwave and unplug it from the wall. Then, take the case/cabinet off your microwave.
  2. Locate the thermal fuse. Check your manual if you don’t know where it is.
  3. Check the thermal fuse with a multimeter.
  4. If the test shows the thermal fuse has continuity, it’s working fine and you can move on to the next step. If it doesn’t have continuity, it will need to be replaced.
  5. Once the new fuse has been installed, check to see if your microwave is working. If not, move on to the next step.

Step 6. Make sure the thermo-protector is working

If both fuses are working fine, the next step is to check the thermo-protector. When your microwave overheats, the thermo-protector turns your microwave off.

Here’s how to check the thermo-protector:

  1. Make sure the power is off and your microwave is unplugged. Then, take off the case/cabinet.
  2. Locate the thermo-protector. Check your manual if you’re not sure where it is.
  3. Check the thermo-protector with a multimeter.
  4. If the test shows the thermo-protector has continuity, it’s working fine, and you can move on to the next step. If it doesn’t have continuity it will need to be replaced.
  5. Once the new thermo-protector is installed, check to see if your microwave is working again. If not, move on to the final step.
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Step 7. Consider replacing the main control board

If all else fails, your last option is to replace the main control board to see if that gets your microwave working again. However, your microwave may still not work even after you replace the control board so you might be better off simply buying a new microwave instead.

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