Microwave Oven Problems

How to diagnose microwave oven problems?

No matter what brand you choose, even the best microwaves can run into issues every now and then because no electrical appliance is immune to failure.

Here are some simple ways to diagnose microwave oven problems

Microwave Does not Turn On

Problem:

This problem could be because of something as simple as the power cord is not plugged in or the switch is not turned on, to something more serious as the microwave is damaged.

Diagnosis:

Check if the power cord is plugged in and switch is turned on.
Check if the door locks properly. All microwaves are designed to work only when the door locks completely.
Check to see if the fuse is blown. This can be easily replaced without any assistance. Follow the instructions in the owner’s manual.

Turntable does not rotate

Problem:

The turntable may not have fit into the coupling properly or has been moved out of the track. The other problem could be that the motor that rotates the carousal has broken down.

Diagnosis:

Check if the turntable fits into the properly.
Clean the track off any leftover food or debris to ensure smooth movement
If these basic checks do not solve the problem, the chances are that the motor is damaged. Take it to the service center for repair.

Sparks observed inside the cavity when the microwave is running

Problem:

Some metal part is exposed in the microwave which is causing sparks.

Diagnosis:

Stop the microwave and check for any pieces of aluminum foil around the food. Most times, frozen foods wrapped in aluminum foils can have pieces of the foil stuck to the food which causes this sparking.
Check to see if any other metal piece accidentally slipping into the cavity. Sometimes things may stick to the underside of the vessel, so you need to clean them.
Lastly check for some paint coming out of the interior parts of the microwave. Some scratching or damage may have exposed some metal portion inside the microwave. File the metal and touch it up with color.

Touch pad does not work

Problem:

Invariably this is due to some loose connection or due to wet electronics in the touch pad.

Diagnosis:

Check the touch pad area for any insects or debris. Typically, these get accumulated over a period of time and cause problems
Let the microwave dry out for a few days in the sun. Check to see if the touch pads work fine after that.
If you are skilled enough, just open the top cover of the microwave to check if there are any loose connections between the touch pad and the rest of the circuitry.
If all these are fine, then the touch pad is faulty. You need to get it replaced.

Microwave Oven does not heat food

Problem:

This problem occurs when the microwave generation system of the microwave is damaged. The microwaves are generated by a magnetron and if this becomes faulty, it will not produce the microwaves to heat the food.

Diagnosis:

If you encounter this problem ever, there are no quick fix solutions that can correct it at home. You would need to take the microwave to a service center for magnetron replacement.

What to do when microwave display dims when cooking?

First you have to know what type of display is used in your microwave. Generally most of the microwaves have LCD and VFD types of display.

Microwave oven problems with VFD type display

You have to check whether it is a separate part or not. If it is, then you can buy new VFD tube as a replacement parts. But if it isn't, then all you can do is brighten it up.
You have to open the circuit board behind the display and take the display and circuit board out. Wipe the display (front glass of VFD) with a clean cloth and non-ammonia cleaner.

LCD type display

If your display is LCD type then the problem may be in the back light. The light is removable and not so expensive. You can remove and attach it by yourself.

Of course you will encounter other microwave oven problems than listed above and if you do, please see the manual first before you take any action. We have many manuals from many brand that are free to download. check them out. You can do so by enter your model in the search box.

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