[37] Microwave fan runs & turntable rotates with the door open || troubleshoot, repair and improve

If I can do it, ANYONE can.
↓↓↓More stuff in full description below↓↓↓
I highly recommend using the keyboard shortcuts SHIFT + greater than sign, SHIFT+ less than sign & K to INCREASE THE VIDEO PLAYBACK SPEED, DECREASE THE VIDEO PLAYBACK SPEED & PAUSE, respectively, due to the tremendous amount of information contained.
Finding the Vent Cover screws @ 0.22
Unplugging the microwave @ 0:51
Removing the Vent Cover @ 0:54
Tools needed to remove the Vent Cover @ 1:34
Items used to clean the Vent Cover @ 1:50
Removing the top screw from the Touch Pad @ 3:22
REALLY IMPORTANT STUFF
Basic instructions for removing the Touch Pad @ 3:50
Removing the screws holding the assembly for the Door Switches @ 5:55
Removing the assembly for the Door Switches @ 6:57
Marking the leads that connect to the Door Switches for future reference @ 7:12
Checking the “clickiness” of the Door Switches @ 8:22
Removing the Door Switch @ 9:11
Finding the correct Door Switch @ 11:16
Where to keep the Door Switch warranty paperwork @ 14:21
Replacing the Vent Cover @ 14:42
Plugging the microwave in @ 16:19
Testing the microwave @ 16:28
Tools and cleaning equipment used @ 17:50
This video is PACKED with an INCREDIBLE amount of time, stress and frustration-saving KNOWLEDGE. Our microwave is a GE undercabinet Model # JVM1631BB007; Manufactured May 2002.
In all honesty, it was a WAY bigger hassle and it took a lot longer to film, edit and upload the video than it did to fix the microwave.
If you want to more money than I did and you don't desire to have the microwave up and running the same day, then I highly suggest that you use Google, Amazon, etc…to find/order/purchase/wait for your part. I didn't…but then again, I got the right part…today…the first time. THAT'S less time, stress and frustration to me which is what I valued during the project; the essence of LEAN to me.
Like the video? Please give it a THUMB'S UP.
Don't like the video? Please give it a THUMBS down.
Thanks, in advance
#2SecondLean #RobertDinTulsa

[@jamesbrady2156]

I have a whirlpool with an intermittent turntable problem . This video will help when the problem gets worse. Good job!

[@clm9944]

Excellent video! I've seen a lot of lousey video's on howto's for different things and I'm really impressed on how well done this is!!! You should make more!

[@rstone7727]

I had an awful time disconnecting the wires from the switch. If this happens to you, put the swith back in and use a screwdriver in the small slot between the green wire housing to pry it off. Trying to pull the wires from the switch (for me) was the hardest part of this fix. Preferably use the screwdriver in the slot BEFORE you remove the switch.

[@new-knowledge8040]

In my oven, two micro switches were done for, one 120VAC fuse was blown, and one thermal fuse was dead. So much for hot food. So off to the beer store I went with my portable cart. I always walk there and back to save money (4.4 km total). On the way there I spotted an old microwave oven at the curb waiting to be picked up and disposed of. It looked like about the same power rating as mine. So, on the way back from the beer store, I put the oven in my cart, and headed on home. It turned out that the parts that I needed to repair my oven were also in this dead oven, and they were all fully functional and identical. I put these parts into my oven and its been working perfectly ever since. I also held onto a few other parts just in case there might be any breakdowns in the future. The total repair cost was just a walk in the rain on a rainy day.

[@RobertDinTulsa]

NEWKNOWLEDGE Too cool...frugal and practical. Were those fuses easy to locate?

[@new-knowledge8040]

It was easy to see the fuses and of course just 2 screws holding the thermal fuse in place. But the micro switches were a pain in the butt to remove from my oven, yet they were easy to get to to remove them from the dead oven.

[@johnnatt4875]

Dude you need to shorten you're videos . Get to the point. No one needs to hear about cleaning your microwave.

[@rohmen6]

My Samsung over-stove had exactly the same problem. And exactly the same switch was at fault. Was able to bend the spring a little to bring it back to life. Success!!! Thanks for the video!

[@RobertDinTulsa]

You are very welcome. Glad I could help.

[@bobwhammer4237]

Best practice: replace all door switches. Replace plastic housing also because it warps.

[@RobertDinTulsa]

I'll probably do just that if I have to open it up again. Thanks for the advice. Maybe other viewers/watchers will heed the advice.

[@chief3bearsbrunelle766]

Those tabs do break easily > 2 solutions - 1 is if there is room drill and use a self tab short screw > 2nd is if not enough catch for to catch the microwave, use a small bracket to make the bridge and use a screw on each side. Reason for a short self tab better control of screwing in as well as not going to deep to hit anything > so best to look at best location for that an discrete spot so it still looks good before lining the control cover .. worked for me better than buying a panel.

[@jamesbrady2156]

The problem seems better than your solution . Maybe you should make a video with pictures.

[@venugopalbk4144]

This fault can happen if the control panel is faulty ,my oven doesn't turn on but above said fault shows any remedy ?

[@lessieevans2455]

Thanks for the video. It got me past the basics to troubleshoot my GE. I have a GE JVM3160DFBB. It worked for a year then stopped. I found out the cause and replaced one of the thermo fuses, the one on the right. The microwaved worked for a month and the same fuse blew again. I replaced the fuse again. When I plugged the microwave in everything worked fine, except now the vent fan stays on with the door open and close. I can change the speed from high to low, but it will not shut off. I let it run for about 20 minutes, still on. I checked the 3 door switches and they have continuity and the buttons click just fine. The 2 thermo fuses have continuity. Please help. I cannot figure what else it could be. Thanks, Lessie. I also changed the 20a/250v fuse.

[@ninashephard2712]

Thank you! Had the same problem with mine, same switch too. Fixed the bar on the switch, but ordered a new one in case my fix fails.

[@RobertDinTulsa]

You are welcome. You are one of the main reasons I made the video. On a related note, I found burned contacts when I took the old switch apart...tells me that it might not have had too much more life in it. Good luck to you on your switch fix.

[@nareshkumar-bf3ow]

My turntable runs automatically without any commands ,switchs are fine what to do pls tell???

[@RIPSAWONE]

My GE over stove is doing the exact same thing. Just a few months out of warranty. Go figure. The second microwave. My first lasted forever till the door switch failed and a relay on board kept losing contact. My attempt at soldering it back to board failed in disaster letting solder wick into relay. I think with one of the door interlock switches sticking making the fan come on when you open door, the microwave must have a check and does that so the consumer will get it checked out since if others stick, it will work with the door open. Still pretty sorry and GE's undoing . Putting 2Cent parts in their appliances. On my first microwave, the switch was on when the door was closed since it was to the relay that worked the magnetron. One of the other switches was off when the door was closed. So even if they look similar and fits, if the number is different, be careful. As a side note, my originial over stove weighed a ton was 15 years old before dieing. I ended up selling the door, top grill and fan out of it on eBay that just about paid for the new one. The new one lasted 2 months past warranty. Don't waste time trying to fix switch. What is happening is the contact goes bad, drawing more amps and that heats that little spring weaking it. As designed on the bottom switch, it snaps the contact in and out. Mine was failing out. Also, on my GE, that panal cover is held by the top left and also down behind in in the center on the same level. You have to reach down thru panel from top and back screw out to allow panal to rise up and then out. Thoes two bottom clips are actually a clip and a hinge to allow panal to lay outward.

[@RobertDinTulsa]

Very insightful knowledge coming from another DIY'er. Thanks. I hope others will read you comment after trying my method and failing...perhaps your knowledge will help them end their frustrations.

[@burrowsandco]

Good video... side note... never run a microwave without anything inside of it. At least put a glass of water in it.

[@cvmetalworks4594]

Why paint the wire black? It goes to a switch; order doesn't matter, since there's only two connections, wire length notwithstanding. And you may as well replace all of them.

[@RobertDinTulsa]

As stated in the video at ~ 7:40, I initially used a marker to clearly define one orange wire from its neighbor...only to realize that I would have still have to remember which marked/unmarked wire goes where. Order does matter. The purpose of the video was to record myself in troubleshooting and problem-solving a repair issue instead of buying a new $400 microwave. Most importantly, to show other people my successes, failures, frustrations and can-do-it attitude without paying a tradesman $90 an hour plus parts to do something that will, in the end, cost me a small fraction of what that person would have charged. Staying organized when learning a brand-new skill (IN-PROCESS) can be challenging for anyone. Staying positive while being frustrated with a process can also be challenging. Replace all of them? As stated in another comment - good point...I'll do that to the remaining two the next time it happens. Great lesson. Thanks for the tip. Tips help people save their hard-earned $$$.

[@annheatherton]

After you marked the orange wire black I was thinking to myself that I would just take a picture with my phone so I could see it later when I needed to. Would that not have worked?

[@new-knowledge8040]

By drinking beer, my oven has been repaired twice, for free. Yep, a few beers did the trick. Off I went walking to the beer store with my foldable cart on a rainy day. On the way there, I spotted a microwave oven that was placed at the curb for disposal purposes. So on the way back home from the beer store, I dropped this oven into my cart and took it home with me. After drying it off, I took it apart and it turned out to have the same micro-switches, the same AC fuse, and the same thermal fuses, and they were all working perfectly. So, after replacing one AC fuse, one thermal fuse, and one dead micro-switch, it worked perfectly again, and still kept going on strong many years later. Today, I had to replace another one of the door micro-switches, but I still had 3 micro-switches to spare from the trashed oven. Also, the curb trashed microwave oven turntable, now functions as a lazy susan for one of my tall plants that needs to be rotated now and then.

[@Bea_remembrance]

I was at a hostel now. They have one of those steel crome commercial microwave ovens you see in restaurants and coffee bars. I opened the door the fan was still on no light. I asked if I could turn it off to place food. Receptionist said no. So I put hand in to place food I felt tingling prickly feeling along my arm and hand. The fan was on but no light. The same situation when I took it out. My arm feels a bit strange now half an hour later. Is this my imagination. How do I know if only the fan was on, not the microwaves. Also when I first opened the door, three times for less than five seconds each time. Can microwaves escape and hit my torso. I don't know why they could not let me trun off the machine first.

[@Bea_remembrance]

@@RobertDinTulsa thanks for your speedy reply. It was a commercial microwave do some of them have fans that run when door open. Light never came on with door open or closed. Felt lots of prickly tingling senstsion on my arm. Arm feels a bit hot and uncomfortable twelve hours later. Will be hard to get hostel to cooperate building a case. I hope you are wrong about the magletron but I am sure you are not.

[@Bea_remembrance]

@@RobertDinTulsa thanks for your advice. The hostel says the machine is fine and has an extra thick plastic layer inside. They say it wad static electricity I felt. But arm still feels a bit hot under the skin.

[@dennisgannon]

An example of manufacturer's "built in obsolescence" . Making weak a tiny part, that will wear out or break, hoping you will then buy a new entire machine, equals Repeat sales, and more profits. Instead the old quality way that built things to last.

[@RobertDinTulsa]

Dead on! I have plenty of money to buy a new one...but I also have principles and standards that outweigh their crappy business practices.

[@barryburke5782]

My GE Profile Microwave worked for about 5-7 seconds then shut off. Further exam revealed burning/sparking in HV Inverter/Transformer. Digital continuity checked OK for all door switches, primary thermostat, shut off fuse, etc. Replaced Transformer with new part. Everything worked fine except 'No Microwave Heating'. Next, replaced Magnetron and Relay Switch on the circuit board. Everything worked fine except 'No Microwave Heating'. Magnetron humming seems normal! Cleaned mica wave board inside of unit, no sparking here. Can anyone advise what the problem may be. Again, everything worked fine including settings for time, power levels, clock, etc. when started up except 'No Microwave Heating'. Last resort before dropping out to the curb for the landfill! Any ideas greatly appreciated! HELP! Show less Reply

[@RobertDinTulsa]

I just found your comment, sorry for the delay but it was stuck in no man's land waiting for approval for some odd reason. Anyway...posted...can anyone help Barry end his frustration?

[@ThePatriotsBrother]

@@RobertDinTulsa Betcha its still a door switch. Some get greasy and they'll test good but stick

[@RobertDinTulsa]

I later took the blue door switch apart and found some of the connections burnt. There was NO bringing it back.

[@debmchargue8281]

Microwave will heat, but not turn or have light while it is cooking, light will come on when door is open, bought a motor on ebay, still will not work, Do you know why this would be?

[@RobertDinTulsa]

Sorry but no, I don't.

[@RobertDinTulsa]

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗡: 𝗧𝗛𝗨𝗠𝗕𝗦 𝘂𝗽/𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 - _𝗶𝘁'𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗸_ 𝗦𝗨𝗕𝗦𝗖𝗥𝗜𝗕𝗘 - _𝗶𝘁'𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗸_ 𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗜𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗹 - _𝗶𝘁'𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗸_ 𝗦𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗘 - _𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗵𝘂𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁_

[@hooblydoobly9125]

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