Unplug it or course… Probably a good first step. A broken thermal fuse or ceramic fuse will also prevent your microwave from running. See Fig. Luckily, the post is hollow! With mine a fault had developed, as mentioned in the introduction, causing the right-hand end of the button to protrude by about 5mm. As you can see from Fig. Good luck. Any over squeezing may cause the unbroken clip to break which may result in the button requiring a complete makeover. How to inspect a microwave door latch lever or button: To ensure your safety, unplug the appliance before beginning. ... KCMS1655BSS Door release button cracked. Dougeefresh The only emphasis I would add is that it took me a while to determine how to re-install the cam. The screws on the cover are torx screws by the way and make sure the bracket (that broke) is seated before you tighten the screw down. I found I could rotate it by a very limited amount when I held the spindle tight with pliers and held the plastic in my hand. The spring fits between the button and the front side of the Control Panel to return the button to its normal position. 4, and seven plastic hooks. A rag soaked in it removed all remaining adhesive when I rubbed it vigorously. These constrain the case so it hugs the front of the machine by tucking under its front edge. First thing to do is unplug the microwave so that the light will go out and the turntable will stop turning. On investigation the fault was caused by the retaining clip at that end of the button breaking away from it. At that time I didn’t know exactly how the button was constructed or how to dismantle the Control Panel. With the inside of the bezel facing upwards I laid it on the table. Regards, Colin. I just had to test that the Microwave Inverter Repairs worked satisfactorily. If the door on your microwave oven doesn’t appear to close properly, you may have a broken torsion spring. Albert Appleseed, You have to be able to open it to repair it. Interesting repair. On microwaves that have a door that opens downward, torsion springs are used to keep it closed. If the microwave oven has power going to it and it will not work, the fuse is … The rear edge of the case has a flange with screw holes which fits snugly to the back panel. Do I need to take the door off, the whole case of the microwave? In the end I had to make microwave inverter repairs to the door opening button and to the door bezel when it later came adrift. I found that if I pressed hard enough on the jammed door opening button, and pulled on the bottom edge of the door at the same time, I could force it open. Then it came to me to use some GORILLA® HEAVY DUTY MOUNTING TAPE which I already had. You’ll have to unplug it anyway to remove it from the wall to fix the post. That was easier said than done, but I did succeed. Often I find that plastic parts used in appliances/tools is the faulty part, because it is the weakest link in the design. On the right of the door of this microwave inverter is the Control Panel. The only other thing I want to add is to make sure you use a 4-40 machine screw that has a head big enough to keep the plastic cam part from sliding over it. If the microwave door will not open the plastic handle actuator could be broken. There is no resistance like there is when it is functioning. same problem just happened to mine, have everything disassemble but having difficulty figuring out how to put the cam back in place, please can anyone post some pictures? The left screw (in Fig. Now the reason for my post…if you don’t make the effort to use a 4-40 screw , nut and washers to remount this plastic post to where it broke off you’ll just end up right back with a broken microwave down the road when the plastic post breaks off again. Check the Fuse First. If it is not under warranty you may want to make a preemptory repair. At this moment I realised I would have to make the first of my microwave inverter repairs. Once you have access to the inside of the microwave, it's likely that you will see the cam and the sheared-off post sitting on the bottom of the unit. In most cases of microwave buttons not working, the common cause comes out to be defective control panel. © 2021 iFixit — Licensed under Creative Commons — Privacy — This is a temporary measure to hold the button into its housing against the pressure of an ejecting spring. Works great! Profile Microwave broke. The left hole, as seen in Fig. Also check Help>Site specific FAQs. So I couldn’t see an easy solution and put the cover back on with a plan to continue using it in its slightly faulty state. Therefore, the door cannot be opened and the turntable continues to go around slowly (without the microwave heating mechanism running). Once you get it out of the wall/cabinent and remove the housing a quick search will find the broken plastic post and the “plastic cam” that rotates on the post laying somewhere. • Make an Item Selection. When fitting the Outer Case it can be difficult tucking the tabs under the front edge of the chassis due to its springiness. 5 below. 11 (a picture of the repaired button). NOTE: Although this microwave inverter model: NN-A574SBBTQ is obsolete similar models are still available. Remove blockage if present. This latch engages with the DOOR SWITCH when the door is shut. My little post was still partially attached, so nothing had fallen out and it wasn’t obvious where the issue was. Stuck the clip to the button with superglue. I took the cover off and located the problem. If this occurs, replace the handle actuator to … The eventual jamming of the button was caused by that loose clip falling into the button’s housing cavity behind the button and getting in the way of the button’s movement. The button has three protuberances at the back which pass through holes in the Control Panel moulding. Then I peeled the backing tape off and carefully presented the bezel to the door, pressing it on firmly when in place. The steel panel is held in place by two Torx® screws whose heads require a hexagonal star patterned drive bit to free them of the type: When unscrewed the the top of the spacer panel, shown in Fig. I did an extensive repair on my door’s bottle shelf a few years ago. I found that a number 8 machine screw was a perfect fit for the diameter of the hole in the broken peg. may or may not open the door. Door Latch Assembly. ok well it sounds like your door switch button is just not sliding properly and may just need to be greased with lithium grease or some other form of thick grease between the latch just slides against the door push button and over time the plastic can start to gain friction. Two hook into slots on the bottom edge of the chassis, and then five (three on the left and two on the right as viewed from the front) hook through slots in the chassis as the Control Panel is slid down into place. After applying the reinforcing resin to the broken clip it becomes too stiff to bend. I also used the #4-40 x 1-1/2 screw and associated washer and nut. 3 above. 4) might be Posidriv® but the right is Phillips®. 12. The plastic post that holds the cam that pushes up on the door latch had sheared off. @dougeefresh. Gently press down on latch to unlock. But fixed over it is a pressed steel spacing panel. I shut the door and worked the latch and could see the cam mechanism just flexing out of the way. So accurate positioning is paramount. • Enlarge images. This happened to me yesterday, I got the microwave out of the surround got the bottom off, found the piece, but not exactly sure where it goes back to. 4) Find the incredibly insufficient post that has broken off probably just after the warranty period. Be sure to contact a certified microwave repair service to resolve these problems. Not too bad… only 2 additional screws. What happens is that the lever unit usually has a paddle or a button which gets in contact with door latch assembly and releases the hooks which in result lets you open the microwave door. Then I refitted the elastic drive belt to the other fan. When pushed, the button makes no contact with mechanism behind it. Learn how your comment data is processed. I sent this picture to Frigidaire and asked what I should do: Their support emailed me back saying: I'm sorry, there is no screw that goes in the hole. Be very careful once you get inside… don’t mess with any of the electrical connections. Its just wedged on and held by friction. Unfortunately for readers I got on with the job and failed to take photographs of the work at the time. Since the door hook is made of plastic, it can break due to regular wear. This type of problem usually indicates a faulty triac or relay, or could … Do not take off the door...and you didn't need to take off the bottom although that did allow you to find the broken peg and plastic cam. Therefore, the door cannot be opened and the turntable continues to go around slowly (without the microwave heating mechanism running). The jamming up happened after I took my first look inside the microwave to see how I might repair the protruding button. Common solutions for: Microwave door won't open. Electrical connections are made by four coloured plugs and sockets with varying numbers of pins and wires which are: Disconnecting these four electrical plugs frees the Control Panel completely. If your microwave door won’t close or the latch isn’t engaging, it is most likely a problem with the door latch assembly. The door open button might have a broken internal component. The fault didn’t affect anything other than the machine’s looks. Good luck. It could require two people to refit the Outer Case to avoid injury. Before ours failed it got to where we had to push the button harder and farther. There were hardly any fragments so I was able to superglue it back in place very successfully. Take the microwave out (unplug it) and remove the screws to the outer casing. Remove the broken piece and insert the new part into the pivot openings. In fact, if the door latch isn't snapped shut, the microwave won't function at all. Note: The stainless steel Outer Case is very springy so that when the screws are removed the sides spring open. I roughened the surface of the clip and the button near to it. Play with the latches and see what moves, and play with the button and see what moves. Of course I always forget about the house contents insurance. Fortunately I was successful. On my second attempt at repairing the button I chose to reinforce the back of the clip with P38 polyester resin (see Fig. I cut strips of Gorilla Tape to match the length of each side and stuck them down to the inside of the bezel. The Control Panel is fixed to the chassis by two screws, see Fig. Applied a blob of P38 to the back of the clip and surface of the button. Then I filled the hole in the door liner, where the tab had broken out (had to clean open it up a bit, remove damaged material) with a very large gob of epoxy putty, enough to create a “flange” on the inner side of the liner (to hold it in place), and enough material to form the new retaining protuberance on the surface of the plastic molding., and pressed the mold that I had made over it to form a perfect tab. It stuck well but the area of adhesion was very small. Normally it’s pushed out by a spring until it lies flush with the panel and can be pushed in by fingers to open the door. I decided to try and remove the plastic cooling fan, shown in Fig. Whilst holding the spindle with pliers, and aligning it with the fan hole, I wiggled the fan and pushed it onto the spindle. that actually is a broken spot weld for the hinge. The hinge cannot be repaired. I used a Dremel tool to remove just enough of this to allow a machine bolt head to sit perfectly flat. Investigation and Reason Give Understanding. Huge thanks to everyone who described and added info to this fix. However if the button is pressed near to one end it twists in the recess so that a sideways force is applied to the clip at the opposite end. I think the root cause of the failure is that it is possible to push the release button too far (no hard stop) and over stress the ridiculously tiny plastic post. There will be a little hole the size of the hole in the peg that broke off that will give you a clue as to where the peg has to get reattached. In the end, we bought a new microwave. While I'm capable (and willing to do so) of making a new handle from scratch, in order to attach it, I would have had to take the door apart. Once you have access to it, visually inspect the lever for damage, wear, or seized components. Radio Wave Power And How It Gets Reduced By Distance. Hey, use a piece or cardboard to release the latch by sliding it in the door and raising it up. Do the bolt/washer/nut combination need to be stainless? The procedure I used for sticking the bezel on the door: This Gorilla Tape can’t be slid into place and is very permanent. What Will I Do? Before you can begin a cooking cycle on your Frigidaire microwave, the door must be completely shut. Think you could post a picture of what is needed? It's been a while since I was in there, but I think what you need to try to do is take your clues from the button that you push in from the front, and the latches that you have to get to go up to unlatch the door. And we would have to wait 3 weeks for parts. The door hook engages with the door latch to keep the door closed during operation. Then I aligned the seven hooks with their location points on the chassis and hooked the Control Panel in place by sliding it down into its slots. Thanks Dave and Paul. In most microwaves, the door will have a latch or two that enters an alcove on the cabinet and activates a switch. The door button on my G.E. The turning back and forth broke the grip of the static friction which allowed it to be pulled up a little at a time. If the latch is broken it will not engage properly and the microwave will not turn on. The switch is typically black and approximately an inch in length. I just had to squeeze the other clip towards the centre of the button to release it from its detent allowing the spring to push it all the way out. The Bell Crank normally hangs down in the working position due to gravity besides any pressure from the levers it has to engage. So I have little to show here. I had to check if I had trapped any wires before screwing it in place with the two adjacent screws shown in Fig. That soaked through the remaining tape body and dissolved the adhesive. A few months ago my eleven year old Panasonic 1000 Watt Slimline Combi Microwave Inverter (Model: NN-A574SBBTQ) developed a problem which was only visual. You’ll feel a lot better about the whole debacle once you have everything put back together and the microwave is working again as intended (and now improved ! Key points from my experience: 1) use a thin piece of carboard to slide in the right side of the door and lift up the hooks holding the door closed. The action of closing the door worked as normal. Find someone who works on appliances remove the cabinet cover, remove the door release latch, pop out the button and remove the broke ear, pop the button back in, replace the latch, reinstall the cabinet cover and your good to go. If this starts to happen to you and you are still under warranty report it and get it fixed. In my refrigerator repair, the shelfs on the door were held in place by snapping over a plastic protuberance on the inside of the door as part of the entire inside plastic close out panel. Thanks!! In Fig. The two screws are adjacent to each other and at the top on the inside. … I used a two part moldable epoxy putty to first make a mold of one of the good tabs, using plastic wrap as a parting agent, and the epoxy as the mold material. I put the Outer Case back on with the four Phillips® screws first, then the Spacer Panel with the two Torx® CR-VT-20 screws after I hooked it in place on the bottom edge. 9, which passes on movement, at the business end, to operate the power switch and interact with the door safety catch. See Fig. Dave’s answer is a good one and it helped me quite a bit. James Hollister. Then, Whilst pulling the edge of the door to force it open, the bezel (which is what I was really applying the force to) around the edge of the door glass came away. So I had to insert the button into it’s recess by bending the other clip only. I turned it one or two degrees back and forth and pulled at the same time. Once you get to that, you can manually open the door and once I get the model number, I can link you to the correct part! The door switch signals when the microwave is closed, and when the unit can begin cooking. You will see a small circular impression on the black plastic board that has the switches on it-- next to the very bottom switch. I followed that with a damp rag and a dry rag to clean both surfaces ready for the new tape. So operating it is like pushing a rectangular piston into a box. There is no resistance like there is when it is functioning. Get shopping advice from experts, friends and the community! This was exactly our problem. My question is this. If you wish to confirm whether this is the real issue, then for this you will have to press each of the buttons on the control panel. The plastic piece that pushes the latch to open the door is broken. Use a small screwdriver, start at a corner and pop out the choke cover working your way around the door. Thank you so much. The inside of the door is called a choke cover. I still think that was a good idea but I hadn’t got any. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Use a washer if needed but you don’t want the plastic cam to be able to slide off the post once the post is screwed to the main plastic frame piece. Also, I used a 1.25 inch long machine screw as I found it a lot easier to get the washer and nut on it…there’s plenty of space. You may be able to use a flat head screwdriver to push the mechanism by inserting it on the right side after you have depressed the button but you’re probably out of luck on this on. need to know how to fix? On the right of the door of this microwave inverter is the Control Panel. If you wish to check whether this is the issue, you can access the door latch lever unit by first unplugging the appliance and then removing the cover as well as the control panel. Saved me $400. The cam locks on a small tab next to the reattached post. You have to take the main covering apart to get to the part. Handle actuatorIf the microwave door will not open the plastic handle actuator could be broken. In case you do get it open, here’s my answer on how to fix it once you can get to it. The interlocking door switch on a Kenmore microwave oven is a basic safety component that turns the microwave on and off, depending on the position of the door. The two outer protuberances operate a plastic Bell Crank, see Fig. The belt has to be removed before removing the fan. 6. Operating the door like this went on for a couple of weeks. Talk about planned obsolecence !! The button is held in the recess containing it by two clips interacting with detents moulded on the plastic of the Control Panel, one at each end. Next, take out the 4 screws around the cabinate case. If this occurs, replace the handle actuator to get your microwave fully functional again. Verify nothing is lodged inside of the door latch catch area. You'll find the right parts in the small specialty screw and fastener bins. There are normally a left and right side spring and they are often different sizes. There will be 4-6 screws on the microwave mount to the cabinet, remove them. Should You Worry About Your Bath Overflowing? I rolled it up with my finger tip by pushing on it at a 45° angle. • Comment or Reply to a post. I suffered the same problem this morning and I am glad I found this site. 3) take out about 8 little screws and remove the housing. If the push button won't open the door, it means that one of the plastic parts behind the control panel has broken so the push button isn't pushing the latches up high enough to release the door. As you can see in Fig. Faults in the door switch’s interlock system will prevent your unit from operating. The Second of my Microwave Inverter Repairs Was To The Door Opening Button The Fault With My Microwave Inverter Door Opening Button. I checked it with a resistor … I had the same problem. Called Sears Service and they wanted $362.00 to fix. pull of panel to see behind and reattach something or see if something is broken? Mathew Draper, Just adding to the info above after fortunately finding this website after my “plastic post” broke on my built-in GE Profile microwave . So if you are thinking of doing the same I want you to be well aware of the dangers involved. Connected between the door button and the door latch assembly, this plastic part could become damaged and brittle over time, which makes breaking inevitable. I have a background in telecommunications and a fascination with all things scientific and technical - from physics to electronics, and computing to DIY. Having decided to replace the the tape (a black fibrous substance with adhesive on both sides) I spent some time removing it. Because of these dangers microwave ovens must NEVER be operated with the door open or the outer casing removed. Remove the control panel and button cover in order to access the door latch lever. History. After the resin set I gently worked on it with a pen knife to carve away some of the resin so that the resined clip would fit through its location hole. You can also look up the parts diagram to help. Unplug the unit and remove the cover to access the door latch lever. The little intermediate part has to be between the button and the latch mechanism. Repair and disassembly guides for GE Microwave ovens. I had planned to replace the tape with double sided carpet tape. Once that is done you will probably need to replace the “board latch”. Microwave door won't open. If some of the buttons are working fine while others are not then you may have to replace the touchpad and the control panel. 2 must be hinged down to the work surface (it’s not actually on hinges) and unhooked at two points along the bottom edge. The parts inside the microwave are very compact and it’s not possible to work behind the Control Panel without detaching it from the chassis. It eventually settled in a jamming position preventing the button being pressed in completely. Terms — My microwave door slacks down and I have to lift it up a bit before shutting it. 11/15/2020 by Any testing during or after a repair must wait until the microwave oven is reassembled with the casing on and the door shut. Before heat is transferred to the inner cabin of the microwave, three switches respond in conjunction with each other to ensure the microwave does not work with the door open. Microwave Ovens are manufactured to high safety standards, particularly because the microwave radiation generated within would be very dangerous to anyone nearby if it escaped. You can drill a small hole in the center of this depression and put a small machine bolt through, with a washer and nut on the other side, and then push the cam back on the post. 11). The hooks are moulded onto the plastic frame of the Control Panel. @kazooman. *. Operation of the machine wasn’t impaired but continuous use with the faulty button led to further problems when the button jammed and I couldn’t easily open the door. Microwave Fuse Blown. The microwave was fixed a few months ago and it’s still going strong. This piece seems surprisingly weak comparing to the force it takes to overcome the spring load. • Save a Post as a Browser Favourite. It is this force which must have broken the clip in the first place. I have had the same thing happen. This keeps the machine away from any wall or objects it might be pushed up against and maintains ventilation of the back panel. Profile Microwave broke. Once you have that off the place where the peg broke off will become obvious and the fix will be easy to understand. Reassembled and I am back in business. I managed to reassemble it without it breaking off again but unfortunately it soon broke in use. Joined Jul 1, 2014 Messages 49 Location United States. On the same plastic is an electrical switch mounted that gets activated when the door is open and stops the glass dish rotating inside. Once the fan was removed I found it very easy to undo the two screws and unhook the Control Panel by lifting it up and pulling it forwards. You may also need to remove the control panel to gain better access.