Microwave runs but won't heat

[bones]

I have a "Figidaire Gallery" over the range microwave. I turned it on to
reheat food and I heard a click. The microwave still ran but it did not
heat the food.

At this point, the appliance turns on but it does not kick in to heat
anything up (tried every option and still the same). Any ideas on what it
might be?

Thanks

 

[Harry Collingwood]

I have a "Figidaire Gallery" over the range microwave. I turned it on to
reheat food and I heard a click. The microwave still ran but it did not
heat the food.

At this point, the appliance turns on but it does not kick in to heat
anything up (tried every option and still the same). Any ideas on what it
might be?

Thanks

Magnetron! or HV supply.Get an engineer it's probably not an easy fix
for a non-qualified person[if that's you,if qualified then read Sams
instructions] If not qualified don't open it.Regards

 

[Bob Shuman]

Or an open door safety microswitch...

I have a "Figidaire Gallery" over the range microwave. I turned it on to
reheat food and I heard a click. The microwave still ran but it did not
heat the food.

At this point, the appliance turns on but it does not kick in to heat
anything up (tried every option and still the same). Any ideas on what it
might be?

Thanks

Magnetron! or HV supply.Get an engineer it's probably not an easy fix
for a non-qualified person[if that's you,if qualified then read Sams
instructions] If not qualified don't open it.Regards

 

[Sam Goldwasser]

Or an open door safety microswitch...

Yes, it could indeed be something simple but microwave ovens ARE the MOST
DANGEROUS household appliance to work inside.

If you have no experience with high voltage electronics, leave it to a
professional. This is for your own safety.

--- sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ Mirror: http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/
Repair | Main Table of Contents: http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/REPAIR/
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[James Sweet]

I have a "Figidaire Gallery" over the range microwave. I turned it on to
reheat food and I heard a click. The microwave still ran but it did not
heat the food.

At this point, the appliance turns on but it does not kick in to heat
anything up (tried every option and still the same). Any ideas on what it
might be?

Thanks

I've fixed a couple that had cracked solder connections at the power relay
on the control board, could also be a bad diode or capacitor in the HV
circuit but usually that blows the oven fuse.

*Read the repair FAQ BEFORE* you think about opening this thing up,
microwaves are relatively simple to work on but they can be lethal if you
don't know what you're doing.

 

[bones]

I had to send in the microwave because I didn't really know what I was
doing. The repair guy tested it with a meter plugged into wall while
microwave was plugged into it. He said it was drawing 4 amps so he said it
was probably a diode or capacitor. Since you suggested this does the 4 amp
senerio sound correct?

 

[Sam Goldwasser]

I had to send in the microwave because I didn't really know what I was
doing. The repair guy tested it with a meter plugged into wall while
microwave was plugged into it. He said it was drawing 4 amps so he said it
was probably a diode or capacitor. Since you suggested this does the 4 amp
senerio sound correct?

Possibly but less likely than a bad connection to the magnetron filament..

HV diodes and capacitors usually fail shorted, which would draw more current.

--- sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/
Repair | Main Table of Contents: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/
+Lasers | Sam's Laser FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/lasersam.htm
| Mirror Sites: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/F_mirror.html

Important: Anything sent to the email address in the message header above is
ignored unless my full name is included in the subject line. Or, you can
contact me via the Feedback Form in the FAQs.

 

[bones]

After two weeks in the Sears repair shop, they finally looked at my
microwave and they told me that I need a new transformer. Going by my
earlier postings regarding the problems and the replies that I received, do
you think that this sounds like a good diagnosis? It will cost me $400
Canadian. I bought the microwave in '99 for $600 Can. If it is an accurate
diagnosis do you think it would be worth to fix it at this price?

Thanks
Jeff

 

[sofie]

bones:
6 years later..... facing a $400 repair bill.... it is time to trash it.
(He's dead, Jim)
New, full feature Microwave ovens can be purchased for much less than the
proposed repair bill.... unless you are looking for some peculiar feature
or size that only is found on the high priced units .
Keep it simple and you can probably get a new one for a couple hundred
dollars or so... (Canadian)

 

[Tom MacIntyre]

After two weeks in the Sears repair shop, they finally looked at my
microwave and they told me that I need a new transformer. Going by my
earlier postings regarding the problems and the replies that I received, do
you think that this sounds like a good diagnosis? It will cost me $400
Canadian. I bought the microwave in '99 for $600 Can. If it is an accurate
diagnosis do you think it would be worth to fix it at this price?

Thanks
Jeff

Although I worked in a shop that repaired them, I never did a repair
myself, but...isn't a transformer failure a rarity, an oddity?

Tom

 

[Sam Goldwasser]

But the diagnosis doesn't make sense either if what they mean is the
high voltage transformer.

The only likely failure of the HV transformer would result in a very high
current and probably a blown fuse. This would be due to shorted turns in
the primary or HV winding.

The original service guy tested the line current and said it was only drawing
4 A. That sounds like the input current to an unloaded HV transformer
4 A is consistent with the (partially saturating - normal) HV
transformer when not loaded. So, most likely cause is a bad filament
connection to the magnetron or a bad magnetron. The HV capacitor normally
fails shorted, as does the HV diode, though if it exploded, it would be
open.

And, the *ONLY* excuse to charge $400 for a transformer is that they simply
do not want to fix it! Go on eBay and you can probably pick one up for $10.

--- sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/
Repair | Main Table of Contents: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/
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| Mirror Sites: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/F_mirror.html

Important: Anything sent to the email address in the message header above is
ignored unless my full name is included in the subject line. Or, you can
contact me via the Feedback Form in the FAQs.

 

[Sam Goldwasser]

Although I worked in a shop that repaired them, I never did a repair
myself, but...isn't a transformer failure a rarity, an oddity?

Certainly not that common, but see my other posting. I doubt it's the
transformer.

--- sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/
Repair | Main Table of Contents: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/
+Lasers | Sam's Laser FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/lasersam.htm
| Mirror Sites: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/F_mirror.html

Important: Anything sent to the email address in the message header above is
ignored unless my full name is included in the subject line. Or, you can
contact me via the Feedback Form in the FAQs.

 

[James Sweet]

After two weeks in the Sears repair shop, they finally looked at my
microwave and they told me that I need a new transformer. Going by my
earlier postings regarding the problems and the replies that I received, do
you think that this sounds like a good diagnosis? It will cost me $400
Canadian. I bought the microwave in '99 for $600 Can. If it is an accurate
diagnosis do you think it would be worth to fix it at this price?

Thanks
Jeff

That sounds unlikely, the only time I've *ever* seen a microwave transformer
fail was on an ancient Amana RadarRange and that was 20 years ago, the oven
started billowing putrid smoke.

 

[James Sweet]

Certainly not that common, but see my other posting. I doubt it's the
transformer.

Well he did say it's the Sears shop, generally those guys are idiots, my
grandparents had a service contract with them for years, half the time they
couldn't even fix a dishwasher or clothes dryer on the first trip out, and
even so all they did was swap parts until the thing worked.

 

[bones]

Thanks to all for the replies. I will question Sears and also let them know
that I've been told that this is a rarity.
And I will let you know what they say.

Jeff

 

[James Sweet]

Thanks to all for the replies. I will question Sears and also let them know
that I've been told that this is a rarity.
And I will let you know what they say.

Jeff

The morons will probably just look at you like you just landed from outer
space.