My microwave stopped cooking...why?
Question:my 2 year old GE microwave stopped heating food. the warranty is over on everything but the magnetron tube. the rest of the microwave works fine.it simply just does not heat food any more. any ideas? is it the tube?
Answers:
I am going to assume everything works as if it were cooking the food. The only indication you have that it is not working is when you take the food out and it is not heated.
If that is the scenario, then I'd suspect the following to be at fault.
1. The Diode, easy to replace and easy to test. Not user servicable though.
2. The capacitator is no longer capable of storing a charge, easy to test, easy to replace. Warning: All capacitators must be properly discharged before working on them. Serious injury can result otherwise. This too is not user servicable.
3. The magnatron - same as the above, not user servicable but fairly easy to test and replace by qualified individuals.
I will say, the least likely is the magnatron and the most likely is the Diode. Capacitators and magnatrons do not die to easily.
Microwaves can and will KILL you. The capcitor in these things will put you on you ***. Call an authorized GE service center like us to take care of your OTR.
If it 'runs' that is turns on like it is heating, it could be something as simple as an interlock switch in the door or something amiss in the high voltage system (which consists of the high voltage transformer, capacitor, and magnetron).
If you can find a servicer who has a carry in service (assuming this isn't an over the range model) take it in for a quick diagnostic. If it is just an interlock switch, the cost may not be that bad. However if it is in the high voltage system, and it is not the magetron, may as well buy a new one.
Be advised microwaves today are a commodity item and are pretty much made to be a disposable item once they quit working (countertop models). I also advise not to work on the microwave yourself - high voltage is present even if the unit is unplugged.
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