Repair a microwave

[eb7566083]

My microwave started making a noise. I decided to continue warming my cup of water. It would not heat the water. There is no error code on panel.
Does anyone know if it is better to just buy a new microwave and pay to install it (over my stove top) or contact a repairman? It is a 6 year old Whirlpool Gold. New cost $319. Not sure what it cost to have it repaired or what it cost to have a new one installed. Thank you for any help.

[villagetinker]

IMHO, these are throwaway items, so I would buy new and install.

[raynan]

Not worth repairing. If you can get the same one and size you could slide new one into the sleeve.

[retiredguy123]

If Villagetinker says it can't be fixed, it can't be fixed. Replace it.

[drpepper]

I had one that quit working and it was a 5 buck fuse. I've also had magnatrons go bad and the cost was around a hundred with me doing the repairs. Google is your friend. Could be an easy fix or not.

[John_W]

...

[villagetinker]

I agree with above, if the entire unit was dead, then a check of the circuit breaker, the plug, and the fuse is in order, and very possibly a quick and cheap fix. However, a partial failure is another matter, IMHO, I would not repair a 6 year old unit as is is rapidly approaching it typical life expectancy. Out first MW, purchased in 1972, a Sharp Casserole, was built so well we used it for well over 25 years, with the only repair to replace the old style mica shield where the microwaves entered the unit. The units today are built cheap, with a much more limited lifetime.
BTW, that unit had features that were very advanced, a temperature probe, and a card reader to program the unit, it was also very heavy, and large compared to the units today.

[~Jojo~]

In our first house, bought new 5 years ago but lived in occasionally, the microwave started making a very loud, sharp, pop noise. We replaced the microwave thinking they are not all that expensive anyway. A year ago, we bought our second house, only one year old, we have the same Whirlpool microwave and the same loud pop noise has started to happen when I start it. It is not the operator error. These new microwave are not well built. I’ll try to get this one fixed, I haveread it is not a complicated problem, most likely.

[photo1902]

In our first house, bought new 5 years ago but lived in occasionally, the microwave started making a very loud, sharp, pop noise. We replaced the microwave thinking they are not all that expensive anyway. A year ago, we bought our second house, only one year old, we have the same Whirlpool microwave and the same loud pop noise has started to happen when I start it. It is not the operator error. These new microwave are not well built. I’ll try to get this one fixed, I haveread it is not a complicated problem, most likely.

Is this happening when you're making popcorn, by any chance? :)

[jebartle]

My microwave started making a noise. I decided to continue warming my cup of water. It would not heat the water. There is no error code on panel.
Does anyone know if it is better to just buy a new microwave and pay to install it (over my stove top) or contact a repairman? It is a 6 year old Whirlpool Gold. New cost $319. Not sure what it cost to have it repaired or what it cost to have a new one installed. Thank you for any help.

Utube has a video for everything...The ole boy out of boredom fixed ours with no problem and no talent for fixing anything mechanical!!!

[HiHoSteveO]

Try closing the door HARD a couple of times. (slamming)

Microwave would sound normal but nothing would heat inside.

There are interlock switches inside that might not be making properly. Has worked twice for me over the past 3 years or so.

Primitive fix I know, but it worked. Twice.

[Toymeister]

Since this three month old thread has come back to life...

It's the safety interlock switch. There are three, all in the door mechanism. 85% chance it is the middle one, they are snap in/snap out. 5.00. search : ERP 28QBP0495 Microwave Door Switch on Amazon. Microwaves are not throw away items. Very easy to repair.