Kenmore Microwave Repair

Kenmore microwaves were built by several suppliers, LG among them, and sold as countertop, built-in and over-the-range models. Many over-the-range units hang from a standard mounting plate on the wall. That matters if you are weighing replacement: a different brand may require its own plate and fresh holes in the cabinet bottom, while repairing the Kenmore leaves the installation untouched.

The heating system inside is the same on every model: a magnetron powered through a high-voltage transformer, diode and capacitor, controlled by a board and door interlock switches. When the microwave runs, lights up and turns but leaves food cold, one of those high-voltage parts has usually failed. Worn interlocks cause a different symptom, a unit that refuses to start or blows its fuse when the door closes.

Over-the-range models add a vent fan and cooktop light. The fan motor wears and gets loud, and grease on the blades makes it worse. If its thermostat fails, the fan may keep running with nothing cooking below. Turntable motors stall, keypads stop responding after years of steam and grease, and a burning smell or sparks near the waveguide cover usually trace to burnt-on food that has turned to carbon.

Look for the model tag around the door opening or on the rear panel. Make sure the door latches firmly, and wash the grease filters under an over-the-range unit. A frozen display after a power outage often clears if you switch off the circuit for a minute. Do not open the cabinet yourself: the capacitor can store a lethal charge long after the microwave is unplugged.

We discharge the high-voltage circuit before testing anything, then check the magnetron, diode, capacitor, transformer, interlocks, turntable motor and controls, plus the fan and thermostat on over-the-range units. Some repairs mean taking the microwave down. Interlocks, fans and turntable motors are worth fixing. A magnetron or board on an older Kenmore, especially with discontinued parts, often is not.