How to Stop Your KitchenAid Microwave’s Door from Falling Out of Position

Microwave doors face a lot of use over the years. They might start to break down long before the rest of your unit requires repairs or replacement. If your oven/microwave combo unit has a door that opens down, that puts even more pressure on the springs. If that door falls out of position every time you open it, it’s time to replace the torsion springs.

Torsion springs help you open the door in a controlled fashion and stop the door from opening too far. When one breaks, the other is probably about to break, too. Replace both the left and right springs to make your door handle better and stop it from breaking again in the future. Order replacement part #WP4452395 for most Whirlpool Oven/Microwave Units, but check your specific appliance’s model number to confirm the best fit. Then follow these steps to replace the torsion springs by yourself:

Most combination oven and microwave units will be wired directly into your home’s power. If that’s the case, flip the connecting circuit breaker so no electricity can reach the appliance while you’re working on it. Otherwise, unplug the unit.

Remove the oven door for better access. Start by opening the oven door fully. Locate the hinge locks on top of the left and right hinges, and flip them up with a flathead screwdriver. Then close the oven door halfway and grab the sides firmly. You can pull the whole door entirely free of the hinges. Carefully lift it up and then set it aside. If you set it face down, make sure you have a soft, flat surface available to protect the glass.

Now you can more easily disassemble the microwave.

First, remove the microwave’s bottom vent grille, and then loosen the screws that secure the microwave to the frame

Next, take apart the microwave door. Open the microwave door and remove the two screws along the inner panel’s top portion. This will release the outer door glass. Make sure you have a tight grip on the glass before you release the last screw so the glass doesn’t fall or shoot out of position. Close the remaining microwave door and set the outer glass panel aside.

After that, remove the control panel. Begin by loosening the screws on either side and lifting the whole panel free of the top groove. Hold it close to its original position and disconnect the bottom wire harness. Then flip the panel over and set it face down on top of the unit.

Then remove the top vent grille.

Next, loosen the screws behind the bottom vent grille’s housing that secure the microwave to the frame. This will let you pull the microwave out a few inches. Now remove the screws on the bottom of the microwave that secures the door frame. Make sure you’re holding the door frame so it doesn’t fall and set it aside.

At the bottom of the microwave’s front side, you’ll see two torsion springs. They cross each other like a wide, squashed ‘X’.

Find the spring that is elevated on the left side. Pull the end towards you to slip it free of the groove. Then you can easily slide the other end of the spring out of its hole and set it aside. The springs will have a curved end at the bottom support, so you will need to rotate the spring’s end to get it to fully unhook.

Repeat this step with the second torsion spring.

If you’re not replacing both springs, which is recommended, remember which one is considered ‘the left side spring’ and ‘the right side spring.’ This is determined by the top edge. If the spring forms the top left arm of the ‘X,’ it’s considered to be the left side spring. If the spring forms the top right arm of the ‘X,’ it’s a right side spring.

Install the new spring by starting with the bottom end. Slide the hooked end into the hole and rotate it so you can push the bent hooked portions through. The very end should slide into a second hole to lock it in position. Then position it to form one arm of the ‘X’ and push the top end into its groove.

Repeat this step with both new torsion springs or the replacement torsion spring and the older, still functioning part.

During this section, you will reverse the steps you took while dismantling the microwave at the start.

First, slide the microwave door frame back into position. Hold it securely while you replace and tighten the two bottom screws that lock it in place.

Next, push the microwave fully into the frame and secure it back to the unit with the two screws you removed earlier.

Add back the top grille and secure it. After that, flip the control panel back into position. Once it’s near the top groove, reattach the white wire harness. Then slide the panel onto the groove and make sure all four corners lock into position. Secure the panel in place with its screws.

After that, you will be finishing up the door. Slide the outer door glass into the support tabs at the bottom of the door frame. Hold the glass tightly in position against the door and open the whole door assembly. Remember, nothing is completely locked into position, so you need to hold everything firmly as you work. Retighten the two screws that secure the inner door panel against the outer glass.

Reattach both of the door’s retainer screws that live under the bottom vent grille. Once the door is complete, you can position and screw in the bottom vent grille.

Now that the microwave is completely reassembled, you can reinstall the oven door. Carefully slide the hinge arms of the door back into place on the hinge arms connected to the oven’s frame. Then fully lower the door. Make sure the weight is supported by the hinges before you fully release it, and then flip the hinge locks down. Fully close the door and turn on the power to your unit.

If you want to make more repairs to your home’s major appliances or you want a trained technician to take a look at the problem, contact us at Flamingo Appliance Service.