2 Common GE Microwave Malfunctions That Are Easily Fixed

Although your over-the-range GE microwave oven model JVM1650WB is less expensive than the larger appliances in your kitchen that don’t mean replacing it at the first sign of a malfunction is cost-effective; especially when the issue is with the door handle or the light bulb socket. Both components are relatively easy and cheap to fix. If you would like to learn how to repair your appliance, follow the step-by-step instructions provided below.

Microwave Repair Safety Tips

• Never start a microwave oven repair before unplugging your appliance or switching it off at your home’s circuit breaker.
• Always wear work gloves and safety goggles while fixing an appliance.
• If, at any time, you no longer feel safe repairing your microwave oven, please stop what you’re doing, and contact an appliance repair technician to complete the work.

The Microwave Door Handle

A damaged microwave door handle isn’t just an eyesore, it can also prevent you from opening your appliance door. Luckily, replacing the part is a fairly simple repair and shouldn’t take long at all.

How to Replace the Door Handle on Your GE Over-The-Range Microwave

1. Open your microwave door and remove the door liner. The liner is the plastic frame that surrounds the inner part of the door. In order to take it off your microwave, insert a putty knife near the inside corner of the frame and start disengaging the locking tabs holding the liner to the door. The tabs run along the edge of the entire door liner, so you’ll need to release each one with your putty knife.
2. After you’ve pulled the door liner off the door, two of the screws holding the door handle to the microwave are exposed, remove both screws with a Phillips screwdriver.
3. To reach the last two screws securing the door handle to the microwave, you’ll need to separate the inner and outer door panels. Place your putty knife in-between the inner and outer panels and release the locking tabs holding them together. During this process make sure the microwave’s outer glass does not fall out.
4. Once the locking tabs are released, the outer and inner door frames should swing apart. The last two screws you need to remove are located on the back of the outer panel. To take out the screws, simply use your Phillips screwdriver. Now that all the screws are out, you can take the handle off the microwave door.
5. Align the new handle with the holes in the microwave door. Then, reinsert the two screws you removed from the back of the outer door panel. After you’ve tightened the screws, push the inner and outer door panels together. You’ll hear a clicking or snapping sound when the locking tabs are engaged.
6. With the panels back together, rethread the next pair of screws to finish installing your microwave’s new door handle.
7. Complete your repair by replacing the door liner, and then shutting the microwave door.

The Microwave Light bulb Socket

If the light bulb in your microwave is no longer working, your first course of action is to replace the bulb, however, if you’ve changed out the bulb and the light still won’t turn on, a burned out socket is likely at fault. Replacing the damaged socket is not a complicated repair and should only take up a few moments of your day.

How to Replace the Light Bulb Socket inside Your Over-The-Range GE Microwave

1. Open your microwave door and take out the screws holding the grill to the appliance. Then, slide the grill to the left and pull it off your microwave.
2. On the right side of your microwave, locate the small compartment that houses the light bulb. Using a pair of needle nose pliers, lift off the small shield covering the light bulb. Next, carefully unscrew the light bulb.
3. At this point, you’ll need to remove the control panel. To do so, unthread the screw next to the light bulb compartment, and then loosen the screw on top of your microwave, directly behind the control panel. Now lift the panel up and carefully let it hang.
4. With the control panel out of the way, you can take the access grill off your microwave by unthreading the screws that secure it.
5. Behind the grill you’ll find the faulty light socket. Using a small flathead screwdriver depress the socket’s locking tab, and then rotate the part and pull it out of its housing. Next, detach the wires running to the back of the light bulb socket.
6. Start installing the new light bulb socket by connecting the component wires to their correct terminals.
7. Insert the new socket into its housing and rotate the part to secure it.
8. Reattach the access grill by lining it up on your microwave and tightening its screw.
9. Grab the control panel and align it with the front of your appliance. Reinsert the screw at the top of the control panel, and then rethread the screw that goes on the left of the control panel.
10. Replace and tighten the second screw that secures the access grill to the microwave.
11. Retrieve the microwave light bulb and install it into the new socket.
12. Place the light bulb shield back in the compartment and gently push down on the part to lock it in place.
13. Line up the microwave grill with the front of your appliance and slide it to the right to engage the parts locking tabs. Then, rethread the screws that fully secure the grill to the microwave.

How to Replace the Light Bulb Socket on the Bottom of Your GE Microwave

1. Unthread the mounting screws that hold the bottom panel to the microwave, and then slowly lower the panel and allow it to hang from the bottom of the appliance.
2. There are two light bulb sockets located on the bottom panel. Take out the bulb from the burned out socket.
3. Disconnect the damaged socket by using a pair of needle nose pliers to bend its locking tab. Next, rotate the socket and pull it out of its housing. Then, detach the wires running to the socket terminals.
4. Connect the wires to the new socket, and then insert the socket into its mounting bracket. Fully secure the new light bulb socket by rotating the part and bending down its locking tab.
5. Replace the light bulb, and close up the bottom panel of your microwave.

If your microwave is acting strange and you’re not sure what the issue is, please contact us today and one of our highly trained technicians will happily help you repair your appliance.