CVM517P2M1S1 General Electric Microwave - Instructions

remove cover-unplug wires from secondary switch-remove switch-snap in new switch-plug in wires-replace cover-works great. very easy to do.

Repair was simple; only a phillips head screw driver was required to remove the access plate.

Part Select delivered the replacement lamps within 3 days from the date I placed the order - great service.

Unscrew (one screw) and take off the cover of the surface light under the microwave (the light over the stove). Firmly pull out the old light bulbs. Align the two prongs of the new bulbs into the socket and firmly push into the recepticle. Replace the cover and screw.

Turn off main power bracker. Removed fan vent, removed control panel, disconnect leads to the three monitor switches. Replaced the secondary switch (top). Reversed procedures.

First, unplug microwave. Unscrew two screws at top of microwave, slide grill cover left and remove. This allows access to single screw holding control panel. Remove this screw and lift up control panel to remove. Secondary door switch is black switch at lowest position. The switch is held in place by a lever in back and very hard to get to. Remove the wires plugged into the switch, then remove two screws holding the plastic switch mount that holds all three switches. These screws use a "star" type screwdriver. Once the plastic mount is free, lift it up, right, and tip it slightly to find the lever that will release the black secondary door switch (the lowest switch)...release the broken switch, snap the new switch in its place. Replace the plastic mount by lifting and replacing back into position and replace the two "star" screws. Now, replace the wires onto the new switch, and test operation. Replace control panel, and top grill. It goes faster than it writes...getting the old switch out through that difficult to reach lever was the hardest part...still less than thirty minutes.

Removal of the bulbs was easy; reinserting was not as easy due to the configuration/placement of the bulbs in the unit. It was interesting that a simple suggestion to keep the bulbs covered with some of the packing material made sense as to not directly handling the bulb itself and causing any contamination of the bulb(s).

Removed the microwave with the buit in housing from the cabinet. Removed microwave from built in housing. Removed outer cabinet giving access to remove control panel and smart board where switches are located. Removed control panel to get to smartboard. Removed smart board after disconnecting a few wires to allow easy removal. Individually removed and then tested each switch using multimeter. Found seondary Door Switch (bottom of smart board) operation to be intermittent (switch trip button extremely loose and rattle inside this particular switch) Ordered replacement part which came very quickly on standard shipping order. Put new switch on smart board and remounted, reinstalled control panel and reconnected various wire connectors previously disconnected. Then plugged in oven and tested for opertation - didn't work at all! But, after bleeding off capacior charge by removing connectors and discharging capacitor to ground, then reassembling control board and smart board into oven, then trying agian, it has worked perfectly ever since. Do not understand why capacitor disconnect/discharge was required but suspect this reset the control electronics. Easy fix and hope to get another 12 years out of this appliance which is used multiple times every day. Also have two other identical micorwave ovens, one is 20 years old, but these get used relatively infrequently.

thank you very much.

removed access panal, found soft switch as discribed on your web site. removed and replaced.

the ones below were easy --underneath take out screws--take out old bulb--put in new one--the one inside a little more difficult--but not bad--take off panel on the front of microwave over door--the light is in a metal housing on the right--take out old bulb --put in new--wore rubber gloves putting in new lights--do not want to touch them with your fingers--i just watched the GE video on the parts website and it told me exactly what to do--if i can do it anybody can do it !

Unplug the microwave. Remove front grill and cover by removing 2 screws on top of microwave. You have to look down from the top. I could not locate the screws by feel. Once the two screws are out, remove the grill by sliding slightly to the left to lift out. Open the oven door to facilitate removal. Then remove the steel light cover (1 Phillips screw in the center of the unit) and unclip the bulb holder on the right. Do not touch the halogen bulb when you replace. Reseat the bulb holder and test by plugging in the unit with the door open. Unplug and replace the light cover and grill.

Opened the microwave oven door, unscrewed two screws which held the control panel on, then I removed two of the door switches (each had two screws), and then used the continuity tester to see which one was not operating. It turned out to be the secondary door switch, replaced it and to my amazement, the microwave worked. I have never repaired an appliance before but I didn't want to replace our over-the-stove built in microwave. It was the best day ever when it was working again! The hardest part was getting myself to try the repair.

The instructions for removing and installing the new bulbs appear to be great; however, nothing tells me how to remove the microwave from the mounting so I can then invert it and take care of the bulb issue.

Microwave would not turn on. Lights and fan worked fine. Before the microwave stopped completely, it would turn the microware fan on even when door was open. I read the reviews and they were exactly the same issue that others were facing. Once I opened the front panel and got to the switches it was easy to figure out which switch was bad as it was the one that was soft (When clicking it). It was hard to take it out though (it seemed stuck). So, I used a plier to yank it out. I put in the new switch and everything worked just great! I would like to thank other comments that were left on the site to make my task much easier. Thank you (to the commenters on PartsSelect), you not only saved me money, but also ensured that I learn about the microwave more and give me the confidence that I could fix it.

Watched How to repair a Microwave that turns on when the door is opened Video on the web. From this took a shot at the switch was the problem. When I removed the switch it was defective. The small button was in and when you turned the switch upside down the button would drop back into position. Ordered a switch for $25.oo , installed it and the microwave is working fine.