ZE2160SFC01 General Electric Microwave - Instructions

First, I read the PartsSelect DIY report by Linda, Warsaw, IN. With confidence, I purchased the magnetron. Upon receipt, I took the built-in microwave out of the cabinet, set the unit on the kitchen floor, and was stopped cold by the Safety Torx nuts on the reverse of the unit. Borrowing the right wrench allowed the 20 minute start-to-finish part changeout and reinstallation of the unit in the cabinet to proceed. The old magnetron was the defective part. Discovery of the 10-year Parts-Only warranty on the less than 10-year old unit was insufficinet to guide me to take the unit in for their Labor bill to repair. New part in hand, it just was that easy - and assumed to be no less expensive.

First I ordered and replaced the diode. That did not help. Then I ordered both the magnetron and the thermostat magnetron because I didn't know what I was doing. After I replaced those, it still wouldn't heat. So I called an electrician. He noticed I had knocked a wire loose. I connected it and the microwave worked. I reconnected the old magnetron, just to test it. It didn't work. Then I put the new one back in. It's working just fine now! It took quite a while to put everything back in place because it was a built-in. But it was a lot cheaper than getting a new microwave, even with the cost of a repair man to show me I had a loose wire!

First step was to discharge the transformer's capacitor (very important to do), before attempting any microwave repair. I opened the diagram/schematic found inside the microwave oven and followed the technician's troubleshooting steps; checked the capacitor; it checked OK, I checked the diode for a short, it checked OK. I checked the windings of the transformer that supply the power to the Magnetron; it checked Ok. I proceeded to order the parts; the Magnetron and the sensor located on the top part of the Magnetron. When the parts arrived; I went straight to the location of the Magnetron, I attached the new sensor on the new Magnetron and removed the old one. I connected the harness from the transformer to the new Magnetron and tested the microwave oven and it worked perfectly like a new one. This site has a great deal of information about repairs for the do it-yourself like myself, unlike other appliance's parts websites. Thumbs up to this site, I am very pleased with my order, I received it in a timely fashion as promised. I recommend it to everyone; this site is the best place to shop for appliances parts.

Removed the unit from counter, opened metal housing, removed Humid sensor from top left side of unit, unpluged wire from curcuit board. Installed new Humid senor, metal housing and reinstalled unit into counter top. Microwave works like new.

Thanks
John

The key to this repair is attaching the spring once the rest of the assembly is attached. I primarily used a wratcheting screw drive to remove the assembly but used a socket attachment with the screw bit to finish it off.

First, I removed the spring entirely. In order to attach the spring, I expanded the spring by sliding quarters into each of the coils (I had a quarter in every coil in order to get the ends as close as possible). I then first attached the spring to the post on the right side. I would have preferred to attach it to the closure assembly arm as the angle to attach was much simpler with the spring detached however there wasnt enough room to work around the post.

I then adjusted the closure assembly arm to be aligned with the spring and with a little elbow grease, stretched the string the remaining 1/2" or so and connected it to the arm. Once connected, I opened the fridge door and was easily able to remove the quarters.

Removed the three screws holding the cover on. then rmoved the two wires from the capacitor. Removed the screw holding the end of the zener diode to the chassis. Removed the diode from the capacitor. installed the new capacitor and replaced the blown fuse then reversed the removal process.

I placed the new hot plate in the old microwave. It worked perfectly, and no tools needed

1. Remove trim kit - Philips head screw driver
2. Remove Microwave from the wall - Philips head screw driver
3. Remove outer microwave cover - required tamper proof torx bit drivers
4. Replace Magnetron thermostat. On this model there are 2. in this case it was on top of the unit tied into the wiring harness to the main panel.
5. Reinstall microwave and trim kit

Take the four saftey torx screws off the back of microwave that hold the side panels on. There are no screws in the front. Just pick up the side panels a little and slide towards the back of microwave and it will come off. The magnetron is visible behind control panel. Unplug the magetron, take a 3/8 nut driver , remove the one bolt that holds it on , remove and replace with the new one. Plug the wire (it will only go one way) back up and replace cover.

I just took off the cover, located the magnetron, replaced it and slapped everything back together and since then everything's been working pretty good.

Simply replaaced broken cooking tray

just placed it on the wheel