How To Repair A Microwave Door That's Not Closing
- Rated as REALLY EASY
- 4 repair stories
- 2 step by step videos
Door Latch Assembly
If the door on your microwave oven doesn’t appear to close properly, you may have a problem with the door latch assembly. The door latch assembly usually consists of two hooks that protrude from the door and fit into the door switch holder that is mounted onto the frame of the microwave. The hooks will contact the door switches to provide power to the controls and also latch onto the holder to keep the door closed. The latch assembly is normally made of plastic and usually has a spring attached to provide downward tension to keep the hooks engaged. If either of the hooks is broken or does not have any spring tension, you may need to replace the assembly. Unplug the unit and remove the inner door panel to access the door latch. The inner panel is normally attached by plastic tangs and caution should be used to remove it.
Torsion Springs
If the door on your microwave oven doesn’t appear to close properly, you may have a broken torsion spring. On microwaves that have a door that opens downward, torsion springs are used to keep it closed. There are normally a left and right side spring and they are often different sizes. If your door won’t stay closed, one of the springs may have broken. Unplug the unit and remove the inner and outer door panels to access the torsion springs that are located at the bottom front of the door. Depending on the model involved, the panels may be held in place with screws from the inside, bottom, or sides. Use caution as the outer glass door may be heavy.
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