Microwave Not Spinning? How to Fix a Microwave Tray that Won’t Turn
Microwaves make your life so much easier. But if the turntable inside the microwave stops functioning, then it’s likely the food will not cook evenly. There are a number of reasons your microwave tray may stop spinning. In this post, we will examine each potential cause and how you can fix it.
Interior Debris
Sometimes when you microwave food, food particles can splatter all over the interior of the oven. It is possible for them to become encrusted on the tracks of the roller guide or the coupler. The solution is extremely simple: thoroughly clean the interior of the oven.
Remove the round, glass microwave tray and the roller guide; check to make sure that there is no stuck-on food that might inhibit turning
Wash in warm soapy water
Wash out the interior of the microwave
Replace roller guide and tray
Test it out and if your tray turns, you’ve solved the problem!
Roller Guide
If a thorough cleaning doesn’t do the trick, the issue may be with the roller guide. The roller guide works with the coupler to rotate the turntable. It has a center part that fits on the coupler and then the outer circle guides it along the track. When you take the roller guide out to clean it, make a comprehensive inspection of it.
Examine the wheels on the guide to ensure they turn freely with no resistance
Look for any signs of wear, cracking, discoloration, or damage
Look at the fitting for the coupler; any cracks or damage may mean that it is not engaging properly
If you find any issues, you will need to have a replacement roller guide.
Coupler
The coupler is the center piece in your microwave oven that attaches to the drive motor below. It connects to the roller guide as well. If the coupler is damaged, then the energy from the drive motor is not being transferred to the roller guide. Here’s how to figure out if the coupler is the culprit.
Disconnect your appliance from the power source
Locate your drive coupler – in most models, that means removing the tray and roller guide; in some models, you will need to remove the motor from the floor of the microwave to find the coupler
Remove coupler – most models will have a three sided coupler that will just pull off of the motor shaft.
Examine coupler – it normally has a D shaped opening that fits tightly onto the motor shaft and you should look for cracks, discoloration or wear
If you identify any issues, you will need a replacement drive coupler.
Drive Motor
The drive motor that powers the turntable is located in the floor of the microwave. If you have eliminated all of the causes above, you will need to check the drive motor. This is a more extensive undertaking and you may want to contact the experts at Dave’s Appliance. If you decide to tackle it yourself, then you should be prepared with a multi-meter and other tools.
Disconnect your appliance from the outlet
Remove drive motor – you will need to remove the cabinet in order to get at it, and then disconnect the wires and retaining screw
Test drive motor – using a multimeter set to the highest setting, test for continuity by touching the probes to the terminals; you should receive a reading of zero if your motor is functioning properly.
If your test results aren’t zero, or if your microwave makes grinding noises, then you may need a replacement drive motor. Dave’s Appliance can help.
