Another Episode of Can This Microwave Be Saved...

[tennblondie78]

My mother has a Tappan SpeedWave 1000 microwave that she dearly loves. It was manufactured in August, 1992. It's not that old, but she still likes it more than her new one and I don't blame her one bit.

Model # is 56-5472-10/02
Serial # is HG23409129
Product# is 9413543A1

It ran great until she decided to "clean it." She said she sprayed cleaner in the door latch holes. Now it will run with the door open and she says she can smell a very strong ozone type odor. It still cooks, though. I figure she damaged the door safety switch with the cleaner, but I don't understand why it would smell like ozone. I would like advice on what you think is wrong with it. Are parts still available? I would like to either fix it for her or get it fixed.

 

[arbilab]

Ozone it a bit of a surprise because microwaves never smell like that in normal operation. Despite the fact their electrical potential is capable of generating it.

Spray oven cleaner on the door latches? Ugh! That may be hard to undo. Spray oven cleaner tends to be corrosive on surfaces other than porcelain. The door latches are electrical, which strongly resent corrosion.

If she REALLY wants it to work again, she should find an expert in microwaves. Which may not be easy considering the 'throwaway' nature of virtually all kitchen appliances.

Wish I knew more but frankly I don't. I've managed to keep my 1983 GE running this long but don't ask me exactly how. I suspect things were just built better back then. Oh, and I never sprayed oven cleaner on it.

 

[turquoisedude]

Hmmm.... it sounds as if the door switch contact is shorting because of the oven cleaner.  It may be possible to simply remove the switch and clean it; the trouble is that a lot of repair places will simply not be interested in touching something like this.  Very worst case scenario, if it is the door switch and you can find the part number, you may still be able to find a NOS on eBay.  

 

I feel your pain - I am still reeling that my much-coveted vintage 1968 Tappan quit on me a couple of weeks ago...  

 

[tennblondie78]

Thanks for the input, guys. She didn't spray oven cleaner on it; it was actually Windex. I may just keep an eye out for something like it and get her something else.

 

[goatfarmer]

BE CAREFUL, if you pull the cabinet off, and try a repair. Even unplugged, there are capacitors inside that hold an electrical charge.

 

[epixstar128]

Be safe leave unplugged for ten min then short the cord ends with a screwdriver to discharge the capacitors

 

[whirlcool]

I'm willing to bet if she left it unplugged for a few days with the door open, it would work again. It could be that maybe the switch just needs to dry out. That's what I would do. Or you could get some canned air like they use to clean cameras & computers out and spray that inside the door latch holes and then wait a few days. The fats moving air may blow any leftover debris out of the way.

 

[arbilab]

Hmmm. Windex isn't conductive enough to affect the door switches. It also doesn't remain liquid very long, and the residue if any isn't conductive at all.

Going back to the ozone smell, if indeed that's what it is. That's really not a characteristic of a microwave in anywhere-near proper operation. It can't result from the mains voltage present on the door switches. It's not healthy to breathe, and the corona/arc that is producing it could become a fire hazard.

About that capacitor, there is no discharge path from it to the plug. It cannot be discharged from 'the outside'. And it can remain charged to a very uncomfortable (possibly dangerous) level for a good long while. Don't go poking around anywhere near the capacitor or the magnetron, ESPECIALLY if you don't know what either of those are or what they look like. There can be as much as four thousand volts in there.

 

[tennblondie78]

Thanks for all of the input;

we decided to let it go to appliance heaven.

 

[redcarpetdrew]

Pity...

The door switches, for the most part, are simple micro switches that can be cheaply replaced. Oh well. What are you going to replace it with? Maybe something in a vintage Amana Radar Range?

RCD

 

[tennblondie78]

Would love to replace it with a Radarange. The key will be finding one locally, I guess.

 

[redcarpetdrew]

Well, what is Smith's Grove near? Only two on eBay. One in California and this one in Maryland...

Watching C/L can yield results but the thrift stores will likely be your best bet.

Drew

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[tennblondie78]

Smiths Grove is in KY, so it's not close to either one.

 

[redcarpetdrew]

Ok...

Mom always said I was persistent! How about this? A beautiful Touchmatic! Least I can do for a lady.

I'd make a offer since it's been sitting for 15 days about.

RCD

http://louisville.craigslist.org/app/4448552504.html

 

[ovrphil]

That's expensive! Make them an offer of $60 -70.

Paul - "my much-coveted vintage 1968 Tappan quit on me a couple of weeks ago... " NOOOOOO! Your MW is one of my favorites. It's got the Atomic symbol that I love, too. Hope you can get it working again - don't let hubby talk you into a new one. LOL!

 

[goatfarmer]

Lot o' money for that Radarange. maybe half of that.

 

[goatfarmer]

Lebanon Indiana, just north of Indy. A little closer.....

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[goatfarmer]

Columbus, Ohio.

No bargains out there.

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[goatfarmer]

I have this one

You can have it!