Help Needed With GE Microwave Screws

[whirlcool]

One of our neighbors bought a GE Microwave a few years ago. It is one of the more TOL models. She paid $149.99 for it.
Recently, the interior light bulb burned out on it. She called GE to see if there was a place she could take it to so the light bulb could be replaced. GE told her that they no longer have repair stations in our area and that she would have to make a service call to get it fixed, minimum charge $149.95.
So I got involved and said that I could probably change the bulb for her. When I got to the back panel I found these strange screws. They look like a star pattern (not Torx style) with a raised post in the center of the screw. One would need a star shaped screwdriver with an hole in the middle to fit this screws post.

Does anyone know what type of screw this is and where I could obtain a screwdriver to fit it???

The poor woman doesn't want to dump it as it works just fine, just doesn't have an interior light.

 

[jeffg]

They're called Torx Tamper-Proof, and the bit size is probably T20 for those screws. If you don't want to buy a wrench, sometimes a small flat-head screwdriver will work (if the screws are not too tight).

For the bulb, check out G.E. part# WB36X10131

 

[whirlcool]

Jeff:

Thanks for the tip. The model number of the microwave is
JES1289SK02.
I wonder if I will have to order the bulb, or is it readily available in appliance stores?
As far as I can tell from the exploded diagram the bulb appears to be part of the door switch assembly.

http://www.appliancepartspros.com/partsearch/model.aspx?model_id=5214028

 

[jeffg]

It's a standard appliance bulb, so it should be readily available. Just match up the wattage (most likely 20, 25 or 40W) and base type, and it'll work fine.

 

[redcarpetdrew]

You can pick up a set of these security bits at Sear's. They have a whole range of sizes. The Maytag commercial laundry and Amana microwaves use them...

RCD

 

[whirlcool]

BTW, I forgot to mention is that this GE Microwave also has a browning element and a rotisserie built into it. Quite unusual for a counter top style oven. And the woman who owns it uses all the features.

We are going to the local Sears hardware store to see if we can pick up that Torx anti-tamper screw driver, or bit for a bit driver set.

 

[panthera]

Homo Depot

Also carries them, I picked up one of their 1000 and 1 sets for $9.95 this summer and they had all the most common torx and safety torx as well as the anti-tamper bits.

Surely not production line quality, but good enough for what I needed it for.

Does GE actually build anything anymore or is it all just cheap stuff bought in from China?

A friend of ours was showing off her new $650 Kitchen Aide over the stove microwave to us a few weeks ago. Nice. Really nice.

So nice, I couldn't bear to tell her I'd bought exactly the same model, brand new and not on sale for $295 as an LG at Homo Depot about the same time...

And then they wonder why the recovery is jobless...

 

[mistereric]

Security Bit Sets

are also available from the computer store MicroCenter, and from Harbor Freight.

http://search.harborfreight.com/cpisearch/web/search.do?keyword=security+bit&Submit=Go

 

[jeffg]

It's usually much less expensive to get an entire bit set rather than a single wrench. Sets of 30 or 33 tamper-proof bits sell for 4 or 5 dollars on eBay and at Fry's.