Still Dead Microwave

[normadesmond]

Hell-o again! Yes, I still have my beautiful late 1970s Quasar InstaMatic microwave oven sitting downstairs, sad & forlorn and still non-operative. I'm in the Twin Cities & every so often google, trying to find someone that might try & fix my oven.

Any suggestions will be most appreciated!

 

[phillymatt53]

It's likely that the Magnatron might have failed, or the control panel electronics have an issue.
Also the rectifier or main capacitor could have shorted, and blew the fuse.
These are all common problems we've dealt with in my repair shop.

 

[qsd-dan]

Faulty door switch(es), fuse, capacitor are all easily repairable. Locating a magnetron could be a task.

Is the timer mechanical or does it use a touch pad controls?

 

[phillymatt53]

Faulty door switch(es), fuse, capacitor are all easily repairable. Locating a magnetron could be a task.

Is the timer mechanical or does it use a touch pad controls?

I believe it's a touch pad style, so the electronics may have issues.

 

[pstehle]

It may only have "cold" solder joints on the PC board (generally not applicable to manual control units). These often occur over time and use, usually with components that generate heat, or carry large currents. The relay that controls the magnetron transformer may be failed as well. Does "non operative" mean stone dead, or does the clock light up but you can't cook? If you have a mechanical control unit, the above suggestions apply, bad door switch can either cut power to the magnetron, or the "shunt" switch could blow the main fuse... The light and fan may still work. These parts exist in all microwave ovens, so in either case (digital or mechanical timer), could be your trouble.

 

[william8]

What are the symptoms? Does it turn on? My Panasonic worked normally, except no heating. So I checked the magnetron, there are videos that show you how, it was bad.

5 minute repair.

 

[normadesmond]

Thank you EVERYONE for your replies! Most appreciated!

When it's plugged in, clock time can be set & I could enter time for Delay Start, but pushing on most of the choices, do nothing. I have no electronic skills regarding repair, so my explanations will probably be wanting. I replaced the fuse a few years ago & it worked fine after that.

 

[phillymatt53]

Thank you EVERYONE for your replies! Most appreciated!

When it's plugged in, clock time can be set & I could enter time for Delay Start, but pushing on most of the choices, do nothing. I have no electronic skills regarding repair, so my explanations will probably be wanting. I replaced the fuse a few years ago & it worked fine after that.

If this machine uses a smooth "touch pad" style keyboard, it could likely have gone bad due to aging. - tarnishing and corrosion interferes with some or all selections.
And there's no way to service the pads, nor are any still available for something that old.
In that case, I'm quite sure that the oven is history now.

 

[Chetlaham]

Have you considered a new microwave? This model is the best, most even heating unit you can buy with power levels and step cooking.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00345V43...c624e69ab7&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWw

 

[phillymatt53]

Have you considered a new microwave? This model is the best, most even heating unit you can buy with power levels and step cooking.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00345V43...c624e69ab7&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWw

Sharp was known to produce quality microwaves.

I purchased my Sharp Carousel 800W in 2003 at Sam's Club for $47.
It gets used every day since then, no problems.

 

[Chetlaham]

Sharp was known to produce quality microwaves.

I purchased my Sharp Carousel 800W in 2003 at Sam's Club for $47.
It gets used every day since then, no problems.

And that microwave isn't just a consumer grade Sharp microwave, it is a genuine commercial sharp microwave. It is one the best and one of the most even heating microwaves ever produced. The R21LCFS series is one of the most popular, most produced microwaves in the food service world running over a 30 year span. They are the direct drive of microwave ovens.

 

[panasonicvac]

Sharp was known to produce quality microwaves.

I purchased my Sharp Carousel 800W in 2003 at Sam's Club for $47.
It gets used every day since then, no problems.

I'm very curious to see pictures of your Sharp. My grandfather's from 2000 is still going on strong, even survived from some explosion according to him when he put something in there.

 

[phillymatt53]

I'm very curious to see pictures of your Sharp. My grandfather's from 2000 is still going on strong, even survived from some explosion according to him when he put something in there.

I have an online photo of it, but sorry no personal pics of it.
This is the unit, it's an R203 series.

 

[combo52]

Hi Minnesota microwave owner, I’m sorry I haven’t found anybody in Minneapolis that can repair that microwave, my youngest brother Phil could do it but it’s hard to motivate him. He lives in Burnsville.

From your description, it’s probably just a door switch or wiring connection. It doesn’t sound serious.

Most parts that are necessary are still available for these magnetron are easy to find as our capacitors, rectifiers fuses, etc. end door switches, have you been reaching out to Appliance and television repair places to see if anybody will work on this in Minnesota

I know it’s impractical but if you got it to us here in Maryland, we could fix it easily

John L

 

[normadesmond]

Hi Minnesota microwave owner, I’m sorry I haven’t found anybody in Minneapolis that can repair that microwave, my youngest brother Phil could do it but it’s hard to motivate him. He lives in Burnsville.

From your description, it’s probably just a door switch or wiring connection. It doesn’t sound serious.

Most parts that are necessary are still available for these magnetron are easy to find as our capacitors, rectifiers fuses, etc. end door switches, have you been reaching out to Appliance and television repair places to see if anybody will work on this in Minnesota

I know it’s impractical but if you got it to us here in Maryland, we could fix it easily

John L

Thanks John! Maryland is a bit far, but Burnsville is NOT. If Phil ever feels the desire, I will pay him well.

 

[normadesmond]

Have you considered a new microwave? This model is the best, most even heating unit you can buy with power levels and step cooking.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00345V43...c624e69ab7&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWw

Have you considered a new microwave? This model is the best, most even heating unit you can buy with power levels and step cooking.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00345V43...c624e69ab7&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWw

My beloved microwave's understudy is an Montgomery Ward oven that was here in the house when we bought it. It is old, but I have no idea how old. When we moved in, I moved it downstairs & placed the Quasar in its place. On the plus side, it is a micro/convection combo, so that is nice.

 

[Chetlaham]

To be frank a new Sharp commercial microwave might outperform your existing unit. Repair parts are also plentiful for the R21 series.

 

[qsd-dan]

Those microwaves are tanks (most 1980's microwaves are, though). I know someone who bought that exact model in 1983 and it's still going without a repair.