Ikea microwave problem

tedted

bend the tags back to release the cover

Al_Ross

 I use to repair microwave ovens as part of my job. The bulbs were only accessible then by removing the top cover. This was never something the customer was expected to do when under warranty.

A word of caution, there are very high voltages in a microwave oven that can kill. Even if disconnected from the mains the large capacitor stores a high charge of electrical current, and should you could come into contact with it the end result could be fatal.

Insist on an engineers visit.

Lorian

im not sure that pic is the lamp cover - isnt there a screw on cover higher up inside on the right?

paul2louise

Al_Ross said:

 I use to repair microwave ovens as part of my job. The bulbs were only accessible then by removing the top cover. This was never something the customer was expected to do when under warranty.

A word of caution, there are very high voltages in a microwave oven that can kill. Even if disconnected from the mains the large capacitor stores a high charge of electrical current, and should you could come into contact with it the end result could be fatal.

Insist on an engineers visit.

An engineer that is paid for by IKEA. Or one I source myself. I don't think I will hear from IKEA anytime soon. 

Aylesbury_Duck

If the bulb is explicitly not covered by the warranty, you'll have to find a technician yourself.

visidigi

That looks like the panel may slide out if pushed (the one over the lamp itself) - looks to be friction held. If not, metal tabs bent over holding it in place...
When we had a problem with our old Ikea kitchen appliances we rang the numbers in the manuals - NOT Ikea CS. They are Whirlpool applicances. There is a whirlpool model on the serial label on the appliance.

Hasbeen

tedted said:

bend the tags back to release the cover

It does look like straightening the tags would work?

mikb

Aylesbury_Duck said:

paul2louise said:

MattMattMattUK said:

paul2louise said:

Reading the manual it says not to try and repair any part not explained in the manual yet it says bulbs are not covered by warranty. So what to do. So if you repair it then you invalidate your warranty. 

Changing a bulb is not classed as a repair. 
The bulb is behind the small panel, inside the cooking compartment on the right hand side, the "cavity lamp". If you unscrew the panel and remove the bulb you can then see which one it is and order a new one online. Do not operate the microwave without the panel in place as you risk shorting if something splashed on the connector. The bulb will cost a few pounds at most and take about thirty seconds to remove and refit.

I can't unscrew the panel. There are no screws. So unless I can get to it from the outside of the microwave. This means I need to remove the casing holding it in the integration

I'd leave it, then, unless you're confident with that sort of DIY.  You risk damaging it or worse, yourself.

From the pics it does look like there are 4 bendable tabs holding the grill on. Hard to tell. My (steam and clockwork powered) microwave has an external solid flap, one screw, to get to the bulb from outside. The grill inside is part of the internal cavity (drilled holes) and is not removable without demolition. If the bulb can't be accessed from inside or outside, it is a "for life" bulb that is not meant to ever fail. Often, they are an incandescent lamp that is under-run, meaning it should outlast the microwave Whether plugged in or not, switched on or not, microwave ovens are a special kind of nasty -- the charge stored internally persists AFTER it is off and disconnected and can easily kill you. Most people wouldn't consider taking the back off an old CRT TV and poking around inside, "because of high voltages" -- but a microwave is worse. Do keep out of those bits.

paul2louise

I found out it was a whirlpool microwave. I phoned them before Christmas and they said they would send an engineer out. He came the other day. Said there was no way we should be trying to repair it ourselves. We left him to it. No cost as it was still under 5 year warranty. He had to take the full unit out. I didn't see exactly what he was doing for distancing reasons. So got it sorted in the end. It's lovely having a light back working again. Thanks for help 😊