Author Topic: Opening Up Microwave Front Panel To Fix Button  (Read 4954 times)

urover

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Opening Up Microwave Front Panel To Fix Button
« on: February 18, 2013, 03:25:44 AM »
Due to several years of use, one of the buttons on our IFB microwave oven has started malfunctioning - it starts and stops randomly due to the button getting pressed on its own. I think I heard one day some piece falling off the button internally. Now, I want to try to open up the front panel and fix whatever has broken on the button. However, I'm having a hard time figuring out how to do so - there are a couple of torx security screws I can see but I can't be sure if they are the correct screws to be removed. Also, I'd need to buy a driver bit for the security torx. I'm aware microwave ovens carry hazardous charges so I just want to work on the front panel.

Here are pictures of the oven, please let me know if you have any idea how the front panel can be opened up:


Left

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Re: Opening Up Microwave Front Panel To Fix Button
« Reply #1 on: February 18, 2013, 05:13:07 AM »
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHcO5HBenK8 different microwave, but really they are built pretty much the same except the control panel

the security screw problem might be gotten around by using one of those small hexagon screw (not sure the name of them, they look like a L) with a rubber band under it. The rubber fills in enough of the security screw and the hex L tool can turn it. At least sometimes if it isn't too tight

Bakari

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Re: Opening Up Microwave Front Panel To Fix Button
« Reply #2 on: February 18, 2013, 01:06:47 PM »
You can get a set of all the security bits for 10 bucks:
http://www.harborfreight.com/100-piece-security-bit-set-68457.html

theres a lot of things manufactures don't want you to fix yourself.  Fix just one, and the set has paid for itself.
I most recently broke the set out just last night, when the lady of the house cracked her smart phone screen, and we put in new glass

Jamesqf

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Re: Opening Up Microwave Front Panel To Fix Button
« Reply #3 on: February 18, 2013, 04:57:45 PM »
...one of those small hexagon screw (not sure the name of them, they look like a L)...

Allen wrench.

Nords

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Re: Opening Up Microwave Front Panel To Fix Button
« Reply #4 on: February 19, 2013, 08:54:32 AM »
Here are pictures of the oven, please let me know if you have any idea how the front panel can be opened up:
I recommend you take your manufacturer & model number over to FixItNow.com and see if the Samurai Appliance Repair Guru has a similar blog post or forum thread on the subject.  I've fixed several microwaves from their resources.

Looking at your photos (especially the fourth one) you could unscrew that Torx head and the other Phillips heads on the sheet-metal shell that covers the top & sides.  (The third photo shows that there may be a couple more screws on the bottom under the control panel.)  If you're lucky you'll be able to lift it off the shell and get at the switch/button parts from the side.  Of course you'll unplug the microwave before you do this, and you'll also stay clear of the capacitor that holds the voltage for the magnetron.  But you'll have to work pretty hard to shock yourself on the capacitor, so you should be more concerned about brittle wiring and old plastic brackets.
« Last Edit: February 19, 2013, 08:59:25 AM by Nords »

urover

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Re: Opening Up Microwave Front Panel To Fix Button
« Reply #5 on: February 19, 2013, 10:32:11 PM »
I had a hard time finding tamper proof torx bits online as most sellers wouldn't ship to India or would add prohibitively expensive costs to ship. India's online market is still in nascent stages and you won't find hardware and tools online like you would on Amazon or eBay.com.

I finally found a set on china based "dx.com" for $12.80 and just placed an order. It is more than what I wanted to spend on the fix, but I hope it pays for itself over time.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions! I will update this thread once I receive my set and am able to work on the oven.