I've had a Whirlpool Jet Chef Model JT369 Microwave for about 7 years now and unfortunately it stopped heating food. I haven't got a quote to repair it yet. But the current model goes for about $500.
Should I even consider getting a quote to repair it, otherwise it an expensive paperweight.
The good thing about this it replaces our convection oven/steamer and grill functions as home.
There is…. As most places now charge for a quote, unless you go ahead with the repair.
Which is fair enough, as 3/4 of the battle is finding the issue to quote.
Don't know if you want to risk it but would you consider repairing it yourself? There seems to be a lot of good information available online these days to help you problem solve, order parts and replace. Could be a fun job for the weekend?
Don't attempt a repair yourself unless you know exactly what you are doing.
If you don't know the ways that working on a microwave oven can kill you then you don't know exactly what you are doing.
I would rephrase that to: "dont try to repair it unless you have half a brain and are willing to put the relatively small amount of time and effort into learning how to do very very basic electronics work safely"
I went through a stage of gathering dead microwaves and fixing them.
maybe it was dumb luck but more often than not the microwaves that were initially dead (when first picked up and tested with a cup of water) eventually came to life.
WARNING
microwaves dangerously high voltages. it is dangerous to have microwaves open (i.e. no cover) and being powered on. microwaves contain large self-discharging capacitors that usually take 30 minutes to discharge but never trust them.
I usually tried the microwaves then left them to sit a couple of days to self-discharge. then take off the cover and using an insulated screwdriver (and standing on rubber matting as double protection) would short all capacitor and the magnatron and everything - this never caused a spark or bang as they had self discharged BUT better safe than being thrown across the room by stored power.
of course I'd check the fuse if the microwave was totally dead in the first place.
I'd also disconnect the fan and unscrew the light globe. then I'd disconnect every wire that was clipped in. then ground everything again. then plug most of it back together- except the fan and light (this is to isolate if they are the problem) and then -after putting the cover on - turn it on and see if works.
if it works, then reconnect everything. and yah! you fixed it. if not, then it's a stupid microwave and toss it.
My current microwave is a stainless steel 30 litre LG that I bought "for parts" for 99cents of ebay 7 years ago.
I'd remove this advice. OP can kill themselves armed with a bit of false confidence and sense of security.
I honestly don't understand the negs.
microwaves are designed to self discharge.
if you allow the microwave to discharge and keep it unplugged then what is the problem?
it can't shock you.
I'm offering ridiculously over cautious advice about being safe.
oh well, I better not do any work on my car, or open up my PC, nor fix that loose roof tile.
Most people will have the intuition to not stick their hands between a moving fanbelt and pulley, or to remain extremely careful on the roof.
Most people will have no idea that touching a little unmarked "thingy" in a microwave can kill them. That's the difference.
@thevofa: what "thingy"?.
leaving the microwave to self-discharge will render the microwave harmless.
@altomic: "Thingy" is the unknown to those that don't know, whether it is a cap or anything else.
There are no guarantees about any caps self-discharging. If they have bleed resistors (which many may not to save a few cents in production) they may be open circuit. "Leaving the microwave to self-discharge will render the microwave harmless" may have worked for you but would fail any proper risk assessment and should not be given as a general control.
@altomic: what does the capacitor charge up to? An odd 2000 volts? Its probably safer to discharge it your self then leaving it to sit. You cant be sure how long the energy will be stored.
@aussieprepper: 30 minutes max to discharge, but usually no more than 15minutes.
Hence the overkill suggestion of leaving it 24 hours.
@altomic: It's not the Capacitors I'd be concerned about. You get hit by one of them you know about it, instantly. Failing to line up or reinstall all the covers or the magnetron when reassembling will potentially lead to excessive radiation leakage. And you wont know about this until it's too late. Except of course you will notice really crap WiFi on the 2.4 Ghz bands when using the microwave.
But back to the OP's Question, Get the new one.
Old "TRS" radios - big power cap. Left for 2 weeks on a tip after 5-15 years in a shed. result: Hole in thumb-nail, son learned many words he had never heard till then.
Old Valve Tvs - 17K flyback EHT lead. result - spark which will jump ~ 1", bad burns, always avoided.
Microwave. Magnatron. 17-25KV. 30 amps! result. Nice party, food for the friends and family. You only get to attend passively.
@altomic: Probably the 2.45 Ghz radiation which is really really dangerous, as opposed to the 2.4GHz radiation from the wi-fi, which is cool.
/S
@altomic:
Radiation from an improperly seated or sealed magnetron or damaged door or wave guide. (source: me- qualified electronics repairer)
It's easy to get overconfident but without proper training and a real understanding it is probably best left to the professionals.
Most likely cause will be HV circuit. Magnetron or cap and HV fuse now blown. Any competent repair shop can replace with generic parts and might get away under $200.
@ezekiel181: a qualified electronics repairer saying that microwaves use radiation……..
the use of metal in the case, the door, etc blocks the radio waves. that is why microwaves aren't made of plastic. it would be a highly damaged microwave that would "leak".
microwaves are designed to self discharge
Well, newer ones are - they have a bleed resistor. But old ones didn't. And you can bet some drip will read that, hurt himself, but he probably would eventually anyway, with something.
Also, pulling them apart in any way may lead to going further. What kid didn't pick up a brick and try to throw it through a TV screen - or pull something apart, then chuck it against a brick wall, etc. Despite what many 'experts' (idiots) online claim about there being 'nothing dangerous in a microwave that's disconnected from power', magnatrons contain beryllium. Some kid could read these comments, and feel it's safe to hit it with hammer, breaths the dust in, and could die a nasty death: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Zev8Ws4P1Y
As for buying another one… I can fix microwaves, but when my current ~$1100 Panasonic dies, the next one will probably just be from Kogan. I'm not impressed by any brands quality in recent years. So I may as well just buy cheap and even if I have to buy a new one every few years I'm still ahead, compared to an expensive one that would most likely die too.
Their second-cheapest one is convection/grill and slightly larger. I think it's about $230 - yep: https://www.kogan.com/au/buy/kogan-32l-stainless-steel-conve…
The magnetron of my current one died a couple of years ago, just inside warranty. So although I could fix it myself, I took it in for the free repair/parts. The turntable motor was acting up at times so I asked they change that too. That motor died again a few months later meaning it heats unevenly. I might change that myself this time, or I might just get the Kogan one.
Just so I'm being clear: I can repair them, but I can see buying an expensive one is a false economy today. You pay more thinking you're getting a better brand with better quality and longer lifespan. That used to be the case, but hasn't been in recent years. The expensive units can fail at the same time (or sooner in my Panasonic's case!) as the nasty ones. You could cover yourself with an extended warranty. But by that time they probably won't have some of the proprietary parts anyway. (Door hinges for example, if they discover it's leaking radiation because someone bent the door and misaligned it.) Ok, so you'll get a new oven in that case - so you got two microwaves for the one price + extended warranty. But the second one might have a short warranty they won't extend.
Things have gotten to the stage where $230 means you could throw it out every 5 years even if still working, get a new one, and be no worse off financially.
I'm with you altomic. Because either OP will dumb enough to fix it and fail which will be survival of the fittest or not.
Either way humanity wins.
Personally, unless its a really common simple fix, it won't be worth repair, unless you really love this unit for some reason or another.
It is a 7 year old product, and I'm all for repairing things. But you can get brand name nukers from $100, not not grilling ones.
I have a fully stainless steel inside and out microwave that didn't cost the earth but I shopped around for a long time to find one. It went in warranty and got fixed free, and then after about 5 years it went again.
I bought some fuses, and for spare parts I picked up an old bog standard white version of the microwave second hand for 5 bucks on ebay. Everything except the control panel was identical, and it was a piece of piss to swap everything out. It turned out being a fuse so I now have a spare working microwave, however but I reckon it would be pretty easy to get the parts you need to get it fixed, even if they don't sell the parts a 7 year old microwave should be pretty easy to find for sfa
So as I said, if its a simple fix…..
Depends if the OP is able to do the part swaps etc. Many are not very good at those kinds of things ;)
Sounds like he does love the microwave though as it's the crisp and grill model. Changing the parts was not that hard, if you have ever built a PC you could easily have a crack.
Actually the reason I swapped all the parts out even though it was just the fuse was that a friend who's a technician was guiding me, but after replacing the fuse he tested it and the tester turned out to be faulty. Was quite funny, some two hours to change a fuse, but at least I know I can have this microwave forever if I want to
If you like the microwave, get a quote and weigh up the cost vs getting a new one.
My microwave oven was built in 1989. I prefer it to the modern ones as the power is lower and I'm less likely to over cook food. It was in storage for a decade but otherwise used daily. It was given to me in the mid 1990s with a broken turntable motor which I replaced. I had to replace it again a few years ago (condensation tends to seep into the motor if you don't mop it up).
My fault was easy to diagnose and cheap to repair. Your fault sounds more complex. I'd be wary of repairing it yourself if you don't know what you are doing.
there's no way i plan on opening it up to repair it.
But there is power going to the unit. it doesn't let you start cooking when you hit the start button. there's no door warming light so. i assuming someone qualified needs to look at it. But i guess it won't hurt to ask the price of a service call.
I've got a JT369 too, about the same age as yours. I hope I'm not about to get problems with it :)
I really like the steamer that came with it and also the crisp plate. You can put a frozen meat pie on the crisp plate, choose 6th sense prog 3 and you get a crispy, hot pie in minutes. If you can't get it going again, at least keep the steamer :)
did you buy your from the whirlpool family and friends sale around the same time?
unfortunately nothing seems to get it work. Initially thought the door sensor wasn't working and tried the timer, no.
It does raw chicken breast to crispy grilled succulent meat in about 15minutes. Never seen a product that can do chicken that quick and tasty. well it served me well for 7 years, it will be missed.
It might be something as simple as the door switch(s). A Complex fault would be something related to some control board using custom IC's (chips), where it might be worth repairing if you have another identical unit to scavenge parts from. You could call up a independent electronic repairer and just mention model and fault of unit.. ask if they have seen/fixed same fault. a long short but never know..
of course can save time/hassle with new unit that smells/looks fresher as well.
What sort of orgasmic heating does a $500 microwave oven provide that a $30 does not?
in addition to microwaving food, it can grill/steam and roast food (i.e cakes)
and combination microwave/convection/grill and that hot plate. We use the oven most days. I like the drop down door and the 31L capacity. The new one is a fraction smaller and a left hinged door but I expect it would still have all the same (or more) features.
Wow - you mean like an oven???!!!! Nobody has those int heir kitchen!
Cheapest I can find is $45 from KMART.
yes, i know that your can get a microwave oven cheap. the base model (which only has grill + microwave function are about 300$, but i really wanted the baking option as well. Which is about 488$ for the current model.
i am considering perhaps having to deal with microwaving cakes instead of baking them.
See my comment above.
https://www.kogan.com/au/buy/kogan-32l-stainless-steel-conve…
There you go. Does all 3, $229. I have the older model and got it on special at some ridiculous price (sub $220) from memory. Still works flawlessly after 3 years.
Nicer to use.
Shop next to my office fixes microwaves from $80. Ask around if someone can give you a free quote to have it fixed.
My old Panasonic microwave broke and he could have fixed it but as it was OS model he could not get parts for it. So I went to Goodguys and spent $80 for a new Panasonic :P
I would have preferred have the old one fixed as it had more functions (grill, steam etc) and was slightly bigger.
are you in Melbourne?
also buying a new one not even sure what i would do with the broken on. seem like a waste to have it tossed onto the hard rubbish.
Im in Sydney.
I also hate to waste so I kept the old one and will take it to China to get it fixed next time I go there.
ahhh no. this microwave weight about 30kg (without the box)
Yeah I know, but Chinese airlines have 2pcs allowance and I might be able to sneak it in :P
and the ship it back with my cargo :D
But I might be too ambitious:D
Whirlpool and High End don't belong in the same sentence.
I also have the JT369 for the last seven years and am still very happy with it. Works good, looks good, is good.
At least keep the light globe out of the old one, they cost about $25 for a new one. Saves looking for an old microwave on the side of the road when you need a new globe.
Yeah, what a pain. Never thought of getting one from a roadside rubbish drop.
How easy are these to replace? The light globe went in our Sharp microwave a few years ago and I didn't want to get a service to replace a light globe.
Our smeg microwave needs a new lamp. They are like $15 . They have a solid molded plastic base but I don't think it would be too hard as long as you have all the safety aspects covered as you'll be removing the outer of the unit to access.
Do a search for your model on eBay. Eg smeg microwave lamp
@PVA: lamps are simple to replace. you need to take off the case. again, unplug the microwave and let it sit for a day to self discharge. my LG globe is small screw in . others use -as PVA states- a globe with sold base and 2 plug in wires. they can be bought off ebay cheaply.
You're buying them from the wrong place. ;-p (Aliexpress/ebay.)
Wow that does look like a good oven. How does it grill? Does it use some stuff inside or is there like a grill top on the outside?
A microwave oven that can steam, grill and do roasts inside the oven is probably worth it for me to maybe start investing in.
it uses a grill pan that you use to place you food on and it grills food very quickly.
i wasn't really sold on the idea first. But back then, there was a whirlpool head office and they had it on demo/display.
So is the grill on the outside of the microwave oven or the inside. I have only ever seen them on your standard convection ovens not microwaves.
$500 doesn't seem like a high end Microwave to me. I think my mum's Panasonic was $1000 and obviously Panasonic isn't a high end brand. I bed you could drop several thousand on a Miele or Gaggenau Microwave. Hell even my Ikea unit was like $800.
perhaps not, but it slight more better than the 45$ everyone is comparing it to.
I had an old Panasonic Genius which my parents purchased in 1977 they had it for 25 years and gave it to me. It lasted another 5 years and it broke, got it repaired and it lasted a few more.
I have had 2 since then (el cheapos).
get it fixed.
you mean national right? panasonic wasn't around back then. my parent also had one too. remember that big green and gold sticker on the door 'first australian microwave'
I always try changing the fuse, costs about $3.50. If that fails I just download adobe reader.
Take note that it is most probably a ceramic fuse - a plain one won't do the job. Only replace with exactly the same rating please.
I just take the fuse into a service centre and go, can I have one of these please. Pretty easy.
I check mine with a meter at home to make sure they are blown first ;)
OP says it powers on but doesn't cook so I'm guessing its not the fuse. Could the a door latch problem. Microwave won't start if the door isn't closed properly. So the latch might not be engaging and turning on the switch
sounds about right, although i did try the self timer and noticed it didn't trigger the cooking either.
It wouldn't if the door is "open". I agree with what 42 said. Not sure about yours but all microwaves I've had turn the light off when you close the door prior to engaging. Does yours? If not then it's very likely it's a door sensor problem.
As I said, I just check the fuse, then "install adobe reader" which is one of my cryptic ways of saying that i fix microwaves, but really have no idea what I'm doing.
7 years
No. I'd say for any modern appliance under $1,000, this is not going to be cost effective.
Better to get a new one.. Even though you can get it repaired, it might have another fault waiting to pop up in the near future. My father is a retired electronics repair technician. I lost count how many times he fixed something then the same unit has another fault in a few months time. With a Microwave, all the residue from 7 years of cooking. I prefer to get a new one plus would make the wife happier for a short time at least.. its hard to justify repairing electronic items these days, everything is built to be more disposable.
No harm in getting a quote. 7 years is a pretty good run