Introduction
It is quite a challenging issue when your Toshiba microwave turntable is not turning at all. However, a functional turnstile is vital for cooking food in a microwave oven. Several reasons exist for why a microwave turntable would cease turning, many of which are simple to remedy.
This article will discuss the possible issues that can lead to a Toshiba microwave turntable failing to turn and their solutions. Also, we will give a brief insight into some common troubleshooting tricks regarding microwave turntables.
Reasons Why A Toshiba Microwave Turntable Stops Rotating
- Turntable coupler: This small plastic part known as the turn table coupler is responsible for attaching the turntables to the drive motor. The turntable will also fail to turn if there is a crack or a breakage in the coupler.
- Turntable motor: The powered entity of the turntable is the turntable motor, in other words. The turntable will not turn if the engine has burnt out or is defective.
- Driveshaft: The metal rod which drives the turntable motor to the coupler is called a driveshaft. Due to this, if the drive shaft is bent or broken, it will prevent the turntable from turning.
- Door switch: A safety switch called a door switch, which cuts off the operation of the microwave while the user’s hand remains exposed, is also present in the microwave. The faulty door switch can also result in a lockout of the turntable and a closed door.
- Control board: The microwave oven’s primary electronic device is called the control board. If the control board fails, many issues may emerge, such as failure in turntable turning.
Fixing a Toshiba Microwave Turntable Does not Rotate
Turntable coupler:
You will have to replace a broken turntable coupler. Mostly, you’ll find it from the manufacturer of your microwave oven or another dealer in parts.
To replace the turntable coupler, follow these steps:
- Detach the microwave from the mains.
- Take out the turntable and the coupler from the microwave.
- Check the coupler for cracks or damage. Replace the coupler if it is cracked or broken.
- Put the turntable and couplers together, then place them back inside the microwave.
- Connect the microwave oven to the socket and test whether the turntable operates well.
Turntable motor:
You must also change the motor if it has burnt or is faulty. It is usually possible to get a replacement motor from a microwave oven manufacturer or any other third-party spare parts supply store.
To replace the turntable motor, take down the microwave oven. However, this can be a daunting task to undertake. Therefore, you should refer to the owner’s manual accompanying your microwave oven for detailed instructions.
After you break open the microwave oven, look for the turntable motor and separate it from the electrical connection. Pull out the engine of a range and mount a new one instead.
Put back together again the microwave oven, and then it can be reconnected with wall outlets. Ensure that the turntable is working correctly by testing it.
Driveshaft:
Therefore, if your drive shaft is bent or broken, you have no choice but to either straighten it out or buy a new one. In case the drive shaft turns slightly, one can use a few pairs of pliers to straighten it out. But if there is significant damage or twist, the drive shaft should be replaced.
For a simple replacement of the drive shaft, you have to take the components of this microwave apart. Properly deconstruct the oven following the directions outlined in the user guide provided by the oven’s manufacturers.
After you remove the microwave oven, look for the drive shaft and unplug it from the turntable motor and couple. It is essential to take out the drive shaft from the microwave oven and use a new one instead of it.
Resurrect the microwave oven, put it back in place, and then plug it in again. Ensure that the turntable rotates well by testing it.
Door switch:
In case the door switch is defective, then it must be replaced. You can buy a replacement door switch from the maker of your microwave oven or a typical parts provider.
To replace the door switch, you must take apart a microwave oven. Take apart the microwave according to the directions given in your microwave’s owner’s manual.
Take it apart, then find the door switch and detach it from the wiring harness. Replace the microwave door switch with another one and remove it from the microwave.
Reassemble the microwave oven and plug it back into the wall outlet. To test the door switch after replacing it:
- Open the microwave oven door.
- Press the door switch.
- The light in the microwave oven should go out now.
- Close the microwave oven door.
- The microwave oven light should come on.
When the microwave oven light remains turned on while the door is opened or fails to come on while the door is closed, the defective door switch has to be replaced.
It is possible to perform additional testing of the door switch by connecting a multimeter for continuity. Make sure the multimeter is set for continuity. Put a probe of the multimeter on each terminal of the door switch. The door switch works fine if the meter reads zero ohms. In case the meter indicates infinity ohms, this suggests that there is a problem with the door switch, which should, therefore, be changed.
You may have to take it to the qualified technicians when the problems persist even after changing the door switch.
Control board:
Your new control board will not function properly if there are any problems with your old one. This is a complicated undertaking that ought to be left to a certified technician alone.
You should only fix the microwave oven if convenient, with no special training. Otherwise, call a specialist to correct the problem.
Troubleshooting Tips For Microwave Turntables
- Ensure that you put the turntable well on the microwave oven. It should lie steadily on the turntable support so that its centre touches it.
- Make sure there’s no food or debris on the turntable. Food or debris that might be left on the turntable can cause malfunction of the turntable.
- Scrape clean the turntable track of the microwave oven. A dirty or clogged turntable track will result in the poor turning of a turntable.
- Test the turntable motor. One way is to use a multimeter and measure the voltage at the motor terminals. The motor terminals do not have any voltage; if this happens, it means that the motor is faulty, and a new one should be used to replace it.
- Test the door switch. This involves measuring the door switch resistance using a Multimeter. Therefore, if a door switch has a resistance that differs from what was expected, it is faulty and must be substituted.
On top of that, if nothing helps and the turn does not work, it will be necessary to turn to a specialist to fix the equipment.
Additional Tips
Ensure that your replacement is an authentic one, and opt for original Toshiba parts if yours involves a turntable coupler, drive shaft, or door switch. Your microwave oven’s warranty will be invalidated, and more complications might arise if you use fake parts.
Ensure that you follow your microwave oven’s owner’s manual when reassembling. If put together incorrectly, the turntable will not move as it should or worst case scenario – it could even lead to a fire disaster.
For one, if you cannot handle the process, then seeking the services of an experienced technician would be much more favourable.
Safety Precautions
- Never attempt to open a microwave oven that is plugged into an electrical outlet.
- When disconnecting the wires, do not touch any of the electrical components.
- Put safety glasses while working on the microwave oven to avoid getting injured by airborne debris.
Conclusion
Many people experience problems with their Toshiba microwave turntables; however, most are trivial and can easily be fixed. Follow the troubleshooting steps and the repair guide presented here. It would help if you had your microwave turntable running once again in no time at all.
In case of any fault with the microwave oven and if you find it challenging to take on self-service, take a certified technician into your contacts for rectification.
Here is a summary of the key points in this article
- Some of the reasons that led to the failure of the Toshiba microwave turntable include turntable coupler breakage, burnt out-turntable motor, bent or damaged drive shaft, faulty door switch, and defective control board.
- You can fix a Toshiba microwave turntable by replacing the turntable coupler, testing and replacing a turntable motor, inspecting and straightening or replacing a drive shaft, checking and substituting a door switch, or getting a service professional to service or
- To avoid breaking Toshiba microwaves’ turntables, ensure you do not carry excess load on them, clean the turntable and turntable tracks regularly, and be careful not to drop them. In addition, contact a skilled technical for any issue concerning.
FAQ’S ( Frequently Asked Questions )
Q: What could be causing my Toshiba’s microwave turntable to fail to spin?
A: There are a few common reasons why a Toshiba microwave turntable might stop turning:
Broken turntable coupler: The turntable coupler is a small plastic part connecting the turntable and drive motor. The turntable cannot turn if the coupler is broken or cracked.
Burned out or defective turntable motor: The Turntable Motor is the machine that propels the turntable. The turntable will not be able to rotate if the engine is burnt/faulty.
Bent or damaged drive shaft: It also comprises a long metal rod called the drive shaft, which links it with the coupler. The turntable thus becomes a useless gear if the drive shaft bends or gets faulty.
Faulty door switch: A door switch is one of the safety switches designed to avoid the operation of a microwave with an open door. A bad or dirty door switch may cause the turntable not to turn despite keeping the door closed.
Defective control board: The major electronics component in a modern microwave oven includes the control board. In case the turntable fails to rotate, it could be a result of the control board being faulty.
Q: What can I do about my Toshiba Microwave Turntable?
A: How to fix your Toshiba microwave turntable will depend on the particular cause of the malfunction. However, here are some general troubleshooting tips:
- Inspect whether the turntable coupler has any cracks or breaks. Should it be, then replace the coupler.
- Make sure you test the turntable motor to ensure that it works well. If this is so, switch the engine.
- Check the drive shaft for any bends or damage. Try to straighten out if you think the driveshaft is bent. Ensure that this drive shaft is replaced if it is broken.
- Ensure that your door switch works well by checking. If this is not the case, change the door switch.
However, if other diagnostic options fail and the turntable still does not turn, the control board could be faulty. You may be forced to call in an expert to fix or replace your control board in such circumstances.
Q: What must I do to ensure my Toshiba microwave turntable does not break again?
There are a few things you can do to prevent your Toshiba microwave turntable from breaking:
- Avoid overloading the turntable. The coupler and drive motor could also break if overload occurs to the turntable.
- Keep clean the turntable and turntable track frequently. Subsequent food and debris may settle upon the turntable and track, restricting the turntable from rotating appropriately.
- Do not drop the turntable while moving around on stage. The coupler and drive motor are also fragile, thus decreasing the turntable.
Should you note that the turns table does not turn smoothly or makes a strange noise, then get a competent technician to fix the problem at once.
Q: How can I get spare parts for my Toshiba microwave turntable?
A: The spare parts are available in the store where you bought your microwave oven or any other speciality shop. Always ensure that you purchase original Toshiba components for compatibility and performance.
