Overview
A microwave turntable is a rotating platform that cooks meals calmly by using making sure that each one aspects of the food are exposed to the microwave radiation. If your Whirlpool microwave turntable isn’t always turning, it could be irritating and inconvenient. There are some not unusual motives why a microwave turntable would possibly stop working, and maximum of them are notably easy to fix yourself.
Causes
The most common causes of a Whirlpool microwave turntable not turning are:
- Improper installation: Failure to install a turntable properly will result in an inability to turn. Ensure that the turntable is fixed well on the turntable ring and connect the turntable drive motor accurately.
- Obstruction: The turntable will not rotate if there is food or debris obstructing its path. Ensure that you do not have anything on top of the turntable ring or hindering the turntable drive motor.
- Malfunctioning turntable motor: Then, if the turntable has a bad motor, the turntable will not turn. The different causes include wearing out, breakage, or defective manufacturing process.
- Malfunctioning control board: All parts of the microwave are controlled by a single electronic element known as the control board. An unfunctional control board can also hinder the functioning of the turntable.
Troubleshooting
- Ensure that you have disconnected the microwave from power source before you begin troubleshooting your whirlpool microwave turntable. This shall avert any possible electric accidents.
- After the microwave has been disconnected, you could proceed with troubleshooting the turntable. Here are a few things to check:
- Ensure that turntable in place. Ensure that turntable is fitted tightly, and turntable drive motor is correctly wired in. If a turntable is not sufficiently mounted, it cannot turn.
- Check for obstructions. Ensure that there are no obstacles in the way of the turntable ring and turntable drive motor like food pieces or debris. Otherwise, the turntable won’t turn if there is a block in its way.
- Test the turntable motor. A multimeter will be needed to test the turntable motor. Use a multimeter to set onto it an AC voltage and then connect the two probes to the two terminals of the turntable motor. The turntable motor functions well if the reading on the multimeter is 120 volts. Reading no voltage on the multimeter will mean that the turntable motor not functioning hence a replacement should be made and done accordingly.
- Test the control board. The control board of the microwave should be tested with aid of wiring diagram that is provided for your microwave model. When you have a circuit diagram, you may use a multimeter, testing voltages of the connectors’ terminals, the turntable motor on the controller. If the reading on the multimeter shows 120 volts then it implies that the control board is in good working condition. In case the multimeter does not show any voltage, the control board is faulty and has to be replaced.
Repairing
After identifying the root cause of trouble, begin fixing your Whirlpool microwave turn table. Here are some general instructions:
- Improper installation: Just ensure that you install properly the turntable if it is not installed well.
- Obstruction: In case the turntable does not move freely or if there is some hindrance that is preventing it from spinning, just take out any barriers that are obstructing its rotation.
- Malfunctioning turntable motor: You have to replace the same kind of turntable motor that was there in your particular brand/model of microwave set. You get a new turntable motor, and follow the instructions that come along with the replacement motor to make an installation.
- Malfunctioning control board: You will therefore need to buy another control board meant for your own particular microwave model. After replacing the control board using the available installation guide, you can simply use the replacement control board’s installation instructions to install it.
Tips
Here are a few tips for keeping your Whirlpool microwave turntable in good working order:
- Clean the turntable regularly. Over time, food and other materials get stuck on the surface of the turntable which could make it sticky thus prevent its rotation. Therefore, always make sure to clean the turntable with mild soap and water after each use.
- Do not overload the microwave. Turntable motor has a breaking point when overloaded with microwave.
- Avoid putting heavy items on the turntable. The turntable motor might also fail when placed under the weight of heavy objects that could be stacked onto the turntable.
Conclusion
However, if you have done everything mentioned above and your whirlpool’s microwave turntable is not turning, then it probably needs expert repair works. Call a competent, qualified appliances repair specialist who will solve this situation.
However, in the interim, you are able to continue cooking with your microwave sans the turntable. On the other hand, you will be forced to use a metal rod to keep on tumbling or stirring your meals, ensuring they cook uniformly.
Additional Tips
Here are some additional tips for fixing a Whirlpool microwave turntable that is not turning:
- Check the turntable roller ring. A very small groove known as the turntable roller ring on which the turntable moves round. A faulty or dirty roller ring may cause the turntable to move improperly. Ensure the roller ring is clean, intact and in good condition.
- Check the turntable drive shaft. Turntable drive shaft is the shaft for which the turntable motor attaches itself and rotate. A broken or bent drive shaft may also hamper the right movement of a turntable. Look at the drive shaft for bending/damage.
- Check the microwave’s wiring. The turntable could fail to receive power if there is something wrong with the microwave’s wiring. Check if there are broken or loose wires on the microwave.
- In case you have made sure that all of the items mentioned above and yet the turntable remains non-rotatable then probably the cause is either the turntable motor or the control board. So, in this instance, you would have to change a faulty component.
Here are some additional tips for preventing your Whirlpool microwave turntable from breaking:
- Do not overload the microwave. This can lead to overstretching of the microwave turntable motor, which will consequently break down.
- Do not set heavy objects on the turntable. Heavily placed turntables have the potential of over-stressing the turntable motor, thus leading to its failure.
- Clean the turntable regularly. The accumulation of food and debris on the turntable may cause improper rotation resulting in failure of the turntable. Remember to clean turntable using a mild soap solution after every use.
- Make sure you do not force the turntable to turn. If the turn table fails to spin easily, do not exert pressure on it. It may burn out the turntable’s motor and result in other complications with the microwave machine.
FAQ’s about ( Whirlpool Microwave Turntable )
Q: What could be causing a problem with turning on my Whirlpool microwave turntable?
A: A whirlpool microwave turntable may go bad for several reasons.
- Improper installation
- Obstruction on the roller track
- Malfunctioning turntable motor
- Malfunctioning control board
Q: What should I do if my Whirlpool’s microwave turntable is not rotating?
A: Firstly, it is necessary to locate the problem that has affected the Whirlpool microwave turntable. After identifying the root cause of the problem, feel free to check out the above-mentioned troubleshooting solutions.
Q: If you have a case of a malfunctioning whirlpool turntable, should you replace the motor or the control board?
A: Not necessarily. It could be possible for you to fix it without having to replace the part. However, for instance, if the turntable is not rotating because of improper installation, you would just install again correctly. However, if the issue has to do with the turntable motor or the control board, you will have to purchase a replacement.
Q: What is the price of replacing a Whirlpool microwave turntable motor and a control board?
A: The price for replacement of Whirlpool microwave turntable motor and control board is dependent upon the make and type of microwave you use. Nevertheless, replacement a turntable motor could cost about $50-$100, while replacement of a control board will be approximately between $100-$200.
Q: Is it possible for me to run Whirlpool microwave without the turntable?
A: However, you may be able to operate the microwave without a turntable. Nevertheless, you will have to mix or rotate your food by hand so that everything gets cooked uniformly.
