Hello
Your help and expertise will be very much appreciated

Let me describe the cyclical behavior of this appliance:

First the display shows a stray digit or goes blank - simultaneously, the buttons become unresponsive - Bottom line nothing works

Second, I unplug and wait 1/2 hour

Third, I plug the unit back and every light in the panel lights up

Fourth, I EITHER press clock and set the time OR I just press off and the display is dark - in either case, the buttons ARE responsive and the unit is fully functional

Fifth, the unit works for a period of time (1/2 hour to 2 hours in apparently random pattern)

Sixth, after that random period, GO BACK to First Step.

It is very dysfunctional and hard to maintain in a household of 6.

Any ideas?

Thamk you Gene, it seems to be a $156 part. That is border line replacement. I think I might just get rid of the hoo/microwave combo and get a hood and a new microwave. As I look at it, Whatever I pay for them will feel $156 cheaper :-)