Hello Gene,
I know that you have helped people with this unit which stops heating in the past but I just wanted to sum up some things you’ve said in the forum and make sure I’m understanding you correctly.
My unit was manufactured in Jan 2005. It stopped heating a few days ago. I ran it in the defrost mode and couldn’t hear the power sound change like I used to. Everything else seems to be the same minus the heating.

To one user you say to:
Remove the screw holding the control panel and open the control panel. Check the door switches (#67 & 68 on the break down diagram) for continuity.

If there is nothing wrong then remove the two wires from the primary winding on the high voltage transformer (#83 on the break down diagram) and check for 120VAC between these wires while the control calls for heat and the door is closed.
If there is 120VAC then the magnetron is bad.
If there is no 120VAC then the control board has to be replaced.

To another user you also said that:
If you don’t hear the power change during defrost mode then the magnetron has gone bad and it could cause damage to the high voltage diode.

My questions are:
Do I start with the control panel then move to the high voltage transformer to determine the magnetron or do I know it’s the magnetron because I don’t hear the power level changes like I used to?
If it is the magnetron do I need to check the diode then too?
I hear people saying the magnetron is usually covered under warranty for 10/15 years. I don’t find anything in my GE manual that says this…would you know?
How much is the control panel usually run?
I’m just trying to figure out if I should attempt this or not. I have a millimeter but am not the most electrical inclined and don’t want to get shocked but I’m willing to give it a go.

Thanks so much for your time.
Shawn

If you are getting voltage to the transformer then the magnetron tube is more than likely bad. However, it can be the transformer (very uncommon) the capacitor or the diode. If the diode is bad 99% of the time the magnetron tube is bad and vice versa. I suggest replacing the diode if the magnetron tube is bad and vice versa. Every once in a while I see the capacitor bad but it is uncommon as well. Typically if the capacitor is bad the microwave will be a lot nosier than normal and it will not heat. If it is not noisy then more than likely the capacitor is ok.


Magnetron tubes on a lot of older GE microwaves had a 10-year parts warranty. A few had five and now they only have one. In any case it will say in the owners manual, if you are unsure call GE.

Should you decide to replace the magnetron tube this page should help.

GE Spacemaker Microwave Magnetron Tube Replacement

In a couple of weeks there will be a video on that page if you can wait and/or you think you need it.

I will go ahead and answer your dishwasher question. I hope the moderators don’t care if I answer a dishwasher question on the microwave forum.


This is more than likely because of phosphate free detergent. Detergent companies had to remove phosphate from the detergent and as a result we are seeing white film on dishes. The best way to remove the white film is to put all dishes with the film in the dishwasher and run it though a cycle with citric acid. This may have to be done a few times a year.

The GE part number for the citric acid is WD35X151 it comes with two cycles worth of acid. I hope this resolves this problem for you.

Thanks for sneaking that dishwasher answer in Applianceman. Thanks again for the help you have provided. I will see what I can fix!
I appreciate it.
Shawn