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Repair and disassembly guides for GE Microwave ovens.

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Fan stays on when door is open, door switches test good

We recently started having an issue with our 6 year old GE microwave (model # JNM1951SR1SS) where the fan stays on when the door is opened. It's an intermittent problem, but in the last day or so the fan stays on almost every time the door is opened (turntable doesn't turn).

I've been searching various forums, and it seems the part most likely to cause this problem is a faulty door switch. I've tested all three, and they all test good. Top and bottom are NC, and the middle switch is NO. All cycle appropriately when checking with a multimeter. I've removed the entire switch mount to check them, and I also checked them installed to make sure the door was making physically with the switch actuator.

We've also had rare issues with the reheat auto sensing function causing the microwave to go into error, but I'm not sure if it's related to the primary issue.

What else could cause the fan to turn on when the door is opened?

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First, which fan are you talking about? The vent fan for venting steam/heat from the stove cooktop below, or the cooling fan for the high voltage components (located behind the right side panel)?

Second, is the fan on previous to the door open, and it doesn't turn off when the door is opened? Or, the fan was off and turned on when the door is opened?

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The cooling fan on the right side panel.

The fan comes on when the door is opened.

Appreciate any help.

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Yep same issue with mine... its the fan that kicks on when the microwave is running not the exhaust fan.

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I just started having the same issue yesterday

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Before I got around to trying these steps, I decided to unplug the microwave (in my case, throw the switch at the fuse box). Switched it back on, and the problem was solved — no more fan going when the door opened. You are probably all more appliance repair savvy than me and already tried this, but thought I would put it out there in case it helped someone else.

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REF: https://data2.manualslib.com/pdf3/73/726...

The above link is to the service manual for your microwave. On page 45, is the wiring schematic. In the center, you will find the Fan Motor listed just under the Oven Lamp. The only way for the fan motor to run is for both the Primary Interlock Switch (i.e. what you called the "bottom door switch") and the Main Relay (Lamp Relay) on the PCB to be closed. The problem is the Primary Interlock Switch is supposed to be open when the door is opened which would effectively remove the 120VAC from the cooling fan. You state the "bottom door switch" measures NC, but did you test when the door is opened? Go to page 40, and perform the test for the interlock switches. Your primary interlock switch has to be bad (i.e. stays closed no matter what the door does). Therefore, when the door opens and the Lamp Relay closes to turn on the interior lamp, it also closes the cooling fan circuit.

Also, look at page 27 and read the section about the monitor switch (i.e. the "middle door switch"), and its purpose is to blow the main fuse when the contacts of the primary interlock switch and power relay fail to open when the door is opened. So when you perform the test on page 40 for the primary interlock switch, also perform it on the monitor switch.

Also, look at page 25 and read the Note in the Line Fuse section. Namely, if the fuse is blown because of the monitor switch function, you need to replace the monitor switch and to test the power relay and interlock switches for shorts.

***UPDATE 1/20/21***

Given the amount of interest this problem/solution has drawn over the last 3 years, I figured I would give a little more detailed explanation of how I walked through the circuit diagram to provide my answer above, so others can apply this method to their specific problem.

Below is the circuit diagram listed on page 45 in the above service manual:

Block Image

As can been seen, I have annotated the circuit diagram as follows: The red trace shows the “hot” side from the wall outlet to the fan motor. The green trace shows the return “neutral” side from the fan motor back to the wall outlet. There are only two ways to selectively open and close this circuit, turning the fan off and on, respectively. The first switch is circled in blue - the “Primary Inter Lock S/W” located on the line/hot side of the circuit - and the second switch is circled in orange - “Main Relay (Lamp Relay)” located on the neutral side of the circuit. I will call these the “Blue switch” and “Orange switch” from hereon.

The original post of the problem stated the fan turns on when the door is opened.

In order for the fan to turn on, both switches (circled in blue and orange) must be closed to complete the fan motor circuit. This is the ONLY way for the fan to turn on. As we all know from using a microwave, the interior light comes on when the microwave is running and when the door is open. Therefore, we know when the door is open the Orange switch must close when the door is open in order to complete the “Oven Lamp” (located just above the fan motor in the circuit diagram and shares a neutral return with the fan motor) circuit and turn on the lamp.

So we know that when the door opens the Orange switch closes, and this functionality is perfectly normal because it also turns on the Oven Lamp (i.e. interior lamp). We additionally know the Blue switch must also be closed for the fan motor to turn on when the door is open. However, per page 27 of the service manual, “When the door is opened, the monitor switch is closed. At this time the primary interlock switch and the power relay are open.” So in normal operation, the Blue switch opens when the door is physically open, and this opens the fan motor circuit, turning the fan motor OFF. But the original problem states the opposite is occurring. Therefore, we know either the Blue switch is stuck closed and will never open, or it closes when the door is open. Either way, the Blue switch is our problem.

This is how I determined that the ONLY problem could be the Primary Interlock Switch (i.e. Blue switch) - nothing else could explain the problem. It was the only switch in the circuit that could have been behaving abnormally.

This technique of tracing the hot and neutral lines of the circuit to isolate the situations of when the circuit should be closed and should be open can help you solve 80% of your appliance repairs.

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I've concluded that I need to change the door switches, and that looks fairly simple. I've read conflicting ideas on discharging the capacitor prior to doing work on the switches. Discharging the capacitor looks more difficult. Is there risk in not discharging the capacitor? thanks for the help!

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I had the same problem then everything turned off. I'm assuming the fuse blew. Do I need to change the fuse once I change the door switches? Thanks, -Ted

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Also, do I need to discharge the capacitor to work on the door switches and inline fuse?

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No need to discharge any capacitors for this repair, but do cut the power to the microwave oven before digging into it.

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Tim, I have a similar issue and have not had luck with the posted solution.

Original issue: GE Microwave (combo oven unit) stopped heating, light not turning on, and turntable not spinning.

Action: Replaced all 3 door switches and thermo fuse. When I plug the power back in the fan comes on and stays on whether the door is open or not. It heats fine and all functions work normally (the turntable does turn a little slow though) but the fan is ON all the time.

I have read your instructions on this page and cannot figure out what else may be causing the issue.

Any suggestions?

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I just swapped out the bottom switch of our GE microwave oven because the fan ran with the door open. The switch does ring out OK on an ohm meter, but the return spring seems weak, and it does not click positively and resoundingly the way the new replacement part does.

I suspect the old switch is unable to lift the plastic piece the door engages, and thus stays down in its electrically closed orientation, signalling that the door itself is closed. Anyway, the new one ($8 for two on eBay) fixed the problem quickly.

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Sorry, I checked the switches again. You're right, the top and bottom are NO, and the middle switch is NC. I was going off of memory when I wrote my original post, so I appreciate you bearing with me. I retested all the switches again, and they all "appeared" to be changing state when I closed the door, according to my multimeter.

I ended up removing the switch assembly and tested each switch again. They all changed states again. I figured since I already had the switches removed, I would swap the two interlock switches. After I reassembled the microwave and tested it, it acted like the door wasn't shut (which would indicate the secondary switch was faulty, which was previously installed as the primary switch). Afterwards, I disassembled the microwave and removed the switch assembly again. The faulty switch would change states when I pressed the button, but I think the way I was testing it (the way I was holding it) was causing gravity to open the switch instead of the spring tab inside the contact.

I don't know why I was getting the readings with it installed and testing with the door physically making the switches.

Thanks for all the help Tim.

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Hello!

we are having the same issue with our GE over the counter microwave.. did you ever solve the issue?

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Hi, see Tim's solution above. It ended up being the door switch.

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I had the same problem, then everything turned off. I'm assuming the fuse blew. Do I need to change the fuse once I change the door switches? Thanks, -Ted

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We are having the same problem. My question is this: when the door is open and the fan is running, is the microwave emitting waves (is it dangerous)?

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Hi Adam - I had the same issue and my Microwave is GE Profile. The Overhead Fan was TURNING ON, when I closed the door. I kept it ON for an hour and NEVER TURNED OFF. After my investigation and following your directions, the TOP Door Micro Switch (NO) was FAULTY (seems got HOT, Melted a BIT, and Went Bad) and verified/confirmed with Multi Meter too. I replaced the BAD Switch with a NEW ONE. PROBLEM FIXED and WORKS NORMAL.

It was just a bit time consuming process and your LOGIC WORKED. just wanted to share and THANKS A LOT and APPRECIATE your SUGGESTION.

By the way, even though I am a mechanical engineer, unable figure it out why OVERHEAT FAN COMES ON. EXCELLENT INFORMATION, LOGIC, SUGGESTION and THANKS A LOT.

Ravi

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Hello,

My vent fan is going on when the door opens ( just recently). As a female, I am unfamiliar as to how to repair. Its a GE profile convection/microwave over the stove 11 years old. Thanks for any help you can provide. There is no info in my manual regarding any switches. Thanks, Rhoda K

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My GE microwave is JNM7196SF1SS. Couple days ago it developed an issue. Everything functions as normal (table turns, counts down etc) except when it will ONLY heat swhen vent fan is ALSO turned ON. The instant vent fan is turned off, it stops heating.

I ohmed all 3 door switches and they changed state OK. What could be wrong?

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I fixed my issue. As a, last resort, before giving up, I decided to test all relays on the PCB. Removing PCB is pretty easy. Just take a few pictures before you remove wire connectors so you know how to reassemble It.

Test each relay CAREFULLY with a DVM and a 9V battery. There is Youtube video on how to test relays. In my case, the low voltage power relay was bad. I replaced it with a new one ordered from Ebay. Microwave works again.

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Kenmore microwave vent run with the door closed 79080353310

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Check one of the switches at the top, usually goes bad. Open the door, remove the top molding (screws), remove the panel on the right (careful with wires). Remove carefully the Switch holder and check the top switch continuity. If it’s bad, replace. You can buy them on Amazon for about $10 to $12. Reassemble, test and see if microwave works normal. I have recurring same issue and problem goes away replacing the switch. Hope the explanation helps. Good Luck.

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Based on the most accurate diagnosis in this thread (from Tim D. above) the part to fix it is a 16V FD-63 switch (you can google it).

  1. Unplug the unit
  2. Remove the door
  3. Remove the vent panel above the door
  4. Remove the control panel (where the digital display is)
  5. Remove the two torques screws holding the door switch harness in place
  6. Pull out the harness and replace the bottom switch

Test and you should be good to go, assuming the switch mentioned in Tim’s post is the one that’s busted. I was able to confirm that mine was broken by flipping the switch upside down and I could hear something loose in the switch body (shaking it basically).

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Hi I have this issue for a whirlpool h53521hz over-the-range. Problem started literally “overnight” as in I woke up to it closed per normal but the slight sound of the internal vent could be heard and the light was on. When I open the door it would turn the fan off.

Here’s the catch: I read about ten of these kinds of forums and I bought perfect replicas for ALL THREE switches and did a full swap. Much to my dismay, as soon as I closed the door, it did the same thing! I know I couldn’t have installed them incorrectly or it wouldn’t be doing it (or working at all). What else could need to be replaced? Are my other options going to “total” my microwave, meaning it will be cheaper or easier to just buy a new model?

Thanks!

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I just discovered the fan problem when I turned on my GE microwave - the fan turns on when the door is opened. Is it possible that the microwave is also running when the door is opened? I am concerned about safety.

BAS

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Hi,

What is the model number of the microwave oven?

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I have the same problem intermittently and found that if I knocked hard on the middle of the control panel it would turn the fan off. I t would usually work fine until I cooked something that created a lot of steam and then it would fail again. It turned out to be the Main Relay (Lamp Relay) sticking in the closed position.

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I had this same issue with my counter depth GE microwave. Fan and Light would both turn on any time the door was opened. It was the top (and primary) switch that was bad. It read closed circuit with door open or closed Replaced it and up and running just fine.

I took the bad switch apart and saw what happened. There was carbon build up on the pads, and when the microwave was turned on for cooking something big (like being on for 7 minutes) the resistance in the switch due to the carbon would create so much heat, it melted the switch so that the contacts were always closed. Replaced with a better quality switch so hope this does not happen again. Thanks Adam for the tips!!

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