 Door Switch replacement Brand: General Electric Model Number: JVM140G01 Age: More than 10 years
My father-in-law has this GE Over-the-Range microwave, built in 1989. The door handle broke a the attach points, so I used information from elsewhere in this forum to partially open the inside door seal to get at the door handle screws and replace them with ones that better grip the door handle. I re-assembled everything and thought I had it fixed.
After re-assembly, I found that the control panel responded to heat, time, clock setting, and start commands, and that after pressing start, the light inside would come on, the timer would count down, and the light would go off after the clock ran out. But the fan did not run, and the microwave did not heat (water in a pyrex measuring cup).
I've read elsewhere that the most likely cause of this symptom is a bad door switch. The switch in the lower slot has a tab that clicks when pushed lightly with a screwdriver. I don't see anything similar in the upper slot.
I'd like to attempt to check, and if necessary, replace the door switch, and have read what I can on this web about that testing and repair. But it is not obvious to me how to get to the HV capacitor to discharge it (using the recommended discharge tool, 100K 25W resistor, insulated clip lead, and copper wire probe mounted to pvc pipe). It is also not obvious to me how to get at the door switch.
Do you have any schematics or photos that show how to get at these components on this or a similar model? Does the unit need to be pulled from its mount and set on a bench-top to do this testing and repair, or can it be done OTR?
My preference would be to simply replace this older unit with a new one, but my father-in-law insists on having this one repaired. I tried explaining that a service call would pretty much pay for a new one, but he's unmoved. So I'd like to attempt this repair myself, if I can see how to get at the HV cap and the door switch.
Thanks! | 
