What to do if the plate does not spin in the microwave

Most people have a microwave oven, and it makes reheating food much easier. The tray is a fragile device that ensures uniform heating - the container with food rotates, warming up with microwaves. A plate malfunction does not always attract attention, because the microwave oven continues to operate. However, there are several causes of failure and repair methods.

Why doesn't the plate spin in the microwave?

Rotating the tray is a modern improvement that allows you to reheat food in one go. Previously, people had to turn the dish themselves, turning on the oven several times. One cycle allows you to heat food evenly by rotating the plate.

Drip tray failure is not the most difficult problem that can arise with a microwave oven. The first thing you need to do is find out the reason, this will allow you to decide on the repair method - do it yourself or send it to the service department.

There are not many reasons why a plate may break; most of them can be checked and corrected with your own hands.

Burnt out light bulb

The light bulb for illuminating the internal chamber and the motor located in the tray operate on a sequential circuit on some models. In other words, if a light bulb breaks, the tray stops working. However, the solution here is the simplest - just replace the lighting element.

Foreign body interferes

The motor is hidden under a special part - a coupler. It is plastic and serves as support for the inner plate and protection of the engine. Traditionally, it has three branches on which the pallet is located. Sometimes a piece of food that falls out of the plate while turning can get stuck and prevent the coupler from turning. It will be enough to simply remove the foreign object.

Incorrect tray installation

The tray is not installed correctly, the wheels have moved after regular cleaning or too much food. The plate needs to be corrected.

Broken gears

A common problem is when one of the mechanisms fails. A bent or broken gear often stops the plate, preventing it from turning.

Broken shaft

It’s a very unpleasant factor when this part fails - replacement will be expensive; it’s easier to purchase new equipment. It is the shaft that is responsible for the movement of the pallet. Often the fault can be related to the wiring and lead to gearbox failure. But most often the shaft breaks due to the total weight of the dish placed in the microwave oven.

Important! When purchasing a microwave oven, be sure to read the user manual. And when using it further, take into account the load it can withstand.

The winding has short-circuited

Shorting the winding is unpleasant, but instantly recognizable: the smell of burnt varnish will appear in the inner chamber. A break following a short circuit will cause the motor to stop.

Sent contacts

A fairly simple problem that you can solve yourself. Detached contacts are usually visible to the naked eye, but to do this you will need to completely disassemble the stove.

What to do if the microwave does not spin the tray

Most causes can be corrected on your own, especially if the repair does not require disassembling the entire microwave oven. The lack of rotation of the plate in a working microwave oven is due to a malfunction of the rotating element.

In general, the following problems occur:

• damage to the engine (motor that provides rotation);
• gearbox malfunction;
• loose contacts and wires.

The last two problems can be corrected with the proper skills, but if the problem is in the motor, then it is better to send the microwave to a service center. Free diagnostics will at least allow you to determine the cause of the breakdown, and after that you can try to fix it yourself. But it is better to entrust the matter to specialists: if the breakdown is not serious, then the matter will not take much time.

The microwave works, but the plate does not spin

The first step is to pay attention to the obvious problems. Raise the pallet, determining the reliability of its fixation in place and the serviceability of the coupler with wheels. If there are dried pieces of food or other foreign objects, they must be removed. You also need to clean and wash the area under and around the tray - it is quite possible that grease and dirt have accumulated on the element and are preventing the plate from rotating.

The problem will be that the dish is too large or the displayed food touches the walls of the inner chamber. You need to try replacing the container or dividing the food. Otherwise, not only will the pan fail, but the reflective enamel of the inner chamber may also chip off.

The microwave heats up, but the tray does not spin

The above problems have been eliminated, the tray is installed properly and the surface is clean, then the fault is clearly technical. Breakdowns can be like this:

• the gears of the gearbox are bent;
• the torque shaft has failed;
• the motor winding has shorted or broken;
• contacts have come loose;
• microcircuits are burnt out.

All malfunctions result in a broken engine. The part is very expensive because it requires a complete replacement. It makes sense to take the microwave to a technical center. A microwave oven technician can easily replace the motor with a used one or repair the motor.

Important! It is not recommended to repair a broken engine yourself. The malfunction can be repaired, but such a repair will entail more serious problems and, quite likely, the need to completely replace the equipment.

What can you do at home if the tray in the microwave does not spin?

Serious problems are best left to the discretion of the technicians at the service center. But three problems can definitely be solved at home without calling a repairman. They all involve simple manipulations:

1. The light bulb has burned out. As already described, in some models the motor and the light bulb operate on the same line, and failure of the lighting device results in a non-functioning tray. All you have to do is buy and replace a light bulb.
2. A foreign body is in the way - often dried pieces of food, dried grease and dirt, or another element that accidentally got inside the microwave. For example, something could get caught on the bottom of the dish, and when rotated, it would fall off and roll under the tray. You need to clean the inner chamber, paying attention to the underside and remove any grease.
3. Incorrect installation of the pallet - everything is very simple here. You need to fix the plate in the correct position and check the operation of the oven again.

Important! Before carrying out any activities, it is necessary to de-energize the equipment - disconnect it from the network.

In case of any breakdowns, it is necessary to contact the service center

If your microwave stops working, including the drip tray spinning, there is no need to panic. You should try to fix possible problems, and also check the warranty period - it is quite possible that you will be able to get it covered under warranty. If the breakdown is caused by a failed motor, torn winding or loose contacts, contacting service is mandatory.

Attempting to repair it yourself may worsen the problem, or only temporarily fix it. It is best to take the microwave oven to a service center. The cost of repair rarely exceeds the cost of the microwave oven, only if the main unit fails.