Counted from our technicians' notes on 29 GE microwave service calls.
Light's on, fan's running, food's still cold
When the light, fan and turntable all work but nothing heats, the magnetron, the high-voltage diode, the high-voltage capacitor and the door switches are the parts to suspect. GE offers no do-it-yourself advice for this one. Unplugging the microwave doesn't make it safe inside, because the capacitor stays charged with enough voltage to hurt you.
Dead, frozen keypad, or a turntable that won't turn
A completely dead unit starts with the breaker and a lamp plugged into the outlet. GE microwaves can also shut themselves off for protection after a long cook or when the vents are blocked, so give it around 30 minutes. Still no power? Then an internal fuse, a door switch or a control fault is likely. A blown fuse usually has a cause behind it.
Keypads can lock out when a program was left unfinished or a delay start is set. GE says to cut power for 30 seconds and reprogram. Pads that are still dead after that point to the keypad or control board.
For a stuck turntable, check that the plate is right side up and centered on the drive, and that the roller ring is clean. Some models also have a turntable on/off pad. With all of that sorted, a turntable that still won't turn has likely lost its motor.
Sparks and peeling paint inside
Arcing is typically caused by foil, metal utensils or a metal rack in the wrong spot. GE says small chips in the coating don't hurt performance. A hole in the cavity wall, or coating that's actively peeling, is a different matter, and the microwave should be replaced, not repaired.
The codes GE sees most
GE calls these its most common codes. Your model may not use all of them.
| Code | What it usually means |
|---|
| PF, 888 or 8888 | Nothing is broken. This appears after an install or once power returns from an outage. Press Clear/Off and set the clock again. |
| F1 | The cavity overheated and the thermal sensor now reads as an open circuit. |
| F2 | There's a short in the thermal sensor circuit. |
| F3 | The touchpad panel has a short. |
| F4 or F5 | A humidity sensor fault. F4 points to an open circuit and F5 to a short. |
| F6 | There's a short in the temperature probe. |
| Probe | You started a temperature cook, but the control can't read the probe. Either it's unplugged or its circuit is open. |
| 18 (power watch) | The electronic control has developed a problem. |
Try turning the breaker off, waiting 30 seconds and switching it back on. A code that survives that reset is a real fault worth diagnosing.
Looking after an over-the-range unit
- Hold a tissue under the vent with the fan on high. It should stay pinned in place.
- For a recirculating model that doesn't vent outside, replace the charcoal filter every 6 to 12 months.
- Clean the grease filters the way your owner's manual says.
Where the model number lives
Open the door and check the inside left wall. Over-the-range models may also have it underneath, toward the back.
After a Florida storm knocks the power out
Seeing PF or 8888 after an outage is expected. Clear it and set the clock again. A microwave that won't come back after an outage or surge is worth having checked before you replace it.