Kitchenaid Microwave Oven Problem

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Has anyone had the following problem or have any suggestions as to a
fix?

Several months ago I installed a Kitchenaid Microwave/Convection
Oven combo (model kemc307kwh02). Right from the start two problems with
the microwave oven were evident:

If the door is opened while the oven is operating, the display still
indicates that the unit is cooking, the fan still runs, the timer
continues to count down, and the light remains on -- in short, it
appears in all respects that the oven is still microwaving, except that
the turntable stops. Closing the door starts the turntable again.

Second, when the microwave finishes its cycle, it turns off, beeps,
and displays the message "End" on the panel -- just as it should.
However, opening the door and removing the food, then closing the door
does not reset the program -- the "End" message is still displayed and
the reminder tones sound every minute until you press the "Cancel"
button. The manual clearly indicates that simply opening and closing
the door should reset the program.

I purchased the unit from Sears, and they first verified that the
unit was not continuing to microwave when the door was opened. They
then replaced the master control unit and the keypad TWICE with no
effect. They also checked every microswitch they could find, with no
effect. Finally, they declared the unit a lemon and ordered a
replacement. I installed the replacement a few days ago and ---- it
does the same thing!!!

I've called Kitchenaid several times, and they have verified each
time that these are problems, not features. However, they are also at
a loss to explain them. I'd just as soon get my money back and buy
another brand, but I have a feeling that will be difficult.

Has anyone else had these problems or have any suggestions as to a
fix???

Richard Sherman

 

[NSM]

Second, when the microwave finishes its cycle, it turns off, beeps,
and displays the message "End" on the panel -- just as it should.
However, opening the door and removing the food, then closing the door
does not reset the program -- the "End" message is still displayed and
the reminder tones sound every minute until you press the "Cancel"
button. The manual clearly indicates that simply opening and closing
the door should reset the program.

It's got to be a door switch - or the controller is not 'reading' the
switch.

 

[Sam Goldwasser]

Second, when the microwave finishes its cycle, it turns off, beeps,
and displays the message "End" on the panel -- just as it should.
However, opening the door and removing the food, then closing the door
does not reset the program -- the "End" message is still displayed and
the reminder tones sound every minute until you press the "Cancel"
button. The manual clearly indicates that simply opening and closing
the door should reset the program.

It's got to be a door switch - or the controller is not 'reading' the
switch.[/QUOTE]

And since a replacement unit did the same thing, a design flaw.

However, is there anything special about the installation? Any electronics
that might be interfering with it somehow, as unlikely as that sounds?

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[Jerry G.]

The problem you are describing is either the door switch, or a defect with
the controller.

To properly verify if it is not cooking with the door opened, a microwave
radiation meter is required. If you opened the door, and it was still
cooking, I have a feeling you would have certainly felt it, because you
would be standing too close. The problem is that if you felt the effect of
the microwave oven, this can be very dangerous.

Since they changed the oven, and the new one has the same type of unusual
operation, I would assume that you are experiencing a design fault. I would
have returned the oven immediately, and ask the dealer to exchange it for
another make and model.

From what I have read in the consumer reports in the past, there are other
manufactures of microwave ovens who had excellent reviews. From my
experience from both using and servicing them, I very strongly like most of
the Panasonic models, and some models of the GE. The LG units are also very
good.

In the Kitchenade, their refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers, and
stoves are excellent. I would not rate their microwave ovens as one of their
best. I have a number of major appliances in Kitchenade, and they are more
than excellent from my own experience.

You may no longer be able to exchange your microwave oven. Rather than live
with it, you may have to bite the bullet, just bin it, and get a better one
of another make.

One thing you can do that would be a very good annoyance, is to send it back
to their head office by carrier with long letter of all the faults, and how
unhappy you are. You will certainly get a response from them. When they
call, you can then give them a good talking on the phone about it! I am
sure that they are aware of the faults, but it is their service contractors
who are not caring enough, or they are tied by the faults it has.

As you know, when you open the door of any microwave oven, it is supposed to
completely stop, and only the utility light should be on. The display should
stop counting, and on many models, indicate a warning to close the door, and
press start to continue, or press stop to end.

Actually speaking, when using any microwave oven, it is proper and safer
practice to press stop one time before opening the door. The cooking process
should stop. A second pressing of the stop button should normally terminate
the cooking cycle.

Opening the door while it is working is harder on the microswitches in some
models. It also creates a situation if in the case that there are any
defective microswitches, there is the increased chance of radiation exposure
to the person who is opening the door, and anyone else in the immediate
area. After closing the door, pressing the start button should continue the
cooking process, as long as the job task has not been terminated.

Most likely, if you used the oven in the manner in which I am explaining
here, it would probably server you well.

--

Jerry G.
======


Has anyone had the following problem or have any suggestions as to a
fix?

Several months ago I installed a Kitchenaid Microwave/Convection
Oven combo (model kemc307kwh02). Right from the start two problems with
the microwave oven were evident:

If the door is opened while the oven is operating, the display still
indicates that the unit is cooking, the fan still runs, the timer
continues to count down, and the light remains on -- in short, it
appears in all respects that the oven is still microwaving, except that
the turntable stops. Closing the door starts the turntable again.

Second, when the microwave finishes its cycle, it turns off, beeps,
and displays the message "End" on the panel -- just as it should.
However, opening the door and removing the food, then closing the door
does not reset the program -- the "End" message is still displayed and
the reminder tones sound every minute until you press the "Cancel"
button. The manual clearly indicates that simply opening and closing
the door should reset the program.

I purchased the unit from Sears, and they first verified that the
unit was not continuing to microwave when the door was opened. They
then replaced the master control unit and the keypad TWICE with no
effect. They also checked every microswitch they could find, with no
effect. Finally, they declared the unit a lemon and ordered a
replacement. I installed the replacement a few days ago and ---- it
does the same thing!!!

I've called Kitchenaid several times, and they have verified each
time that these are problems, not features. However, they are also at
a loss to explain them. I'd just as soon get my money back and buy
another brand, but I have a feeling that will be difficult.

Has anyone else had these problems or have any suggestions as to a
fix???

Richard Sherman

 

[Richard]

Thanks for the replies. I agree with the controller/switch assessments
-- but what are the odds that 4 controllers (3 in the original unit and
1 in the new one ) would all be bad? Or that the switches would also
be bad in two units? I'm beginning to think, though, that both units
and all the controllers might come from the same subcontractor or
assembly plant -- i.e., there is a batch of these things out there
coming from the same source.

As far as electronics interfering -- the problems occur consistently,
whereas other devices nearby (i.e. remote phone) are not always on.
Just to be sure, I will unplug everything and see if that makes a
difference.

The installation seems ok. The unit is on its own 50amp 220 circuit,
and the wiring in the house is about 12 years old.

Thanks again.

 

[NSM]

Thanks for the replies. I agree with the controller/switch assessments
-- but what are the odds that 4 controllers (3 in the original unit and
1 in the new one ) would all be bad? Or that the switches would also
be bad in two units? I'm beginning to think, though, that both units
and all the controllers might come from the same subcontractor or
assembly plant -- i.e., there is a batch of these things out there
coming from the same source.

It happens. A good tech can figure it out.

 

[Richard]

PROBLEMS FIXED!!!

Sometimes what seems complicated is actually very simple. We had an
electrician check the oven circuit yesterday and in very short order he
found a faulty grounding problem inside the service panel. A simple
fix and both the problems I described went away --- opening the mw door
during the cooking cylcle completely shuts down the unit, and closing
the door and pressing "start" again resumes the program where it left
off. The other problem is also gone -- removing food at the end of the
cycle resets the display simply by closing the door.

Although I have been very happy with Sears service in most ways, it
seems to me this whole saga might have been avoided had they checked
the ground at the junction box where the oven is wired into the circuit
as one of the *first* trouble shooting steps. They would have
discovered that the ground was faulty, and had me hire an electrician
to fix that problem at my own expense. Of course, it was easy to
assume the circuit must be ok since a previous wall oven combo had been
working just fine for 12 years......

Anyway, thanks to all of you who gave me advice. I hope my experience
can help you in the future.

Richard

 

[Travis Jordan]

PROBLEMS FIXED!!!

Great...and what a story! I never would have thought that a bad ground
(more likely, a bad neutral) would have caused the symptoms you
described. But now that we have the 'rest of the story' I can see how
that would happen.

Thanks for the follow up.