Sharp Carousel microwaves - oh, the horror!

[Ablang]

The only reason Sharp isn't listed here is because they fail
so radically by computer failure, catching on fire, etc. etc.
that no-one has the piece of crap things fixed due to the cost
of getting "hopefully" one more year out of a dead dog.

They ALWAYS fail shortly after warranty.


-----Original Message-----

Look what they say about it.

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/...rs-reliability/brand-repair-history/index.htm

The graph shows the percentage of the following brands of over-the-
range (OTR) microwave ovens bought between 2003 through 2007 that have
ever been repaired or had a serious problem. Differences of less than
3 points are not meaningful. KitchenAid has been the most-repair prone
brand. While we lacked enough data for all years to include Sharp in
the chart, we have sufficient data to conclude that it has been a
repair-prone brand. Models within a brand may vary, and changes in
design or manufacture may affect reliability. Still, choosing a brand
with a good repair history can improve your odds of getting a reliable
model.

 

[Jerry]

The only reason Sharp isn't listed here is because they fail
so radically by computer failure, catching on fire, etc. etc.
that no-one has the piece of crap things fixed due to the cost
of getting "hopefully" one more year out of a dead dog.

They ALWAYS fail shortly after warranty.

Not true, mine failed WAY before the warranty was up! <G>

Actually, mine was an assembly problem. The flex circuit contact pad
underneath the 4 little jellybean-sized exterior buttons was
misaligned, causing the pressing of the Start button to be a very hit-
or-miss proposition. Flex circuit pad replaced and correctly aligned
under warranty.

I'm still waiting for the infamous post-warranty-display-failure.

The problem with Sharp warranty service is that it's difficult to find
a repair shop that will fix them under warranty. Out of the 5 or 6
warranty service providers listed on the Sharp website for the Phoenix
area, I only found 1 that would do microwave warranty service.
Comments from the other shops indicated that they had big problems
getting paid by Sharp for warranty work.

Jerry

 

[Sam Goldwasser]

Not true, mine failed WAY before the warranty was up! <G>

Actually, mine was an assembly problem. The flex circuit contact pad
underneath the 4 little jellybean-sized exterior buttons was
misaligned, causing the pressing of the Start button to be a very hit-
or-miss proposition. Flex circuit pad replaced and correctly aligned
under warranty.

I'm still waiting for the infamous post-warranty-display-failure.

The problem with Sharp warranty service is that it's difficult to find
a repair shop that will fix them under warranty. Out of the 5 or 6
warranty service providers listed on the Sharp website for the Phoenix
area, I only found 1 that would do microwave warranty service.
Comments from the other shops indicated that they had big problems
getting paid by Sharp for warranty work.

I guess they've gone downhill....

I have a Sharp Carousel II (not built-in) from 1987 that's still fine,
hasn't needed repairs.

--- sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/
Repair | Main Table of Contents: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/
+Lasers | Sam's Laser FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/lasersam.htm
| Mirror Sites: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/F_mirror.html

Important: Anything sent to the email address in the message header above is
ignored unless my full name AND either lasers or electronics is included in the
subject line. Or, you can contact me via the Feedback Form in the FAQs.

 

[James Sweet]

I guess they've gone downhill....

I have a Sharp Carousel II (not built-in) from 1987 that's still fine,
hasn't needed repairs.

--- sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/
Repair | Main Table of Contents: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/
+Lasers | Sam's Laser FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/lasersam.htm
| Mirror Sites: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/F_mirror.html

Important: Anything sent to the email address in the message header above is
ignored unless my full name AND either lasers or electronics is included in the
subject line. Or, you can contact me via the Feedback Form in the FAQs.

What part fails so often? Microwaves are all so similar inside from one
brand/model to the next, I've seen bad door switches, bad diodes, bad
capacitors, cracked solder joints on the control board, and one bad
magnetron, all of this spread out among brands with none jumping out at
me as being especially good or especially bad. The overall build quality
has dropped since the 80s for sure though, but so has purchase price.

 

[Jerry]

I guess they've gone downhill....

I have a Sharp Carousel II (not built-in) from 1987 that's still fine,
hasn't needed repairs.

Google "sharp microwave display failure" and see how many hits you
get.

Jerry

 

[Jim Yanik]

I guess they've gone downhill....

I have a Sharp Carousel II (not built-in) from 1987 that's still fine,
hasn't needed repairs.

I have a 600W Sharp Carousel from 1979 that I replaced a shorted HV cap
after 20+ years of use,and it's STILL working fine.
It's got a larger cavity than the MWs of today.

 

[Beemer]

The only reason Sharp isn't listed here is because they fail
so radically by computer failure, catching on fire, etc. etc.
that no-one has the piece of crap things fixed due to the cost
of getting "hopefully" one more year out of a dead dog.

They ALWAYS fail shortly after warranty.


-----Original Message-----

Look what they say about it.

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/...rs-reliability/brand-repair-history/index.htm

The graph shows the percentage of the following brands of over-the-
range (OTR) microwave ovens bought between 2003 through 2007 that have
ever been repaired or had a serious problem. Differences of less than
3 points are not meaningful. KitchenAid has been the most-repair prone
brand. While we lacked enough data for all years to include Sharp in
the chart, we have sufficient data to conclude that it has been a
repair-prone brand. Models within a brand may vary, and changes in
design or manufacture may affect reliability. Still, choosing a brand
with a good repair history can improve your odds of getting a reliable
model.

My Sharp Carousel Convection Microwave is over 30 years old and still used
everyday. Only problem was a cracked front glass which I replaced.

regards,

Beemer

 

[TMI]

My turntable died just last night. The spindle still turns but it
stops when I put the tray back on. I have one of the combo
Convection / Microwave and it has to be from 1985 if it's a day.
Anyone have a dead one they can harvest the turntable motor from?

Thanks!

TMI

 

[jg2005]

The only reason Sharp isn't listed here is because they fail
so radically by computer failure, catching on fire, etc. etc.
that no-one has the piece of crap things fixed due to the cost
of getting "hopefully" one more year out of a dead dog.

They ALWAYS fail shortly after warranty.

-----Original Message-----

Look what they say about it.

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/appliances/kitchen-appliances/micr...

The graph shows the percentage of the following brands of over-the-
range (OTR) microwave ovens bought between 2003 through 2007 that have
ever been repaired or had a serious problem. Differences of less than
3 points are not meaningful. KitchenAid has been the most-repair prone
brand. While we lacked enough data for all years to include Sharp in
the chart, we have sufficient data to conclude that it has been a
repair-prone brand. Models within a brand may vary, and changes in
design or manufacture may affect reliability. Still, choosing a brand
with a good repair history can improve your odds of getting a reliable
model.

I must have been very lucky. I have 3 Sharp Carousels in different
locations. One twenty years old, one eight years old & one two years
old. Have not had one thing go wrong with any of them thankfully.

 

[James Sweet]

It may just be the drive cube (the plastic square/triangular/three armed
part that the turntable sits on) that is cracked, it`s usually a D
shaped shaft on a Crouzet motor, and often fail.

Ron(UK)

And if you need a motor, send me a picture of it, I have a pile of
assorted turntable motors, might have one you can make work.