Thor Microwave Repair

Thor's microwave is usually a drawer model, installed below a countertop or in an island, rather than a countertop or over-the-range unit. The drawer opens and closes on a motorized drive when you press the panel, and a set of interlock switches confirms it is fully closed before the magnetron is allowed to run. That added mechanism is what separates its repair calls from a typical microwave's.

The drive system is the most common trouble spot. A drawer that stalls partway, opens unevenly or will not close usually has a problem with the drive motor, its gears or the track rails, often caused by a spill or an object caught under the drawer. Interlock switches wear and stop reporting a closed drawer, so the unit will not start or shuts off mid-cycle. Touch panels can stop responding after a surge. When the drawer opens, the light comes on and the timer counts down but food stays cold, the high-voltage section, usually the magnetron, diode or capacitor, has failed.

Some checks are safe for owners. Make sure nothing is caught under the drawer or along the rails, and wipe out the track area. Check whether a child or control lock has been set. Turn the breaker off for a minute and back on to reset the electronics. Never remove the outer cover yourself: the high-voltage capacitor inside a microwave can hold a dangerous charge even after it is unplugged.

Our technician tests the drive motor and its switches, checks each interlock, and safely discharges the high-voltage circuit before testing the magnetron and its components. The drawer often has to come out of the cabinet for this work, which we plan for on the visit.

Because a microwave drawer costs considerably more than a countertop microwave and is sized to a specific opening, repairing drive, switch and board failures is usually the better choice. A failed magnetron on an older unit is the case where we will compare repair and replacement honestly.