How to Replace a Microwave Turntable Motor (with Video!)

Is your microwave leaving your leftovers ice-cold or emitting strange sounds? The culprit might be a faulty turntable motor, but don’t worry—it’s a problem you can tackle yourself. Dive into our comprehensive guide and check out the instructional video below to restore your microwave’s spinning magic without breaking the bank!

If you’re dealing with a microwave that’s making strange noises or not heating food evenly, it may be something wrong with the microwave’s turntable. Take a look inside the appliance while it’s running. If that glass plate in the middle isn’t turning your food, there’s a very good chance that the turntable motor has gone bad. Don’t fret, a broken turntable motor isn’t necessarily grounds for dumping your microwave (though if your microwave really is broken beyond repair, we’ve got a walkthrough for how to deal with that, too). Replacing a motor may seem like a big undertaking, but this job is fairly easy to do. By fixing it yourself, you’ll save some money while rescuing yourself from cold spots in your leftovers. Read on for a full step-by-step guide! 

Which Microwave Turntable Motor Should I Buy?

To find the right replacement motor for your microwave, you will need the make and model number of your appliance. There are plenty of resources online for tracking down compatible parts, and even more for ordering them once you have the correct part number. You should do your best to get the exact OEM (that’s original equipment manufacturer) part for your appliance. If you don’t, you risk getting a part that isn’t compatible. Here’s some tips for how to track down the part you need:

1. First, you’ll need your microwave’s model number. This should be on a sticker or tag somewhere on or inside your appliance. The tag is usually rectangular and will contain a number of different details about the microwave. You’re looking for a series of letters and numbers, usually marked by the word “model” or “mod.” The manual or the appliance manufacturer’s website can tell you exactly where to find this label on the appliance.
2. Search this model number on AppliancePartsPros.com. You will be able to find a complete listing of compatible replacement microwave turntable parts, making finding exactly the right part that fits the first time a breeze.
3. Order the part with the correct shipping timing. Once you’ve tracked down the specific correct part a compatible turntable motor order the part and select the correct shipping timing. Some customers need the part urgently in a couple days and some customers can afford to wait. Select the correct shipping for your needs. While you wait for the part to be delivered, read through the rest of this guide and watch the replacement video to prepare.

Safety Precautions to Take Before Working on a Microwave

It is vitally important that you take proper safety precautions before doing any repair work on a microwave. You should never take the cover off of the microwave and work on the inside. There are a number of components inside that could be dangerous even if the microwave has been unplugged for hours, or even days. Wear work gloves (preferably rubberized!) to protect against both the microwave’s sharp edges and potential shocks, and be sure to unplug the microwave and let it sit for at least sixty seconds before beginning any repairs.

The Tools You’ll Need to Replace a Microwave Turntable Motor

• A replacement turntable motor. Not sure where to find the part you need? Check AppliancePartsPros.com by the model number of your microwave, we might have what you’re looking for!
  
• A Phillips head screwdriver. Most microwaves use Phillips head ⁠— or crosshead ⁠— screws in their construction, and there will more than likely be a few of these standing between you and the turntable motor. Since it is easy to lose screws in the microwave cabinet, having a screwdriver with a magnetic head isn’t a bad idea. It’ll be easier to keep track of the screws that way.
  
• A flathead screwdriver. This will allow you to carefully pry a few necessary parts away from their seating.
  
• Work gloves. For safety!
  
• A multimeter. This optional tool is used to measure the voltage, resistance and current of a circuit. For this job, you would be using this tool to check whether power is being supplied to the motor. You do not necessarily need a multimeter to complete the repair, especially if you are positive that it’s the motor that is bad.

How to Replace Your Microwave’s Turntable Motor

Replacing the turntable motor is pretty straightforward once you know where to find it on the microwave. We’ve included a few extra steps in this list to further diagnose your microwave’s problem if it’s not specifically the motor causing trouble.

1. Check to make sure that the microwave’s turntable isn’t turned off. On some microwave models, the turntable can be disabled. This is usually done with the press of a button on the front panel. Consult the appliance’s manual to verify whether or not this is a feature your microwave has, and make sure that your microwave turntable hasn’t just been disabled. You could save yourself a ton of time this way!
2. Ensure the microwave is completely disconnected from its power source and let it stand for at least sixty seconds before beginning any repairs. Safety first! You can either unplug the microwave from the wall or flip the corresponding circuit breaker, but you should never do any repairs to any appliance while it is still powered.
3. Take out the glass tray and the support ring it’s sitting on. Open your microwave and remove both the glass tray and its support ring. Check the support ring to make sure it isn’t cracked, melted, or grimy enough to keep its wheels from spinning freely. Set them aside for now. They could get jostled while working, and it will be easier to install the new motor if they are out of the way.
4. Access and open the microwave’s bottom panel. Whether your microwave is wall mounted or countertop, it will have an access panel on the bottom that is typically held in place by 3 – 4 mounting screws or tabs. Unthread those screws and carefully lower the bottom panel. There may be a light fixture or other part attached to the panel, so be mindful of the wires. They will need to be disconnected to fully remove the panel.
   
   Now may be a good time to snap a photo of the underside of your microwave. You’ll want to make sure you get the motor in the picture. This will give you a quick photo reference for installing the new motor exactly like the original.
5. Remove the turntable drive motor. There should be two wires connected to the motor via a wire harness. Remove the wire harness. The motor may also be held in place by a few mounting screws. Unthread those with a Phillips screwdriver, holding onto the motor as you remove the final screw. You may need to turn the motor clockwise to fully remove it.
6. Check the coupler. The coupler is a plastic piece found inside the microwave’s main compartment that connects the motor to the turntable, allowing the plate to turn. While a broken coupler is less common than a broken motor, it’s still worth checking this part to make sure it isn’t cracked or otherwise damaged. Be gentle with this part as it could break during removal.
   
   You may be able to remove this part by working it out with a twisting motion, but it may also be partially glued into place. If you can’t just remove it by hand, carefully work a flathead screwdriver around the seam between the coupling and the microwave to free it. If it is damaged, this part could be the source of your problem and should be replaced. If it’s intact, set it aside for now and continue with the repair.
7. Check for gunk. Clogging could be stopping your microwave plate from turning properly, so check to make sure that nothing is too grimy. In particular, check the coupler, the opening it rests on, and the support ring. If any of these have any buildup or are particularly dirty, clean them off and test the microwave to see if the problem is fixed. If not, read on!
8. Optionally at this point, you can use a multimeter to confirm that the motor was the issue and that there isn’t a greater problem with the microwave. You’ll want to test the microwave for 120V. If there is no power coming to the turntable motor, this is a sign that there is a greater problem with the microwave than simply a bad motor.
9. Connect the new motor to the wire harness, refit the coupling, and install the new motor. Make sure it is secured firmly in place, but do not over tighten the screws. If you took a picture earlier, don’t forget to compare now.
10. Test and reassemble! Nice work, you’ve installed a new turntable motor in your microwave! You’ll likely want to test and ensure that it is working before screwing the bottom panel back in place. Put the microwave upright and temporarily reinsert the tray and support ring to test that the motor is working. If it is, you can reattach the bottom panel. If you find after doing the steps to replace your microwave still isn’t working correctly, please call or LiveChat us at AppliancePartsPros.com. 

Wrapping Up

If you followed these steps, your microwave should be back to successfully nuking leftover lasagna without making any unusual noises or leaving cold spots in your food. With your microwave back in working order, consider coming back our way for all of your other appliance repair needs. Whether you’re just looking for parts or seeking a specialized do-it-yourself guide, check out AppliancePartsPros.com. We’re always here to help!