Your KitchenAid Microwave Not Working? (9 Problems & Fixes!)

So your KitchenAid microwave not working but you have no idea why? Or maybe you’ve noticed a minor issue with the unit and you want to know how to fix it before it become a bigger issue? This guide is for you.  

Your KitchenAid microwave isn’t working because of a faulty door, damaged temperature sensor, blown thermal fuse, broken door switch, faulty thermal fuse, and power supply issue. Also, the line fuse may be broken, the control board may be faulty, or the buttons may be unresponsive.

In this KitchenAid troubleshooting guide, I’ll address each of these issues and give you the best possible solution.

What’s more?

You don’t have to spend any money in repair service, as these the quick fixes that I’ll share in this guide are easy to implement.

Let’s get to it.

Why Is My KitchenAid Microwave Not Working? (9 Reasons Explained)

The following table is a quick summary of why your KitchenAid microwave isn’t working and what you can do to fix the problem: 

1. You Haven’t Closed the Microwave’s Door

Your microwave will not start if you don’t close its door properly.

First, check to ensure there’s nothing blocking the door from closing. Second, push the door gently to close the unit and make sure it latches before you start using is.

If your microwave is new, remove the shipping space and any other packaging materials that might be preventing the door from closing and keeping the unit from starting. 

2. The Temperature Sensor Could Be Faulty

The work of the temperature sensor is to control the heat inside your Kitchenaid microwave. If the temperature sensor fails to work, the appliance won’t start – even if it has power supply.

You will need to replace the damaged temperature sensor with a new one. To do this:

• Remove the microwave from the kitchen cabinet.
• Take out the screws securing the rear panel to the microwave.
• Lift the rear panel off the appliance and locate the temperature sensor located near the convection housing.
• Remove the screws securing the temperature sensor to the mounting bracket and pull out the sensor.
• Now remove the top panel, find the main control board and disconnect the temperature sensor wires.
• Install the new temperature sensor, attach the wire to the main control board and secure it with a screw on the mounting bracket.
• Fix back the top and rear panels.
• Insert the microwave back into the kitchen cabinet.
• Fix back the turntable and the turntable support.
• Shut the door and plug the microwave back to power test if the microwave starts working.

3. The Thermal Fuse May Have Blown

The work of the thermal fuse is to cut off power from the appliance if it overheats. Your Kitchenaid microwave is not working because the thermal fuse has blown.

Use a multimeter to test the thermal fuse for continuity. If the thermal fuse fails the continuity test, replace it with a new one. (crej.com)

The first thing you need to do is to unplug the unit from power and discharge the capacitor. To discharge the capacitor, you can unplug appliance from power and let it stay for about 2 to 3 days or you can use a bulb if you don’t want to wait that long.

The second step is to replace the blown thermal fuse. To do this:

• Open the door.
• Remove both the turntable and its support.
• Using a screwdriver, take out the screws securing the mounting bracket to the kitchen cabinet.
• Pull the microwave forward to remove it and place it on a flat surface.
• Remove the screws securing the top panel to the microwave, pull forward to remove the front of the panel from the appliance.
• Remove the screws holding the thermal fuse, disconnect the two wires running to the fuse, and take the new thermal fuse and first connect it to the two wire
• Fix the new thermal fuse in the microwave and secure it using screws to hold it in place.
• Reinstall the top panel, slide the microwave back to the kitchen cabinet, and use screws to secure the microwave to the mounting brackets.
• Fix back the turntable and the turntable support and close the microwave door.
• Plug back to power and place in a cup of coffee or food to see if the repair worked.

4. Check the Door Switch

The door switch plays a very important role in your KitchenAid microwave.

Understand that your KitchenAid microwave can’t start if the door is not in the closed position. When you push the door to close, the door switch activates and sends a signal to the main control board that the machine is ready to work.

None of that happens if the door switch is faulty.

So if you’ve detected that your KitchenAid microwave isn’t working because the door switch is faulty, get a new door switch for replacement.

To replace the door switch:  

• Remove the screws that secure the top panel and take the panel off the microwave.
• Remove the screws securing the panel on your right to the microwave and pull the panel out.

Now that the top panel is out you should be able to locate the door switch. All you have to do now is to disengage the tabs holding the door switch inside the switch housing.

• Take the new door switch and connect the wires to the door switch terminals.
• Push the door switch into its housing once you have wires connected to the new door switch.
• Put your microwave back together and back into the kitchen cabinet.
• Plug the appliance back to power and test whether the new door switch is effective.

5. Power Supply Issues

A possible reason why your microwave is not turning on to warm your food is that you haven’t had it plugged into a power source. It’s also possible that the power outlet isn’t working.

This is an easy fix.  

Check to ensure you’ve connected the power cord to an operational power outlet. Also, the circuit breaker might have tripped or the household fuse blown.  

If the circuit breaker tripped, switch it back in replace. If you’re dealing with a blown fuse, get a new one for replacement.

6. The Line Fuse Might Be Faulty

Every KitchenAid microwave features a line fuse. The purpose of this fuse is to blow up when it detects too much current flowing via the circuitry.

If your unit isn’t working, there’s a high chance the line fuse is faulty.  Test the line fuse for continuity and replace it if it fails the test.

7. The Main Control Board is Faulty

Your KitchenAid microwave is not working probably because the main control board is faulty, although this is often a rare case.

Use a multimeter to test for continuity of all the components connected to the main control board. If some components show no continuity and they are hard to replace, you’ll have to replace the main control board.

To replace the current main control board with a new one:

• Turn off the microwave and unplug its power cord.
• Open the door and take out any racks together with the turntable and turntable support.
• Disconnect the ground wires and remove the two screws holding the mounting flange to the kitchen cabinet.
• Pull the unit out of the kitchen cabinet, set it on a flat table, and remove the four screws that hold the top access panel to the microwave.
• Lift the panel upwards and slide it forward to remove it.

You may want to note the orientation of the wire. Alternatively, you can sketch or take a picture of the connection so that when connecting the new main control board you don’t do a wrong connection.

• Pull the old main control board and disconnect all wires.
• Install the new main control board and connect the wires. Use the sketch you drew or the picture you took to confirm your connections.
• Place back the top access panel, secure it with screws, and return the microwave to the cabinet and push it in place.
• Use two screws to secure the microwave to the mounting bracket on the kitchen cabinet.
• Fix back the turntable and its support.
• Plug the microwave back into power and turn on the power supply.
• The microwave should now be up and running.

8. Kitchenaid Microwave Light Not Working

Your KitchenAid microwave light is not working because the filaments in the bulb has burned out, or the main control board or light socket is malfunctioning.

Use a multimeter to test whether the main control board is sending enough volts to turn on the light socket. If the volts sent from the main control board to the light socket are sufficient, test the light socket for continuity.

If the light socket doesn’t have continuity, replace it.

9. KitchenAid Microwave Start Button Not Working

If the start key on the KitchenAid microwave is not responding, the best thing to do is to replace the control panel.

To do this: 

• Turn off and unplug the microwave.
• Remove the two screws that secure the microwave to the kitchen cabinet.
• Remove the screw from the top center tab of the control panel.
• Lift the top locking tabs and slightly lift the top of the control panel.
• Lift the control panel’s bottom tabs out of the slots and pull them forward.
• Note the orientation of the wire connections and then disconnect them.
• Install the new control panel.
• Connect all the wires and reassemble the microwave.
• Connect it back to power and test the new control panel.

Kitchenaid Microwave Reset

If you see the PF id= 27 or (30) or ERR, it means that the microwave could use some reset.

Resetting a Kitchenaid microwave is simple.

Push the Cancel or Off button to clear the error. If the error doesn’t disappear, disconnect the appliance from power and give it a minute to reset.  

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why is My Kitchenaid Microwave Not Working?

There are several reasons why your Kitchenaid microwave is not working. You may have forgotten to connect the cord to power, the socket switch may be off, the thermal fuse may have blown, or the line fuse may be faulty.  

Check the door to ensure it closes fully because the door switch doesn’t engage I the door doesn’t close. And the microwave cannot start if the door switch doesn’t engage. The doors switch might also be faulty. If it’s the case, replace it.

2. Where is the Fuse on a Kitchenaid Microwave?

You can locate the fuse on the Kitchenaid microwave by removing the four screws securing the top access panel. Lift the panel then slide forward to remove it.

Remove the old fuse from the fuse holder and install the new one.

Place back the top access panel and secure it with the four screws. Return the microwave to the kitchen cabinet and push it into position.

3. Why is My Kitchenaid Microwave not Heating?

Your Kitchenaid microwave is not heating because the magnetron, the element responsible for heating food, is broken.

The thermal fuse may have also blow up because of a malfunctioning magnetron. The best solution is to replace the faulty magnetron.  

Final Thoughts

I hope this guide has helped you to understand why your KitchenAid microwave isn’t working properly. And by implementing the quick fixes that I’ve suggested, it should be easy to solve each problem without spending a dollar in repair service.