If you’ve worked on other appliances, you can replace a worn microwave touchpad. The all-digital LEDs on the microwave touch pad don’t last forever. One or two will go out and then, perhaps, a few more. But you don’t have to guess how many minutes or seconds are left when you’re using the appliance. Nor do you need to panic if the protective plastic covering over the numeric display gets punctured. There are no moving parts on touch pads, so replacing them is easy if you can get the touchpad off. If you can’t figure out how to remove it, have the microwave serviced.
Before talking about what you can do with your microwave, it’s important to know that you should never take the cover off and try to work on the inside. Microwaves have electronic circuit boards, magnetrons (generators), transformers, and capacitors. The capacitor stores energy. So even if you unplug the microwave, you can encounter high levels of voltage that pack a powerful punch if you inadvertently touch the capacitor.
Here are the steps for removing and replacing the touch pad.
Unplug the microwave.
Get the model and serial number from your instruction book or the data plate that the manufacturer installed on the back of the microwave.
You need that information when you go to the appliance parts service center.
Look at the touch pad to find out whether it snaps out or is screwed into place. Take it out.
If the reverse side of the touch pad is plugged into the wires of the microwave, unplug them from the wiring harness.
Don’t worry, they’re not hot.
Plug the new touch pad to the wiring harness.
Reattach the touch pad to the front of the microwave the same way you took it apart.
Plug in the microwave and put it back on the shelf or counter.
You’ll love having numbers to look at once again.