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amontillado  
#1 Posted : Saturday, October 10, 2009 6:56:21 AM(UTC)
amontillado

Rank: Member

Groups: Registered
Joined: 10/7/2009(UTC)
Posts: 1

About a year ago, the bottom of the handle of my GE profile over the range type microwave, model JVM1490WD003 broke off. I looked into fixing it then and decided it wasn't worth it and just superglued the heck out of the thing and instructed my wife to ALWAYS grab the handle at the top. Needless to say, this only had temporary success, and last week while opening the door the top broke as well. So after reviewing the appropriate diagram downloaded from the GE website I located the appropriate replacement part, GE part number WB15X10070 (in the diagram is #1801), available from them at $55.50. I then checked around and found that this part was the same as part AP3185363 available from AppliancePartsPros.com for only $31.07. I ordered this and got it within 2 days- sweet. Today, after reviewing the available posts and videos and diagrams, I cautiously went about doing the repair. Here is how it went:

1) I unplugged the microwave.
2) I removed the 2 screws holding the vent (the one the goes horizontally above the door at the top of the microwave)- I carefully detached the vent (careful- plastic tabs that will break easily) from the microwave.
3) I removed the door from the microwave (this part is easy once you remove the vent- just lift the door up from the hinge side with the door open and the metal pins will come out of the holes in the brackets .
4) I placed the door front side down on a couple of big fluffy towels
5) I CAREFULLY pried the plastic outermost frame from the white outer door frame. I did this with a plastic food scraper thing I had. Even doing this, I broke off multiple little black plastic tabs that hold the thing in place . I cursed a lot. But I was able to get the thing off.
6) Then I removed the top handle screw from the door. This was not easy, as the jagged plastic thing that the screw goes into was broken and not easily grabbed. I had to use a drill with a bit to hollow out the broken plastic thing so I could grab onto it with pliers and unscrew the screw at the same time- success though.
7) The bottom handle screw is, of course, hidden underneath the inner metal portion of the door in a location you CANNOT get to without removing the inner metal piece. I removed the 6 screws holding this in place. While removing one, I realized the plastic (outer door frame) thing that it screwed into was cracked . THis broke off as I unscrewed it. I cursed again loudly.
I then, using several metal soup spoon handles, was able to carefully pry the metal away from the plastic tabs holding it in place. I did not crack the plastic frame , however I did break off a few off the tabs in the process.
8) After removing the metal portion, I was able to get to the bottom handle screw and using drill bit and pliers able to unscrew it.
9) I then attached the replacement handle part (this is the easiest part of the task), then snapped everything back into place. and replaced the FIVE (the plastic piece that one went into was broken off) screws etc.
10) I was afraid that without the 6th screw the door frame would be unstable and rattle around. However there were enough screws and plastic tabs still functioning that this did not occur. I reattached the door to the microwave and re-installed the vent. Success.
11) I have instructed my wife to use TWO hands when opening the door - one at the top and one at the bottom of the handle.
12) Next time this thing breaks I may need to just buy a new microwave (or entire door assembly which probably would be equal in price including this current repair.

Good luck to you.
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gtennant  
#2 Posted : Sunday, February 7, 2010 2:37:40 PM(UTC)
gtennant

Rank: Member

Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/7/2010(UTC)
Posts: 1

Originally Posted by: amontillado Go to Quoted Post
About a year ago, the bottom of the handle of my GE profile over the range type microwave, model JVM1490WD003 broke off. I looked into fixing it then and decided it wasn't worth it and just superglued the heck out of the thing and instructed my wife to ALWAYS grab the handle at the top. Needless to say, this only had temporary success, and last week while opening the door the top broke as well. So after reviewing the appropriate diagram downloaded from the GE website I located the appropriate replacement part, GE part number WB15X10070 (in the diagram is #1801), available from them at $55.50. I then checked around and found that this part was the same as part AP3185363 available from AppliancePartsPros.com for only $31.07. I ordered this and got it within 2 days- sweet. Today, after reviewing the available posts and videos and diagrams, I cautiously went about doing the repair. Here is how it went:

1) I unplugged the microwave.
2) I removed the 2 screws holding the vent (the one the goes horizontally above the door at the top of the microwave)- I carefully detached the vent (careful- plastic tabs that will break easily) from the microwave.
3) I removed the door from the microwave (this part is easy once you remove the vent- just lift the door up from the hinge side with the door open and the metal pins will come out of the holes in the brackets .
4) I placed the door front side down on a couple of big fluffy towels
5) I CAREFULLY pried the plastic outermost frame from the white outer door frame. I did this with a plastic food scraper thing I had. Even doing this, I broke off multiple little black plastic tabs that hold the thing in place . I cursed a lot. But I was able to get the thing off.
6) Then I removed the top handle screw from the door. This was not easy, as the jagged plastic thing that the screw goes into was broken and not easily grabbed. I had to use a drill with a bit to hollow out the broken plastic thing so I could grab onto it with pliers and unscrew the screw at the same time- success though.
7) The bottom handle screw is, of course, hidden underneath the inner metal portion of the door in a location you CANNOT get to without removing the inner metal piece. I removed the 6 screws holding this in place. While removing one, I realized the plastic (outer door frame) thing that it screwed into was cracked . THis broke off as I unscrewed it. I cursed again loudly.
I then, using several metal soup spoon handles, was able to carefully pry the metal away from the plastic tabs holding it in place. I did not crack the plastic frame , however I did break off a few off the tabs in the process.
8) After removing the metal portion, I was able to get to the bottom handle screw and using drill bit and pliers able to unscrew it.
9) I then attached the replacement handle part (this is the easiest part of the task), then snapped everything back into place. and replaced the FIVE (the plastic piece that one went into was broken off) screws etc.
10) I was afraid that without the 6th screw the door frame would be unstable and rattle around. However there were enough screws and plastic tabs still functioning that this did not occur. I reattached the door to the microwave and re-installed the vent. Success.
11) I have instructed my wife to use TWO hands when opening the door - one at the top and one at the bottom of the handle.
12) Next time this thing breaks I may need to just buy a new microwave (or entire door assembly which probably would be equal in price including this current repair.

Good luck to you.

I have bad news for you and anyone else who has one of these units. I have replaced the handle on mine twice, and am on point of doing the same again, or some more radical solution. It seems to me a design defect, as the handles all break in the same way at the same point. Does anybody have a solution, or has anybody gotten satisfaction out of GE? My advice: scrap the unit, replace with LG or some such.
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