Can't remove it from above the range

On most over the range ovens, the screws for the control panel are on the top of the control panel. You usually have to remove the air deflector above it to acccess the screws.

Is this a countertop microwave or an over-the-rang (OTR) microwave? If it's a countertop model, you need to completely remove the outer case to get to the lightbulb. If it's and OTR microwave, there usually is an access cover located behind the grill vent. You can remove that grille vent by removing the 2 to 4 screws above the grill vent. Then either slide the grill vent 1/4" to the left to remove it, or else (depending on the model), just pull out the top of the grill vent, followed by the bottom. Then you should be able to see the lightbulb access cover. Usually there is 1 screw that you have to remove. But unplug the microwave before you to any further! Now remove the screw, lift up and remove the cover, and you should be able to get to the light bulb.

Sound like a magnetron go to bad; here are the steps we took to replace it

Warning: You are not an electrician or repairman, following steps are from my experience. You should be careful while handling capacitor and other parts.

Unplug Microwave at least few hours before
Remove Microwave from above oven range by somebody holding Microwave from ground unscrew the screws from cabinet
Remove top cover of Microwave
Make sure to keep screws correctly in a place you remember what goes where
Make sure capacitor is discharged, GE manual inside Microwave says capacitor will discharge within 30 seconds once it is off. As a precaution check the voltage in capacitor to make sure there is no electricity
Remove other panels around magnetron part
You need to remove lot of connecting wires, should be careful to note down what goes where
If possible take digital photos to refer back when you put everything back together
You may need to remove transformer to easily remove and replace Magnetron. If you can't remove Magnetron easily then remove bottom panel of the Microwave and remove transformer
Now it should be easy to remove magnetron
Replace new magnetron and screw it. We had to put one outside part from old magnetron to new one because new one was missing that. Check to make sure both old and new one are exactly the same
Make sure put all wires properly back
Now put transformer back and screw it
Put capacitor panel in place and screw it
This might be a good time to test the Microwave to make sure it works fine now
Now cover the top panels and start to screw everything
Once everything assembled put the Microwave back above range put screws from top




Microwave Front and inside




Magnetron and transformer




Magnetron cover

Hope this helps (remember to rating this free answer).

The oven interior bulb is on the top. Look closely at the grille above the door. There are two recessed screws that hold the grille in place. Remove these and carefully pull the grille straight out. You may have to wiggle it a bit - it's a tight fit on most of those I've serviced. Look in the center of the oven above the door. There is a sheet metal cover held in place with one or two screws (usually one, plus a plastic tab going into a slot in the sheet metal). Remove this screw and pull out the sheet metal. You will see the light bulb and the microwave stirring plate motor. Note that the instructions say you should unplug the oven before changing the light bulb. GE's lawyers are afraid you'll stick your fingers in the wrong place and somehow get shocked if you don't have the power removed.

you have a problem with your magnetron tube, and when the magnetron tube goes bad, the diode almost always goes out with it. you should be able to order a replacement tube from your manufacturers website, if you cant let me know and ill try to help you more.

here are the steps to replace the magnetron tube, if you want to do it yourself that is. if you have a professional do it, it can be pretty costly.

1. Unplug Microwave at least few hours before
2. Remove Microwave from above oven range by somebody holding Microwave from ground unscrew the screws from cabinet
3. Remove top cover of Microwave
4. Make sure to keep screws correctly in a place you remember what goes where
   
5. Make sure capacitor is discharged, GE manual inside Microwave says capacitor will discharge within 30 seconds once it is off. As a precaution check the voltage in capacitor to make sure there is no electricity
   
6. Remove other panels around magnetron part
7. You need to remove lot of connecting wires, should be careful to note down what goes where
   
8. If possible take digital photos to refer back when you put everything back together
   
9. You may need to remove transformer to easily remove and replace Magnetron. If you can't remove Magnetron easily then remove bottom panel of the Microwave and remove transformer
   
10. Now it should be easy to remove magnetron
    
11. Replace new magnetron and screw it. We had to put one outside part from old magnetron to new one because new one was missing that. Check to make sure both old and new one are exactly the same
    
12. Make sure put all wires properly back
    
13. Now put transformer back and screw it
    
14. Put capacitor panel in place and screw it
    
15. This might be a good time to test the Microwave to make sure it works fine now
    
16. Now cover the top panels and start to screw everything
17. Once everything assembled put the Microwave back above range put screws from top

it is mostly fault of magnetron tube inside Microwave. ge has a 10 year warrenty on this part and they can fix it for you for 200$ OR you can order the part from the web and install it yourself. when the magnetron goes out, the diode almost always goes out too so you'll need another of those too. so if you dont want to replace these then buy a new one if not the the steps to repairing are:

1. Unplug Microwave at least few hours before
2. Remove Microwave from above oven range by somebody holding Microwave from ground unscrew the screws from cabinet
3. Remove top cover of Microwave
4. Make sure to keep screws correctly in a place you remember what goes where
   
5. Make sure capacitor is discharged, GE manual inside Microwave says capacitor will discharge within 30 seconds once it is off. As a precaution check the voltage in capacitor to make sure there is no electricity
   
6. Remove other panels around magnetron part
7. You need to remove lot of connecting wires, should be careful to note down what goes where
   
8. If possible take digital photos to refer back when you put everything back together
   
9. You may need to remove transformer to easily remove and replace Magnetron. If you can't remove Magnetron easily then remove bottom panel of the Microwave and remove transformer
   
10. Now it should be easy to remove magnetron
    
11. Replace new magnetron and screw it. We had to put one outside part from old magnetron to new one because new one was missing that. Check to make sure both old and new one are exactly the same
    
12. Make sure put all wires properly back
    
13. Now put transformer back and screw it
    
14. Put capacitor panel in place and screw it
    
15. This might be a good time to test the Microwave to make sure it works fine now
    
16. Now cover the top panels and start to screw everything
17. Once everything assembled put the Microwave back above range put screws from top

When the microwave is not heating, that means the magnetron is not working. This is what provides the heat to the microwave. I do believe the magnetron has a 10 year warranty.

If you wish to replace it, here is how:

1. Unplug Microwave at least few hours before
2. Remove Microwave from above oven range by somebody holding Microwave from ground unscrew the screws from cabinet
3. Remove top cover of Microwave
4. Make sure to keep screws correctly in a place you remember what goes where
   
5. Make sure capacitor is discharged, GE manual inside Microwave says capacitor will discharge within 30 seconds once it is off. As a precaution check the voltage in capacitor to make sure there is no electricity
   
6. Remove other panels around magnetron part
7. You need to remove lot of connecting wires, should be careful to note down what goes where
   
8. If possible take digital photos to refer back when you put everything back together
   
9. You may need to remove transformer to easily remove and replace Magnetron. If you can't remove Magnetron easily then remove bottom panel of the Microwave and remove transformer
   
10. Now it should be easy to remove magnetron
    
11. Replace new magnetron and screw it. We had to put one outside part from old magnetron to new one because new one was missing that. Check to make sure both old and new one are exactly the same
    
12. Make sure put all wires properly back
    
13. Now put transformer back and screw it
    
14. Put capacitor panel in place and screw it
    
15. This might be a good time to test the Microwave to make sure it works fine now
    
16. Now cover the top panels and start to screw everything
17. Once everything assembled put the Microwave back above range put screws from top

There is a considerable amount of weight to lower. It is an easier removal with the range pulled out and moved to the side. If you choose to move the range, be sure to protect the floor. Unplug the microwave. The plug should be in the cabinet above the range. There are two screws in the cabinet above that screw down into the top and support the front. These are the only fasteners that hold the machine directly. An assistant would be nice to have to help with the weight. While supporting the microwave, remove the two screws and slowly lower the front of the microwave pulling the cord out of the cabinet above as you go. Once the cord is free, tilt the machine down in front until the back can be lifted up off the plate that is fastened to the wall.

Hi there,

If you only need to remove the oven from the housing, there will be (should be!) 2 small screws at each side of the trim, 2 top and 2 bottom. Remove these and the oven should slide straight out. These screws will be into the side panels of the housing, but there may only be two fitted! Depending what you are intending to do next, you may have to disconnect the supply cable and/or dismantle the oven to replace parts. You will need two people to lower it to the floor, have a stool or similar handy in case the cable length is too short to allow this.

Good Luck
Thanks

A possible solution:
I was facing the same problem with my (1998?) GE JVM48006. In this models case, the microwave was housed in a support cabinet that was fastened to the wall behind. First, I removed the phillips head screws behind the louvered vent above the microwave. Then, I removed the screws of the slanted bottom panel that give access to servicing the stove top lights (underneath the unit) which were integrated into the support cabinet (separate from the microwave itself). On the right side was an electrical wire harness hidden behind a cover that had to be unplugged (similar to a car wiring harness). Then, I removed (4) 5.1/2 inch hex head bolts that secured the unit through the cabinet above. Now I was able to slide the microwave out towards the front (with some rocking back and forth). All that was left then was to remove the support housing (fastened to the back wall).