The microwave does not heat..after reading everything about the magnetron my one question is this an easy job that an ammature can tackle or do I really need to call in a service man?

You are looking either a High Voltage Transformer or a Magnetron. These are only sold directly to authorized service technicians as the voltage that runs through them is extremely dangerous to work with.

I would find a local repair shop in your area that works on Microwaves and take it to them.

Hello there,

When your microwave oven starts to zap, then eventually does not heat up, it means there is a problem inside the unit of the microwave. There are some parts to check inside the microwave before you can tell the exact component that is faulty and to know if replacement will do the job for you.

The three (3) main parts to be tested are the power diode, the high voltage capacitor and the magnetron.

But since all other components are working like the fan, light and clock, then it is most likely the magnetron. Here is how to test and replace the magnetron of your microwave.
HOW TO TEST THE MAGNETRON
Before you test this component, make sure your microwave is unplugged, and that you have discharged the capacitor.
There are two tests to conduct in order to determine whether or not a magnetron has become defective. If you receive results other than what are detailed below, you will have to replace your microwave's magnetron. Each test is described for you here:
TEST 1: Locate your magnetron and label each of the wires attached to it so that you know which wires are to be replaced where. Set your ohmmeter to the lowest resistance scale. Take a resistance measurement between each of the magnetron's terminals by touching each probe to one terminal each. Reverse the probes and take a second resistance measurement. Each measurement should read less than one ohm.
TEST 2: Set your ohmmeter to its highest resistance scale. Touch one of the meter's probes to a magnetron terminal. Touch the other probe to the metal magnetron housing. Take special caution to not touch the two probes together. This could result in an inaccurate reading. This test should produce a reading of infinity - indicating an open circuit.
Magnetron replacement
Have a certified and experienced appliance repair technician examine and replace your magnetron. This task is much too dangerous for the average layman to perform on his own.

Hope this helped.

Elect_Comp

Hello there,

When your microwave oven starts to zap, then eventually does not heat up, it means there is a problem inside the unit of the microwave. There are some parts to check inside the microwave before you can tell the exact component that is faulty and to know if replacement will do the job for you.

The three (3) main parts to be tested are the power diode, the high voltage capacitor and the magnetron.

But since all other components are working like the fan, light and clock, then it is most likely the magnetron. Here is how to test and replace the magnetron of your microwave.
HOW TO TEST THE MAGNETRON
Before you test this component, make sure your microwave is unplugged, and that you have discharged the capacitor.
There are two tests to conduct in order to determine whether or not a magnetron has become defective. If you receive results other than what are detailed below, you will have to replace your microwave's magnetron. Each test is described for you here:
TEST 1: Locate your magnetron and label each of the wires attached to it so that you know which wires are to be replaced where. Set your ohmmeter to the lowest resistance scale. Take a resistance measurement between each of the magnetron's terminals by touching each probe to one terminal each. Reverse the probes and take a second resistance measurement. Each measurement should read less than one ohm.
TEST 2: Set your ohmmeter to its highest resistance scale. Touch one of the meter's probes to a magnetron terminal. Touch the other probe to the metal magnetron housing. Take special caution to not touch the two probes together. This could result in an inaccurate reading. This test should produce a reading of infinity - indicating an open circuit.
Magnetron replacement
Have a certified and experienced appliance repair technician examine and replace your magnetron. This task is much too dangerous for the average layman to perform on his own.

Hope this helped.
Elect_Comp

Hi,

This no heating is highly suggestive of a faulty magnetron.Due to the faulty magnetron, the oven is not heating.Read :-

http://www.gallawa.com/microtech/mag_test.html

Note - Changing magnetron is REALLY dangerous. Kindly take all the precautions while repairing it.

Let me know,if needed further assistance.

Hope i helped you.

Thanks for using ' Fixya ' and have a nice day!!

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

When you say that the microwave won't turn on, can I assume that you mean that the food does not heat up! If that is the case, the problem lies with the magnetron circuit. This circuit consists of the transformer, rectifier and the magnetron, the part that generates the microwaves to heat the food. If it is the magenetron, then it probally not worth fixing since the cost to purchase the magnetron is almost as much as a new oven. To diagnose if it is the magnetron that has failed, when you turn on the oven, do you hear a louder that normal hum or buzzing sound? If that is the case, then it means that the magnetron is shorted and needs to be replaced.

Hope this helps.

It's most likely the Magnetron. The are not very easy to install and quite expensive. Older models magnetrons cost about 80 bucks from GE. It's probably not something you would want to try and repair yourself. Call a GE service person.

Sounds like the magnetron has failed. It is the magnetron that generates the microwaves that heat the food. If it or the circuit that powers it fails then it stops heating. There are some high voltage circuits that feed the magnetron and you can potentially get hurt if you don't know what you are doing. Would recommend you have it serviced by a professional if you want it fixed, otherwise look for a new one since the cost of repair can come close to the price of a new microwave oven.

Is very unlikely that there could be any other electrical failure since everything else seems to be working.
If you are able to fix it yourself then is way more cheaper just to buy the magnetron.
Click here to find the magnetron.
Before you do any work on this device, please click here to know how to discharge the high voltage capacitor and other safety concerns when working with devices that generate high voltages.
I would say is not worth it to spend more then $100.00 for a 5+ years old microwave.
Good Luck.

It has a bad magnetron. This is the tube that provides the microwaves to heat the food. Not too easy to replace yourself but it can be done. Cost of magnetron is probably less than $50 or $60.