Microwave Not Spinning? Turntable and Noise Fixes

A microwave not spinning usually has a simple cause: the glass tray is off its coupler, the roller ring is out of its track or riding on crumbs, or the turntable has been switched off. All of those take a minute to check. If the tray is seated and switched on but still will not turn, the turntable motor under the floor has likely failed, and replacing it is a job for a technician.

Safety first: never open the cabinet

Every check here is done inside the cooking cavity, the part you use every day. Never remove the microwave's cover or outer cabinet, even to reach the turntable motor. The high-voltage capacitor inside can hold a dangerous charge after the microwave is unplugged, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission warns against do-it-yourself microwave repair.

Microwave not spinning: checks you can do yourself

Let the tray cool, and unplug the microwave (or switch off the breaker for an over-the-range model) before you wipe under the ring.

1. Seat the tray on the coupler. The coupler is the small plastic hub in the center of the floor; the ridges under the glass tray lock into it. Lift the tray, press the coupler down onto its shaft, then lower the tray until it drops into place. GE says the turntable should be centered, seated properly and right side up; upside down, it drags.
2. Check the roller ring. The ring with small wheels sits in the round track on the floor. GE says the tray should sit securely on it, and each wheel should roll freely.
3. Clean under the ring. GE says food or debris under the wheels can stop the turntable. Wash and dry the tray and ring, and wipe the floor and track.
4. Remove shipping material. On a new microwave, Whirlpool says to make sure all protective material and tape are off the turntable and hub.
5. Check the Turntable On/Off setting. Some models let you switch the turntable off, which Whirlpool says helps with dishes bigger than the tray. GE says to make sure it was not turned off by accident. Your manual shows which button controls it.
6. Start a cooking cycle, not the timer. GE says to be sure you are pressing a cook function rather than a timer function; a kitchen timer counts down without running the microwave. Test with a cup of water, never with the microwave empty.
7. Confirm yours has a turntable. Some microwaves are built without one and have a flat floor. If yours came without a glass tray, check the manual before hunting for a missing part.

Microwave stopped spinning but still heats

If the tray is seated, the ring is clean and the turntable setting is on, but the plate still does not move while the microwave heats, the fault is usually the coupler or the turntable motor.

• Coupler: look at it with the tray off. If it is cracked, chipped or its center hole is rounded out, it can spin on the shaft without turning the tray. A replacement for your model number slips onto the shaft from inside the cavity.
• Turntable motor: if a sound coupler still does not turn the tray during a cooking cycle, the small motor under the floor has probably failed. It sits inside the cabinet, so it needs a technician.

A plate that has stopped turning also cooks unevenly, because food sits in the same hot and cold spots. Stir or rotate food halfway through until it is fixed.

Turntable changes direction

Whirlpool says a turntable that turns one way on one cycle and the other way on the next is normal; the direction depends on how the motor starts.

Microwave making noise: what is normal

GE lists several sounds as normal:

• A dull thumping, clicking or humming at power levels below High, as the microwave cycles its power on and off.
• Clicks from relays right after you press Start.
• A cooling fan that runs the whole time the microwave is in use, and for a few seconds after the cycle ends, even with the door open.
• On over-the-range models, a vent fan that can come on by itself when the microwave gets too hot.

A soft, steady hum from the turntable motor while the plate turns is normal too.

Turntable noise: thumping, rumbling or grinding

Whirlpool says a thumping or rumbling sound can mean the turntable is not installed correctly or the support roller is not working properly, and LG says a tray or stand out of position can cause noise during rotation. LG also points to food buildup inside the cavity, and warns that cookware with gold, silver or metallic trim can spark. Reseat the tray and ring, clean them, and use plain microwave-safe dishes.

When to call a technician: a grinding or scraping noise that continues with the tray and ring seated and clean. A worn turntable motor or a problem under the floor is the usual cause.

A loud buzz with no heat: stop and call

A loud buzz, growl or harsh hum that is new, especially with food coming out cold, is not a turntable problem. It usually points to the high-voltage parts that make the heat, such as the magnetron. Stop using the microwave, unplug it or switch off its breaker, and book a repair. Do the same for sparking, popping or a burning smell. Our guide to a microwave not heating explains those parts.

What usually fails

• Coupler: the tray wobbles, slips or turns only when nudged.
• Roller ring: a broken or stiff wheel causes thumping or a tray that stalls.
• Turntable motor: the tray is seated but will not turn, or the motor grinds.
• Magnetron or other high-voltage parts: a loud buzz with little or no heat.
• Fan motors: a rattle or grinding from the vents that starts and stops with the fan.

What it costs in Jacksonville

We repair over-the-range and built-in microwaves. The diagnostic is $79, or $119 for a microwave-oven combo, and it is waived when you approve the repair. Repairs start at $179 plus parts, or $249 plus parts for oven-microwave combos, with a written flat-rate estimate before any work begins. Many repairs can be finished on the first visit, and every repair carries our 90-day parts-and-labor warranty. See our pricing.

Repair or replace?

On a countertop microwave, a new coupler or ring is worth buying, but a turntable motor repair usually is not; a new countertop unit is usually cheaper. Over-the-range and built-in microwaves cost more and are fitted to your cabinets, so repair usually wins. Our guide to whether a microwave is worth repairing covers the decision.

Book microwave repair or call (904) 561-4790 for same-day service across Jacksonville & the First Coast.