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Jeff, WB8NHV

wrote:
On Mon, 30 Oct 2006 06:08:47 GMT, Techguy wrote:

Some of the LCD elements (small squares) on the display are failing to
light. If I push on the end of the ribbon cable where it connects to the
edge of the display driver PC board, the problem elements will start
working until I remove the pressure. This leads me to think that the
ribbon cable's connection pads are failing. Is there any way to repair
the PC connection pads for each conductor of the ribbon cable on the
edge of the board? There isn't any hardware connector for the ribbon
cable on the board. It connects directly to the pads on the edge.

BTW- This is the second time the display has failed in the same way. I
replaced the entire display assembly (LCD and driver board) about two
years ago. Cost about $90. The replacement worked fine until recently.
Since the home is not occupied in the winter, the heat is turned off.
The temperature can get down to well below freezing for days or weeks.
Could this be why the display has failed twice?

This reaffirms my belief that modern Sharp microwaves are crap.

Not necessarily. I have a Sharp Carousel microwave which I bought
new almost seven years ago. Still works almost as well as it did the
day I bought it. I say "almost" because every once in a while the
machine will refuse to start when the door is closed--it takes a couple
of openings and closings to get it to work. This is intermittent; most
of the time the microwave works exactly as it should. Very difficult to
predict just when it will happen. I think the door switches are either
very dirty from grease, etc. or simply wearing out after seven years of
daily use.

As to your belief that all recent-vintage Sharp microwave ovens are
"crap", that's your opinion and you are entitled to it. However, I
don't really think there are many microwaves out there that will last
years or decades as the old Amana Radaranges, Tappans, etc. used to. (I
recently read in another discussion forum of an Amana Radarange that
was still going strong after almost three decades.) Today's
microwaves, like just about everything else these days, are made
offshore, which often means lower quality, which in turn means the
device will not last as long as American-made appliances did. The very
low prices of new microwaves these days (I've seen them priced as low
as $30) means it is not cost-effective to repair them when they go bad,
especially from a major component failure such as the magnetron.
Remember that any repair station nowadays will charge a minimum fee
just to look at a piece of equipment; this will be in addition to taxes
and the cost of any repairs done to the unit. If you paid only $30-$40
or so for the microwave and it will cost $90 to have it repaired, your
best bet is to junk the old unit and buy a brand new one; that or
simply put up with the defective display, as long as the oven works
well otherwise.

Low or downright cold temperatures in and of themselves will not
ordinarily kill an electronic device, but they won't do the device any
good, either. I would find a way to keep the heat on to maintain a
temperature of, say, 68 or 70 degrees F. during the winter in the home
where the defective microwave is located, or make arrangements to have
someone live in the home during the winter months so that keeping the
furnace going will be justified. There are likely other devices such as
radios, televisions and the like in the dwelling that are taking a
beating from the lack of heat as well.

Kind regards,

Jeff Strieble, WB8NHV (email addy not shown to deter spammers)
Fairport Harbor, Ohio USA