On Wed, 18 Dec 2013 21:17:52 -0700, SteveB
wrote:

I have a Panasonic Inverter microwave. I really like it, and it has
performed like a champ for years now. Now, with increasing frequency,
it will not start when I shut the door. Lifting the door up slightly
sometimes will get it to start on its own. Sometimes I have to repunch
the numbers. I seem to be able to get it to work, it just takes
fiddling with. Are there any adjustments that can be done? I am pretty
sure it has to do with the door closure apparatus/hooks/interlocks/ and
the plastic items that the hooks go into, and allow the circuit to be
complete so cooking can start. Is there anything in there to be
lubricated?

I don't think so, but you can look at each switch. There is likely
a circuit diagram inside the right side, with maybe some indication of
where each switch is. But don't run the thing for more time than it
takes to test it, one or two seconds, without all the covers on.
Better yet, when the thing is unplugged so as to not burn out the
meter, test the switches with an ohmmeter or continuity tester. And
then you should only need a total of two seconds for testing after you
get the switches right.

Any way to file the hooks down a tad to make them drop down

Are you sure you want it smaller, and not bigger?

At any rate, every microwave made in the last many years has to have 3
door interlocks, So don't waste too much time on a good one when
there's another somewhere that's bad.

just enough to make it work? Help appreciated.

YOu can tell that the big plastic hooks on the door don't go down?

I visited friends once who had a door that wouldn't latch at all.
While they were at work, I took apart the door and reattached the
spring that pulled on those hooks. The plastic stud it attached to
had broken off so I used some wire I found in their house, hooked it a
couple loops back from the end of the spring and tied it on somewhere
past where the stud had been. It was easy once the inside panel of
the door was open. All of it was in the right-most inch of the
door. Maybe that will tighten the right spring for you.

They were really happy when they found it fixed when they got home.


BTW, wrt another thread, this is another example of why I carry tooks
(and a meter) in the car. He probably had all the tools I needed, but
I didn't want to rummage through his place while they were at work.

Steve