On Wed, 5 Feb 2020 08:34:08 -0500, Art Todesco
wrote:

On 2/4/2020 2:42 PM, Clare Snyder wrote:
I have a mid-line Panasonic inverter microwave my wife decided we
needed to replace our 30 year old unit (which had given virtually NO
problems after the "stirrer" was replaced under warranty at just under
a year).
Like many others (according to reports on the internet) it started
having problems with the door not closing properly - resulting in the
microwave being more difficult to get started.

I opened it up just after the warranty expired and installed an "L"
angle braklet to re-enforce the lowere latch/switch mount which got us
another year or so of functionality - but it was getting bad again so
I took it apart again today to find the upper latch/switch mount was
now bent. I ended up putting a (tension) brace from the mounting screw
of the latch to a hole in the lip of the inner enclosure made of a
chunk of stainless steel MIG wire to keep the bracket from flexing.
Mabee a few more years before something else goes?

These things are built worse than a travel trailer - and that's
saying something!!!!!

For a few pennies more they could design them so the brackets didn't
bend - or put a bracket on either side of the switch/latch. I'll bet
more than 90% of them get pitched when that bracket bends - and
theyALL bend sooner or later. The rest of the design seems pretty good
- so most likely the majority that get thrown out are for that reason.

Cheap "consumer grade" crap!!!! I'm sure the old one would still be
soldiering on without a problem.

I have a Panasonic inverter model and love it. The inverter feature
allows low power without turning the thing on and off. It is
particularly nice for gently heating things without overheating one
spot. Anyway, the door quit closing when you do the typical slam it
closed. I found that if you lift the door a bit on the non-hinge side,
it would close and lock perfectly. One lifting would last the next few
openings and then it went back to not locking. All of a sudden, it's
now working again, not lifting, just working right. Weird!
Hey, I LOVE the technology. The inverter system is fantastic. It's
the cheip soup-can metal they build it out of.

Pop the cover off and watch the latches/switches dance when you close
the door. The repair is pretty obvious whenyou look at it. It's also
pretty obvious the problem should NEVER exist in the first place.