When a Montgomery Wards microwave won't turn off, keeps running, or stays stuck on after you press Cancel or Off, start with the door switches. A failed door switch can short out and allow the fan to run even when the door is open. Test each door switch for continuity with a multimeter and replace any switch that does not test correctly. If the switches are working, the user control and display board may not be registering the Cancel or Off button. When none of the control panel buttons respond correctly, this board is the most likely cause. If some buttons work but others do not, the touchpad and control panel or the separate touchpad may be defective. A less common cause is a failed main control board with shorted relays or triacs, which can keep microwave components powered after the controls are turned off. Enter your model number to find the exact replacement part for your Montgomery Wards microwave. Any repair that requires opening the outer cabinet is hazardous because the high-voltage capacitor can store lethal charge even after the microwave is unplugged. Proper capacitor discharge is required, so use a qualified technician unless you are trained in this procedure.
01 - Montgomery Wards Microwave Door Switch
Most microwaves have three or four door switches. When the microwave door closes, the door switches actuate in sequence to ensure that the door is closed properly. If any of the door switches fail, the microwave will not start or heat. In some rare cases a door switch may short out and allow the fan to run even when the door is opened. To determine if any of the door switches are defective, use a multimeter to test each of the switches for continuity. If any of the door switches lack continuity, replace the switch. (Caution: The microwave oven can store thousands of volts of electricity in its high voltage capacitor, even ...after the microwave oven has been unplugged. Due to the potential for electric shock, it is extremely dangerous to replace the electronic components in a microwave. Only a licensed technician should replace a door switch.)
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02 - Montgomery Wards Microwave User Control and Display Board
The cancel or off button on the user control and display board may not be activating. To determine if the control and display board is defective, try pressing each of the buttons on the control panel. If none of the buttons are responding correctly, replace the user control and display board.
03 - Montgomery Wards Microwave Touchpad and Control Panel
The cancel or off button on the control panel may not be activating when it's pressed. To determine if the touchpad and control panel are defective, try pressing each of the buttons on the control panel. If some of the buttons respond correctly while others don’t, replace the touchpad and control panel.
The cancel or off button on the touchpad may not be activating. To determine if the touchpad is defective, try pressing each of the buttons on the control panel. If some of the buttons respond correctly while others don’t, replace the touchpad.
05 - Montgomery Wards Microwave Main Control Board
The main control board has relays that send power to several components to make the microwave work. If one or more of the relays or triacs short out, some of the components can keep running when the controls are turned off. (Caution: The microwave oven can store thousands of volts of electricity in its high voltage capacitor, even after the microwave oven has been unplugged. Due to the potential for electric shock, it is extremely dangerous to replace the electronic components in a microwave. Only a licensed technician should replace the main control board.)
The control board has relays that send power to several components to make the microwave work. If one or more of the relays or triacs short out, some of the components can keep running when the controls are turned off. While you can often replace just the control board, some microwave models sell control panels as an assembly with both the touchpad and control board included.