Never Open a Bosch Microwave Housing Yourself

It is a metal box with a turntable and a few buttons, so it seems like the easiest appliance to fix. That impression is exactly what makes the microwave one of the riskiest to repair at home.

A charge that outlasts the cord

Inside is a high-voltage capacitor. It can keep a dangerous electrical charge for a long time after the plug is pulled, and touching it can deliver a severe shock that may be fatal. This single hazard is why housing work belongs with a trained technician.

Leakage you cannot see

A warped door, a damaged seal, or a latch that no longer fits well can in rare cases let microwave energy escape during use. You cannot tell by looking or by touch, and checking it takes specialized meters.

Codes that mean stop

If the display shows ER4, the unit has detected extreme overheating. Stop using it. Do not remove the cover to look around, even out of curiosity.

What is fine to do yourself

• Wipe the interior and the door seal area with a damp cloth
• Clear crumbs from around the latch
• Check that the breaker has not tripped

Anything past those jobs, particularly screws on the outer shell, should stay untouched.

Getting help

The same caution applies to built-in and over-the-range models, where the electrical parts sit behind trim and cabinets that look easy to remove but are not, so call a technician instead of experimenting.

If the microwave has stopped working, learn what a microwave repair visit covers, then schedule a technician. Meanwhile, leave the cover on and keep it unplugged.