JDgreen
Lawn Addict
- Joined
- May 14, 2010
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My in laws 5 year old Panasonic microwave quit working, they called a local appliance repair shop to get an estimate for fixing it. They were told it was a standard $39.95 "diagnostic fee" just to get the oven over the counter to a tech, then a minimum $39.95 fee plus parts for the first half hour of "repair" plus parts, so they were looking at at least $80 when a new oven was less than twice that much. So they went and bought a new one. Next time I visited I saw the old oven in the garage and offered to check it out. Was pretty sure it was just a blown main fuse. Took it home, the outer cover was secured by seven Torx-type screws, and the screws had a small round tab in the recess which rendered a standard type Torx driver useless.
There was a label on the back, warning: "Warning, do not remove non-removable fasteners. Shock hazard" or whatever. Umm...so how does the service shop remove "non removable fasteners" :confused2:
Anyhow, I used a small pair of Vice grips to remove 5 of the screws and had to drill out the remaining two. As I thought, the main fuse was blown...50 cents for a new one and the oven was as good as new. I replaced the Torx screws with conventional Phillips head screws.
What galls me is, they intentionally design things like this so that the majority of owners needing a new fuse will have to take it to a shop to have a 50 cent part replaced. I know there is a component inside a microwave that holds a dangerous charge even when unplugged (capacitor?) but there is no reason they cannot build the device so the fuse is easily replacable under an easy to remove cover near the power cord in the back. Such poor design only encourages a throw-away society, which is what my in-laws would have done with the microwave. Any comments?
There was a label on the back, warning: "Warning, do not remove non-removable fasteners. Shock hazard" or whatever. Umm...so how does the service shop remove "non removable fasteners" :confused2:
Anyhow, I used a small pair of Vice grips to remove 5 of the screws and had to drill out the remaining two. As I thought, the main fuse was blown...50 cents for a new one and the oven was as good as new. I replaced the Torx screws with conventional Phillips head screws.
What galls me is, they intentionally design things like this so that the majority of owners needing a new fuse will have to take it to a shop to have a 50 cent part replaced. I know there is a component inside a microwave that holds a dangerous charge even when unplugged (capacitor?) but there is no reason they cannot build the device so the fuse is easily replacable under an easy to remove cover near the power cord in the back. Such poor design only encourages a throw-away society, which is what my in-laws would have done with the microwave. Any comments?
Seems like everybody wants "something for nothing", so they sue the "deep pocket" companies. In return, we all pay the price in higher prices & deal with "precautions (like "tamper-free" screws, etc.). :thumbdown: :frown: ~~ grnspot110
