21 year old range/microwave had prpblem popping popcorn lots of old maids. Cooking other food only noticed some things cooked slower.
Before ordering any parts I remembered seeing a fan above the nylon roof of the microwave. I had seen a belt that drove it on a prior repair 3 years ago.
I then removed 1 screw holding the electrical panel so I could tilt it open. Since power was still plugged in I didn't put my hand in. I used a flashlight and the broken belt.
I could also see the moter that turned the belt and tested it by starting and stopping the microwave and could see the motor pulley spin when it slowed to a stop. I then closed the control panel and screwed it in place.
That confirmed I proceded to go to the internet with the model # for the rane/microwave and looked for parts.
I had an easy job looking the part and saw that the fan as I had called it was named Stirrer because it kept stirring the microwaves over the food.
Overall I looked at 2 venders and chose Part Select because they showed the same catalog page and part numbers, and they had a better price.
I had my part/ belt in 4 working days and installed the new belt in about 15 minutes. This time unplugging the range so there was no power to be concerned with. It was a matter of picking out the old belt and putting the new belt on the motor then walking the belt over the large pulley at the Stirrer since the belt will stretch a bit.
Buttoned it up and later tested with popcorn and it left only a small amount of old maids.
The hardest part was taking out original light bulb because screws on shield where hard to unscrew after all this years . The old bulb vent out leaving neck in socket. It took narrow electrical pliers to get neck out .The generic appliance bulb did not fit and had aluminum neck ,not recommended for brass sockets in ovens.Putting new light bulb in was not the problem.
I pulled down the wire around the glass cover. . . Released on end of the wire from its holder being careful to not let the glass cover drop. Unscrewed the bulb and replaced with replacement. Easy, easy.
Remove the housing cover which requires removing 7 screws that hold the cover on. The bulb and the pully's that the belt goes on are visible and the belt is easy to replace as is the bulb.