KHMS18 KitchenAid Microwave - Instructions

My unit is a wall mount/cabinet/built-in model. The repair is actually fairly simple once you determine that the actual microwave is just a component of the entire unit, and that it (the microwave) can be easily removed from the unit. I did not figure this out until after I removed the entire unit (disconnect the power supply, lift the ... Read more entire bulky, heavy unit out of the cramped space in the cabinet, etc). Once I got it out I figured out how easy it is to remove the actual oven - a couple of screws, literally. The unit is a bit bulky, but not particularly heavy and is quite manageable. I did this entire process alone.

I got the oven out, rolled it on it's side and found the plate to access the motor. The plate is located on the bottom/underside of the unit. The plate is nothing more than a section of the underside of the metal housing that has been cut-out as an access point. This "cut-out" is not complete - that is, not completely cut out so as to all the plate to stay in place without the need for screws, etc, until you actually have to use it. I used a pair of dykes to cut the couple of points still connecting this plate, removed the two phillips screws to remove the motor, disconnected the two wires connected, then reversed to complete the repair. You then flip the cut-out plate over/rotate it, and some screw holes line up. Find a couple of small screws, and re-attach the plate to cover the motor.

The actual fix is really easy, again, once you figure out the simple way to remove the oven. I am an idiot, so you will probably find this much easier. I could probably do this repair now, after my experience, in less than 30 minutes (probably less than 15 minutes). I probably save a couple hundred $ by doing it myself so was well worth the time to do it. Good luck.

removed two screws,lowered the glass shield,removed the burned out bulb and replaced it with the new one. I ordered the bulb from parts select and recieved it two days later. It was a pleasure to deal with them, and certainly use them again.

It's a good thing that the repair/replacement is easy, because this is the 3rd time that I have had to replace the vent grill. They are very cheaply constructed and KitchenAid should be ashamed to put a product this inferior on the market. Both the microwave and stove are a constant source of problems and repairs. I was amzed at the qui ... Read more ck service and delivery. The vent grill was ordered on Monday and arrived Wednesday. GREAT SERVICE! Kitchen Aide should take notice.

Read some instructions and easily found the fuse. Replaced it. Still didn't work. Took control panel off to check door switches. Nothing I read mentioned a second fuse. Tested and it to had blown. Ordered another one. Popped them in. Done.

I had some difficulty removing the glass plate because of the awkward (upside down) position of the screw that retained it. After replacing the burned out bulbs and replacig the glass plate the problem of replacing the screw involved my dropping the thing several times before I got the screw threads to catch. I got a screw thread to cat ... Read more ch enough to hold the glass plate in position and left it at that.

Remove two screws from Vent Grille, one on either side, and remove one screw inside Vent Grille on right side. Pull Vent Grille off exposing the two Charcoal filters. Remove the two Charcoal filters by hand and replace with new ones. Reinstall the Vent Grille and tighten screws. That's it. I'm not handy (ask my wife) and if I can do ... Read more it so can you.

BEWARE: KMHS120ESS takes two charcoal filters. This site doesn't tell you that! I only figured it out after ordering one, receiving it, and removing the vent cover to replace it. So then I had to order another one and pay for shipping a second time (which cost almost as much as the filter itself). C'mon PartSelect, why are these not sold ... Read more in a pair?

The original bulb came apart while unscrewing it from the back of the microwave, leaving the metal screw thread contact still in the socket. Since this is an over-the-range micriwave there isn't enough room to manuever needle nose pliers into the socket to remove the screw thread contact. So this is how we were able to remove it.
U ... Read more nplug power cord.
Take a standard wine bottle cork and whittle down one end until it fits in the socket. Then, using a bit of pressure push the cork into the socket snd begin unscrewing the screw thread contact until it comes out of the socket. Works like a charm!

The hard part was trying to find the light bulb locally. The locally sold light bulbs were either too long, not dual element or not powerful enough. So I ordered the light bulb straight from PartSelect. When it came time to install the new light bulb I carefully removed the screw holding the plate in position so as not to loose it in my ... Read more gas stove. I needed the mirror to line up the light bulb and screw it in. Once it was in I verified operation and closed up the plate being careful not to drop the screw into my gas stove. Problem solved.

I used a Google search to show how to access the area behind the front panel. There was a folded paper copy with a schematic and wiring diagram in that space.Then I used a multi-meter to determine which of the THREE micro-switches was causing the problem. I called your help line and ordered a replacement switch. The switch was delayed ... Read more in transit so your agent credited me with the cost of shipping.

When the part arrived, it had three terminals instead of two as shown in the on-line picture but that did not cause any difficulty in using it. It took about 20 minutes to remove and replace the old switch.

All seems to be working well now.

Finding which of the THREE switches was the problem was the most difficult part of the repair. All three "clicked" but the defective one did not click as easily. It needed to be depressed more than the door latch can would provide. Old age?

I looked up a YouTube video of someone with a similar over the oven microwave. That helped me get into the area behind the control panel where the door switches are. I checked the springs and the cam rocker? The thing that actually hits the button on the switch when the door closes. They were in good condition so I assumed the door switch ... Read more was bad. There are two so I just purchased one figuring (hoping) that only one was bad. And lo and behold only one was bad. Bing bam boom. Put it all back together and I'm set. Not too difficult. Took a week of work because it takes like 50 days to ship. My kitchen looked like a hurricane after image because of all the parts scattered everywhere.

both screw mounts broke off so removal of the grill from the cover was easy.

bent clips that held plastic part of grill to stainless part of grill straight.

tried to separate the two pieces but found that the original pieces were also glued together, made the job more difficult to separate the two.

enter t ... Read more he putty knife, using it between the plastic and the stainless made the job much easier to separate the two.

i didn't scrape off the glue when i put the new plastic grill into the stainless and as a result the two did not fit together and seat as they should have, not the fault of the replacement part, entirely my fault.

everything worked ok but i know that if the glue had been removed, they would have fit perfectly.

replacement part was perfect

The halogen light bulb is very tight in the socket and difficult to remove by hand. Read reviews by other customers who had the same issue and complained that they ended up breaking the bulb trying to remove it. If broken may require an on-site service technician to remove the whole assembly with additional much higher cost and time. I ... Read more found wrapping some duct tape around the burned-out bulb made it easier to grip and remove the old bulb without breaking it.
Based on some You-Tube videos I watched newer models now use LED light panels which appear to solve this problem.

It was so so easy. Took the two screws out, lined the new vent up with the holes, screwed the screws back in. Done!!!

Remove top grill assembly and replaced filters,parts were delivered on time and fit as expected, Job well done!