YWMH31017HB4 Whirlpool Microwave - Instructions

The nightmare was that this microwave is installed under the cabinet....in order to get to the light bulb I had to pull out my stove then squeeze into the space between the stove and counter....my old microwave light bult was much easier to change.....Shame on Whirlpool for making this so difficult.....must be a better way to cover the light bulb so that we do not need a screwdriver to remove the door to get to the light bulb

Removed 1 screw, removed "burnt out" bulb and replaced it with new bulb.

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 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.

Unplugged the microwave to de-energize the unit. Removed 1 screw and the shroud on the range hood light; removed the light bulb. Removed 4 screws from each side and the front of the metal plate on the underside of the unit. Carefully lowered the plate to expose the light socket. Noted which wire was connected to each terminal (they are color-coded), then released the spring clip connectors from the terminals. Removed the 1 screw holding the socket in place then reversed the procedure to install the replacement parts.

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.

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 catch enough to hold the glass plate in position and left it at that.

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 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.

Whirlpool Microwave was purchased as used item, so installation in a new location required purchase of mounting template, wall bracket, mounting hardware. Granite backsplash cut out using wet/dry diamond blade and Ryobi 6.5 inch saw. Microwave exhaust fan removed and rotated for upward exhaust using modified exhaust plenum from existing stove exhaust hood. Installation of Microwave was the simplest part of the job. All mounting materials worked as required. A list of the materials provided in the hardware mount kit would be helpful, I would not have had to order the top mount screws separately if it was clear that they were included in the kit. Otherwise, no complaints.

Simply need a Phillips head screwdriver, remove the screen covering the light bulb. all you need to do is unscrew burned out bulb and screw in the new bulb. Much easier to order the bulb in the socket and pull it out the socket and plug in the new socket and bulb. because you have a limited space to work

Got some info from the PartsSelect web site and a short YouTube video about how to replace the socket. (Even at 74 years old I'll be darned if I'll pay for a service call if I think I can do the repair myself). Unfastened all the panel screws, swung down the rear-hinged lower panel carefully, then took a couple of pictures showing which wires went to which side of the light socket -- and to the underside of the turntable because those pulled off by themselves when I lowered the panel). Pried off all the silicone sealer around the socket using my fingers, got the old socket out and replaced it, put the wires back in place, refastened the drop-down panel. It was a very easy, straight-forward task that would have taken <15 minutes were it not for the fact that my old eyes had trouble seeing all the screws, even with a flashlight. Everything works fine now.

Replaced bulb by: 1 pulling plug on microwave to make sure not hot - no power; 2 used needle nose pliers with head part about same size that fit inside of socket; 3 opened pliers and held firm against broken metal part; keeping pressure of pliers against broken metal part of light bulb, slowly unscrewed the broken part from socket using firmly held opened pliers. The rest was a cinch...just screwed in new light bulb, plugged in microwave and viola - there was light once again.

I turned off the power to the oven at the breaker. I then removed the side trim pieces by removing the screws located behind the lower oven door. I removed the plastic trim pieces above and below the microwave oven and removed the control panel and slid it into the opening above the microwave. I located the two screws securing the microwave into the frame and began sliding it out. I had to disconnect a small wiring harness and two wires from the microwave that were attached inside the opening above the microwave. The microwave section was the easily slid out, turned on it's side where the turntable motor was accessed by removing the access panel. I pulled the old motor, checked resistance and it matched the new motor. I then checked the old motor by applying 120V to it and it ran FINE! I thought I had the wrong part, but decided to install the new motor anyway. I did, secured the access panel and replaced the microwave in the frame. I reconnected the wires and secured the control panel and tested the microwave...and the turntable works!

It was a bit awkward because the microwave is mounted over my stove. I had to twist around and install the bulb and then replace the cover. It was a bit uncomfortable. It took me about 10 minutes to complete.

Put s pot under were you take the screw out.If you drop it you can get it easy