How to Replace the Turntable Spacer in Your Whirlpool Oven

The turntable spacer in your Whirlpool microwave model WMH53521HV is meant to protect the turntable motor by creating a watertight seal. The spacer sits on the motor shaft and prevents water generated inside the microwave from seeping onto the turntable motor. As time passes and your microwave gets older, the turntable seal can become worn and ineffective, which can cause issues with the turntable motor, such as, making loud noises while operating or not rotating. Replacing the turntable spacer is a simple repair and should take you less than an hour.

Microwave Repair Safety Tips

• Before repairing your microwave, unplug the appliance or turn it off at your home’s circuit breaker.
• Always protect your hands and eyes during a repair by wearing work gloves and safety goggles.
• If you run into an issue during the repair and no longer feel safe completing the job, please contact an appliance repair technician to finish replacing the part.

How to Replace the Turntable Spacer in Your Over-the-Range Whirlpool Microwave

1. Use a Phillips screwdriver to unthread the screws that secure the microwave’s bottom panel.
2. Carefully, lower the panel until you have a clear view of the turntable motor wires. Then, using a flathead screwdriver, disengage the wire locking tabs and disconnect the wires from the turntable motor. Next, detach the power plug wire harness from the right side of the microwave. Now that all the wires are disconnected, take the bottom panel off the microwave.
3. Unthread the two screws securing the turntable motor to the microwave, and then remove the motor from the appliance.
4. Take the worn turntable spacer off the motor shaft.
5. Grab the new spacer and slide it onto the turntable motor shaft.
6. Reinstall the turntable motor and tighten its screws to secure the component.
7. Place the bottom panel back on the microwave, and reconnect the motor wires and the power plug wire harness. Next, close up the bottom panel and rethread the screws that hold the panel to the microwave.

If your microwave turntable is no longer rotating or your microwave is louder than usual, please contact us today and one of our appliance repair technicians will fix the malfunction.