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Help! My Microwave Turntable Won’t Spin

Taryn Williford
Taryn Williford
Taryn is a writer, editor, content strategist, and homebody from Atlanta. I might have helped you declutter your apartment through the magic of a well-paced email newsletter. Or maybe you know me from The Pickle Factory Loft on Instagram.
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published Aug 25, 2010
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Repairs are expensive. New microwaves are cheap. But you don’t have to spend a dime on either. If your microwave turntable stopped spinning, here’s an easy way to try and fix it. And all you need is some warm, soapy water and your own two hands.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

You don’t have to be an appliance expert to troubleshoot a seemingly broken microwave turntable. You might find that all your little Zappy needs is a checkup and a good, thorough cleaning.

If you follow these steps and find that your microwave still isn’t turning, it probably means the motor has spun it’s last spin. Then it’s time to retire old Zappy.


  1. Unplug the microwave. Safety first, kids.

  2. Remove the glass tray and the circular turntable guide. Wash them both in warm, soapy water to get rid of anything stuck. Pay special attention to the rollers on your turntable guide, making sure they’re able to spin freely.

  3. Clean the internal cavity. Make sure to check your microwave’s center cavity to make sure it’s free of movement-hindering (and gross) leftover food.

  4. Check that the drive bushing is working. Make sure that the drive bushing, the plastic mechanism in the bottom of the microwave’s interior that the glass tray turns on, isn’t worn out or split in two. If it is, you’ll need to have it replaced.

  5. Put it back together. Put the turntable guide back into the circular groove. Place the glass tray turntable over the turntable guide and onto the drive bushing. Adjust until the drive bushing should fits perfectly into the grooves of the glass tray.

  6. Test it out. Zap a mug of water for a short bit to see if you fixed the problem. Do not run the microwave without anything in it.


(Images: Miele.co.uk, About.com)



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