Chosen Solution
WMH53520AS-1 from 2013. Display is annoyingly dim, but the machine seems to work properly. I unplugged it & let it sit for awhile, to no avail. I just bought this house & nearly everything doesn’t work properly :-(
Hi @Cynthia Livesay, Usually the problem of a dim display in microwave ovens is caused by a faulty electrolytic capacitor on the control board. Here’s a zoomed in image of the control board (supplier example only) for your model microwave oven where I’ve highlighted the electrolytic capacitors.
(click on image to enlarge) Without a schematic for the board (I couldn’t find one online) I cannot tell you which is the exact one associated with the display but look for any that seem blown or leaking. Blown means domed end caps. If you find any then their value is printed on the side of the component and replacements are available from places such as mouser.com, digikey.com or perhaps a local electronics parts store. Here’s a link to a parts diagram which shows where the control board is that may help. (see Control panel parts diagram) As to the cost of repairing your microwave, the options from cheapest to most expensive are: Live with it as it is. Replace any obviously faulty electrolytic capacitors found on the Control board. Search online for WPW10547769 to find a supplier of a suitably priced used replacement control board. Purchase a new microwave oven Purchase a new replacement Control board for the existing oven (more expensive than a lot of new microwave ovens) Be safety aware when working in a microwave oven. The HV capacitor in a microwave, can store >5000V DC for months even if the power to the oven has been disconnected for this length of time. This amount of voltage can seriously injure you. You need to correctly discharge the HV capacitor as soon as possible after removing the cover from the oven and before commencing any other work in the oven. If you don’t know what you’re doing then don’t do it!
