Broken Latch – Quick and Easy Fix – Microwave (Kenmore and Samsung)
One day I heard a pop, and after that the microwave door would no longer latch closed! You could push the door closed, but it would just bounce open again. The door would not stay closed, so the light was on constantly.
I took it apart and determined that a small plastic hook in the latch mechanism had broken. This quick post details the simple fix.
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Here is the door sitting open because it would not latch…
Kenmore/Samsung Microwave Broken Door Latch
Okay, so the microwave in question is a Kenmore Model No. 401.85042010. After a few internet searches, this appears to be a very common problem, also plaguing several different brand names (Including Kenmore, Samsung, and Maytag) with slight variations.
Other model numbers for which the fix for this latch mechanism applies (a more complete list is at the end of this post):
Kenmore: 40180082010, 40180082700, 40180083700, 40180084700, 40180086700, 40180089700, 40180092010, 40180092700, 40180093010, 40180093700, 40180094700, 40180099010, 40180099700, 40185042010, 40185042210, 40185042310, 40185043010, 40185043210, 40185043310, 40185044010, 40185044110, 40185044210, 40185046010 etc;
Samsung: 592856000, 592856030, 592856040, 592856060, 592856090, 592856100, 592856130, 592856140, 592856190, 80082, 80083, 80084, 80086, 80089, 80092, 80093, 80094, 80099, BMHC815SS, BMHC815SSXAC, BMHC815WW, ME16H702SEB, ME16H702SES, ME16H702SEW
Tools and Supplies:
- flat-blade screwdriver or paint scraper
- 1/16″ drill
- Replacement Latch Mechanism (Part# DE64-00760A)
- Replacement Door Spring (Part# DE61-00048A)
Procedure to Fix a Broken Microwave Door Latch
To get at the latch mechanism, use a thin flat tool such as a flat-bladed screwdriver or a paint scraper and pry out the trim on the inner part of the microwave door.
There are these plastic clips that hold the trim in place. I just pried until they popped loose, and none of them snapped, but if you are worried about them snapping, you could reach in with a small tool and press the tab out of its hole, after you have pried out the first 1 or 2 clips. There appears to be about 2 clips on each edge.
It is only necessary to remove the trim on the side with the hook latches. Once the trim is out of the way, you can see the latch mechanism. lift it straight up to unseat it from its holes, then pull it out.
In my case, the little plastic hook that holds one end of the spring, had snapped off. That must have been the ‘pop’ sound I heard when it failed!
I chose to try repairing my existing latch. Another option is to just purchase a new one off of Amazon since they are pretty cheap. Here is the link if you want to check the current price:
DE64-00760A Microwave Door Latch Replacement
For the repair I did, I used a drill with a small drill bit.
I used a 1/16″ drill bit and it worked fine.
At the place where the hook broke off, I drilled a hole through the piece of plastic that remained, as shown.
Then, take the spring, and hook it through the hole you just drilled. If your spring broke, here is the link for a new one (it is labeled as Samsung, but applies to Kenmore as well):
Samsung DE61-00048A Key Spring
And then hook the other end of the spring through the corresponding hole in the microwave door.
Then pull up on the latch mechanism, and feed it into the holes at the top and the bottom of the channel in the microwave door that it rides in.
That’s pretty much it! Press the trim piece back into place, and you’re all set.
Thanks for reading PracticalMechanic.com!
Tools and Supplies:
- flat-blade screwdriver or paint scraper
- 1/16″ drill
- Replacement Latch Mechanism (Part# DE64-00760A)
- Replacement Door Spring (Part# DE61-00048A)
Other Model Numbers:
Kenmore: | Samsung: | Samsung: | Samsung: |
40180082010 | 592856000 | SMV9165BC/XAA | SMH7175BC/XAA |
40180082700 | 592856030 | SMV9165SC/XAA | SMH7175BE/XAA |
40180083700 | 592856040 | SMH7174BC/XAA | SMH7175CC/XAA |
40180084700 | 592856060 | SMH7174BE/XAA | SMH7178STD/XAA |
40180086700 | 592856090 | SMH7174CC/XAA | SMH7175WC/XAA |
40180089700 | 592856100 | SMH7174WC/XAA | SMH7175WE/XAA |
40180092010 | 592856130 | SMH7174WE/XAA | SMH7178STE/XAA |
40180092700 | 592856140 | SMH7177STE/XAA | SMH4150BD/XAA |
40180093010 | 592856190 | SMH4150WD/XAA | SMH1713S/XAA-01 |
40180093700 | 80082 | SMH7175BC/XAA | ME18H704SFS/AA-00 |
40180094700 | 80083 | SMH7175BE/XAA | ME20H705MSB/AA-00 |
40180099010 | 80084 | SMH7175CC/XAA | ME20H705MSS/AA-00 |
40180099700 | 80086 | SMV9165BC/XAA | BMHC815SS |
40185042010 | 80089 | SMV9165SC/XAA | BMHC815SSXAC |
40185042210 | 80092 | SMH7174BC/XAA | BMHC815WW |
40185042310 | 80093 | SMH7174BE/XAA | ME16H702SEB |
40185043010 | 80094 | SMH7174CC/XAA | ME16H702SES |
40185043210 | 80099 | SMH7174WC/XAA | ME16H702SEW |
40185043310 | SMH7174WE/XAA | ||
40185044010 | SMH7177STE/XAA | ||
40185044110 | SMH4150WD/XAA | ||
40185044210 | |||
40185046010 |
Having difficulty taking the existing door key out
I have done the step where I have removed the plastic trim
But I want to rake the existing jet do I can replace it
Hi my microwave door for Samsung
Model is not listed here
Won’t close properly
I bought a door key
But I am having a hard time taking the existing door key out of the microwave
Any advise