Cooking Issues

• General cooking methods require you to cover foods to keep them from drying out in your microwave. Defrost foods to reduce cooking times and to keep foods from being undercooked. Follow the recipe instructions to ensure that you are not over- or undercooking foods. Puncture certain foods like eggs and potatoes to allow steam to escape and to keep the foods from exploding. Test your magnetron if your microwave runs but doesn't heat your food item. Place 1 cup of water in the microwave for about 1 minute at the highest temperature setting. If the water doesn't heat, contact a service technician.
  
  

Not Operating

• If your Sylvania microwave won't start, check that you have completely closed the microwave door and that you have selected a cooking setting, not a timer setting. Disengage the "Child Lock" if set. Push the power cord completely into the outlet. Do not plug in another appliance in the same circuit as the microwave. The other appliance can draw too much power away from the microwave.
  
  Check your home fuses and the thermal fuse inside the microwave. If any of these fuses are blown (broken wires or black), replace them. Turn the circuit breaker back on if tripped. Examine the door. If it's not latching or releasing correctly, replace the door.
  
  

Not Turning

• Your microwave turntable normally spins around slowly while your food is cooking. If your Sylvania microwave turntable is not turning at all, check that you have correctly positioned the turntable on the carousel, which is the grooved plastic piece at the center of the microwave. Clean the bottom of the turntable, the wheel and the carousel if sticky or if food is caught in the grooves. If the turntable still won't move, unplug the microwave and remove the bottom section of the microwave. Examine the turntable motor and replace it if it's corroded or burnt-looking.
  
  

Flickering and Arcing

• Your Sylvania microwave display normally flickers while your food is cooking. If the flickering coincides with cooking issues, contact a technician. Built-up food and liquids cause both odors and arcing (mini-lightening). Clean up spills as soon as they occur. If the arcing causes burn marks, clean and sand the area. Repair the microwave interior with microwave-safe paint. Replace the waveguide if burnt. Cookware that is not microwave-safe causes sparking. Stop the microwave and immediately remove the item.