Can't remove Whirlpool Over the range Microwave

kzukowski

Read the one post in here about removing the microwave, but still having problems. Found the two large bolts going up into the cabinets and removed them, but cannot find any other screws or bolts fastening the unit to the wall. Have tried shaking and pulling the microwave, and took off the bottom housing where the light and fan is, even unscrewed and took off the vent cover for the hood, and we cannot find anywhere else keeping this unit up on the wall between the cabinets. HELP!

End Grain

Don't know if this will help in your particular case. When the bolts are removed, you have to tip the front of the microwave way down so you can disengage the tabs on the unit's rear from the tongues on the mounting plate that is hidden behind the microwave and affixed onto the wall itself. That's a special safety feature that helps secure the back of the microwave to the bottom of the cabinet and it also functions as mild heat shield against the wall itself. Some microwaves use three bolts and some even use sliding tabs where the unit pulls straight out away from the wall and then down.

skymaster

Kz: STOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You have removed the cabinet screws; NOW look at the plastic grille, there are 2 screws holding that on REMOVE them and the grille; NOW you will see what looks like two slotted bolts in holes Loosen them NOTE!!!!!!! Hold pressure against the wall because when you ondo those bolts the MW will want to rotate off the wall. It is held onto a wall plate where you pop the bottom onto a clip and rotate up against the wall.
Jack

kzukowski

Thank you all for the responses, I have actually gone home last night and figured it out. This unit is only about 2 yrs old. There, of course, are the normal 2 large screws going thru the cabinet on the top of the unit. Then, I needed to unscrew off the vent cover over the microwave door, right behind there on the left was a thin metal handle/lever which I pulled and released the top part of the microwave from the mounting bracket. After that was released, just needed to lift up the unit off the 2 hinges on the back bottom of the mounting plate and the microwave was off.

lenamarie63

I am having the same problem. Followed all your directions but not sure where the slotted bolts are. I find two screws way back but have no way of getting a screwdriver back there. Help! Also, mine is an older model MH7110XBQ bought in 1996.

Thanks!

skymaster

If there isnt a release handle like above then the screws should be right in front of you when you take off the grille. I strongly suggest you call the whirlpool 800 number. IF you have the manuals just reverse the installation instructions. Pics would help alot but I think a call to Whirlpool is best. They are a great company to deal with

lenamarie63

Thanks for responding. I did call Whirlpool and they could not help me at all because the unit was purchased in 1996. I still have the manual but there are no installation instructions. I did find two screws but they are in a bit and really hard to unscrew because you have to use a really short screw driver and there is not room to move. I am hoping those are the right screws because I see no others.

skymaster

Lenamarie: OK PLEASE send pics cause you really have me confused now.
The "screws" I am referancing do not look like "screws" they should be about 1/4" in dia and look like metal rods with a large slot in them. Usually they are only 1/4 turn locks and sit in square recesses just inside of the case. Keep pressure against the wall and turn em left and they should disengage the wall plate. BE CAREFUL the unit is heavy and once you disengage the unit it WILL rotate forward real fast. Once you allow it to swing off that plate you just have to lift the bottom edge a bit and you can remove it. 2 PEOPLE!!!!!!!!! are needed.

lenamarie63

I hope my photo works and you can see it. It is a direct center shot into the part behind the grill.

In the center you see a black plate the goes from top to bottom. On the left and right side of that are the screws I was talking about. I see no rods anywhere that you talk about.

Thanks for trying to help me, I really appreciate it.

skymaster

http://www.justanswer.com/appliance/...07&JPRC=1&JPOP

I dont know if this will help but sure cant be any worse than where we are right now. Right now I am stumped :{ The pic was good quality but did not help me see the issue.

Hire-a-Hubby

I just removed an older model (1987) Whirlpool over-the-stove microwave. I was stumped for a while as there were no slotted bolts fastening the unit to the back wall, nor was there a lever behind the upper grill.

However, after removing the bottom panel, I discovered 2 vertical aluminum 'levers' that were secured to the back plate, one on the left, the other on the right. After unscrewing and freeing these 2 'levers', I was able to pull them down, thereby freeing the microwave from the back plate.

Hope this info helps ...

DaleMunk

Thank you very much for the post on removing the Whirlpool microwave. It was a great help. I took a better picture of the handle from an angle to give others a better idea what it's like. Can someone tell me how to post the picture? I don't see anything.

DaleMunk

How did you post the picture?

iappliances

Insert Image