They can't all be this well done because it takes time, effort, and software expertise that most TH-cam duffers don't have. I just appreciate the many hours of volunteer effort that so many well-meaning folks do put in. Some of the worst videos, from a camera and explanation perspective, have been the most helpful.
This worked perfectly for me. I used isopropyl alcohol swabs to clean all the contacts on the ribbon cable and used a toothpick to get in and around the pins of the other connectors. 15 minutes of guided work saved me from buying a replacement microwave. Best how-to video I ever watched. Didn't leave out a step.
I have to agree that this guy has a very natural instructive voice and the video was very well made. Samsung should be paying you but I'm sure their wanting customers to buy new microwaves instead...lol
I thought this was a Samsung repair bulletin. This vid is professionally made, and this guy is a natural speaker. I will be rootibg through his channel. He is an excellent speaker with thorough instructions.
I had the same problem. I am no engineer, and was scared to open the cabinet. But I sort of solved the problem like this: I pointed a hair drier at the membrane keypad and left the drier running in full power for about 5 minutes. Apparently this cured the dampness inside the membrane, and it worked perfectly. I had to do this regularly once a day for a week. After that the keypad just works fine regularly!
It is essential that you FIRST either discharge the capacitor with a insulated screwdriver, or let it discharge on it's own by letting it sit unplugged for atleast 8 hours prior to the repair. Failure to do so could result in injury or death. This is a great how to video, but as with all electrical related repairs safety is your number one priority! Please do not take shortcuts that can put yourself in danger with a DIY project.
Safety is always priority one but this repair is no where near the capacitor and all parts dealt with are insulated and no volt with the unit unplugged. Just don’t jam any coat hangers in there to catch dust bunnys.
I tried this just after Joe posted this in 2013 - cleaned everything with isopropol alcohol (70%) - and it worked right up until today - Aug 23/14. I just did the same process all over again, cleaning all of the pins and ribbon cable with alcohol and it's back up and working like a charm! Great tip...easy fix - nothing to be afraid of, just follow the directions he gives. You don't even have to mark anything, the circuit board is marked "blue" for where the blue connector goes. All the rest of the clips are size sensitive and color coded! Great to have this online!
Thanks for posting this! I followed most of your steps and put it back together and I now have a working microwave! The only things I didn't do was use the clothe on the end of a sharp object to clean between the contacts (I think the compressed air did an effective job of cleaning things out). Things I would suggest adding is to use your camera or cell phone camera, to capture a picture of the wiring before disconnecting and then completely disconnecting all wires so you can work on the keypad on a flat surface. In checking the ribbon cable there weren't any exposed metal contacts so I only lightly cleaned it with an eraser and buffed it with a clothe (it appears both sides are completely coated with plastic) - I didn't want to wear away the plastic. I believe that the cleaning and disconnecting and reconnecting of all of the connectors are key. The contacts where I focused the cleaning with the eraser are the four copper contacts that the blue and white wires slide over. In addition, I unplugged the unit and left it unplugged for several days, I am not sure if this is a factor but it may play a role in allowing any build -up of energy to be released. Finally, something that may play a key role is the other end of the ribbon cable - I am NOT recommending to attempt to disconnect the other end but I think it is important that people attempting this repair to not put any stress on this cable, e.g., tugging on it, and I noticed that it seemed to be somewhat extended so I made a point to gently push the other end of the ribbon cable that connects to the keypad back inward toward the keypad. I will provide updated status but so far so good :)
I'm glad the 2nd highest ranked Google result for "Samsung SMH9178B keeps beeping" is your video. Finding a solution on the internet is fairly common these days. But to find a complete, informative, and professionally produced video like this was a real treat. Kudos to you! FWIW, cleaning only the ribbon cable did the trick for me as well. Also, my microwave did not show the SE error. It just kept beeping and the key presses only registered intermittently.
Im glad i read your comment before cleaning everything, because it worked on the first try. Yes! Minimal effort because im actually moving out of my rental condo this Saturday! Thank you
My smh9151b was stored away for about 4yrs before put in use, and it's worked for about 12 since. It started doing random beeping in the middle of the night. Not sure how far I'll get , this thing was probably obsolete by the time I installed it. Maybe I'll look around for a connection issue but I don't have much faith in it , and I don't want to waste alot of time goofing around with this thing though.
Video repair guide worked perfectly. Thanks for this excellent fix. The hardest part of the whole process was negotiating with my wife for the over the range access!
After watching several of these "how to fix the Samsung 5e errors" I came to the conclusion that there was one common element. Most of the 'solutions' involved different 'fixes' but one common action. The action was the removal of the cables from the control panel. I removed the grill from the top of the microwave,(2 screws), then removed the panel (1 screw). I left the power on and carefully unplugged each connector on the control panel board until I found the one that supplied power. I knew I had the correct wire connector when the panel went blank, I waited about 10 seconds and then plugged it back in. The panel 'rebooted' similar to a computer and now works. Simply unplugging power from the wall wouldn't work, you had to remove the connector from the board which reset the panel. The whole procedure took about 5 minutes.
I purchased my first house a few months ago and my microwave hasn't worked since day one. I called Samsung and like you they told me the warrantee had expired. I watched your video and it worked!! My microwave is now working wonderfully. Thank you so much, from a first time home buyer who couldn't afford to buy a new microwave!
Good on you, Joe. I've seen many DIY videos, with poor camera shots and zero post production, but yours was not only a breath of fresh air, but IT WORKED for our Maytag microwave/range hood. Evidently, the Samsung & Maytag models are identical. Thanks for your good audio, multiple (helpful) angles, and going the 2nd mile by sharing the Consumer Report data and where to get affordable replacement parts. This was a 10! DD
Joe, you are brilliant! We were just getting ready to go out to buy a new microwave when I saw your fine advice. I cleaned the contacts with isopropyl alcohol and also sanded the one exposed contact. The microwave worked again immediately. Actually, this was the second time for this issue. The first was while it was under warranty...they replaced the key pad. However, I will add this: DO NOT BUY SAMSUNG APPLICANCES. Last year we had three of them fail at the same time...1) the microwave (repaired under warranty, but failed again last week); 2) our DVD / VHS recorder / player, which they refused to fix even though it was still under warranty (They actually said: "Your warranty is active but will be expired by the time you get the product back to us, so we will not fix it free."); and 3) our new Samsung washing machine. The washing machine was the biggest problem. We ended up having no washing machine for 13 weeks! They kept sending repair guys with the exact same parts (4 times) and the exact same failure kept happening. I have a business associate in Korea who used to work for Samsung and does business currently with them. I sent him a flaming email about the washing machine and told him to get it to high level executives at Samsung. He did so and the next morning we got a call from the office of the president of Samsung USA. Ultimately they took away the existing lemon washing machine and replaced it with another. So, I say to all who read this, DO NOT BUY SAMSUNG APPLIANCES, or any other Samsung products. As you learned with your microwave, it was a known problem to Samsung. That is likely the case with my other crap Samsung products.
One of the easiest repair video's I've seen! Took the unit apart using your 6 easy step and got everything to work on the first try. Cleaning the ribbon cable with a soft eraser is the heart of the fix since it should have a silver color to the connector and not the same color as the ribbon cable (brown). Be very careful to completely insert the ribbon cable back into the socket and lock it down! I took this one step further and took extra time to get rid of all the grease buildup using a household degreasing cleaner spray in the internal vent hood. If its not sticky...its clean! Joe, you're a great tech and videographer!!!
Now that is an Excellent video. I used it around two years ago. It fixed it. Now the same problem. Thanks to you I'll try the same repair. Wish all videos were so well done.
Great video. Your fix worked for about a year the first time, and then started the behavior again. I'd disconnect the main power cable for 15 seconds or so while the unit was plugged in (as another video had suggested), and that worked sometimes for a couple of hours and sometimes just for a few minutes. What did work was total replacement of the membrane keypad. I bought mine from Appliance Parts Pros for $35, plus $6.50 shipping (I don't have any relationship whatsoever with them; I just found them online). Replacement of the membrane, as shown in yet another TH-cam video, was fairly straight forward. It was a bit messy trying to get the old adhesive off of the plastic housing. OnceI did that, laid down the new membrane with its self-adhesive back, and reconnected everything, I was back in business. The unit now works just fine. I just did it this morning, so I'll check back if, for some reason, it fails again.
I'm a single mother who just saved $200-500 with this video. Many, many thanks. My cabinetry was built over top the first two screws and I knew removing the microwave to work on it was beyond me, so I drilled through the bottom of the cabinet to get at the screws and I can use wood-filler to fix that. Thanks again.
Joe.....followed your advice. 1st time thru it was a no go. Took the ribbon out and carefully "erased" the contact points. Voila! I agree that the cause is steam...and the ribbon is the culprit. Thanks for your video. John D.
Called the appliance repair place, described my problem, $145 to look at the problem, $188 for the replacement key pad. Watched your video, clean the contacts with denatured alcohol, reassembled, microwave now working. 8 year old Maytag Microwave now up and running. Thank you for this well done instruction video.
Last night my microwave starting beeping and 4s were appearing on the time screen. Then an SE code popped up. After reading these comments and seeing a key being pressed for 60 seconds will result in this error got me thinking the microwave seems to be sensing the 4 button is being pressed constantly. I followed the directions on this video - taking a picture of the cables before removing. I cleaned the ribbon cable with the white eraser and then rubbed it firmly with isopropyl alcohol on a q-tip to give it a clean contact surface. Cleaned the rest of the contacts with alcohol too but the ribbon connector is the key to this fix I believe. I have many Samsung appliances and electronics in my home. I hope this is the only trouble I have because I can't imagine the fix being this easy for anything else that goes wrong. GREAT how to video - thanks for taking the time to film it!
Not only did this work for me but I really appreciated how well paced and clear the directions were. This is one of the better DIY videos I've seen. Thank You!!!
Thanks so much! Video (and others' comments) gave me confidence to tackle first home repair on my own. Just cleaned the ribbon cable as suggested, and got it working again in short order.
You sir, are now responsible for making all "how to" based videos on TH-cam. Your mastery of video editing along with your foresight to narrate your work has never before been witnessed here. You have saved myself several hundred dollars in a new microwave (i.e. me ripping it from the mount and dragging it behind my car in rabid frustration). Your video is not only in my favorites, but I will look back on it from time to time just due to it's quality. You have my most humble thanks good sir!
It is that pesky ribbon connection. I am uncomfortable with that connection. I pulled the panel out, and followed the suggestions for cleaning all contacts in each connector. I tried to burnish the contact edge of the ribbon, I used a white eraser to burnish, and followed up with a contact cleaner pen. I wiped the edge dry, and reinserted it into the connector block. The first attempt did not fix the SE error problem. Second attempt, I used an acid brush (a brush used to clean new solder connections) dipped in alcohol, and forced the bristles directly into the board connector, then wicked away the excess liquid, following up with a canned air blast. Finally, when I reinserted the ribbon, I worked it in and out a couple of times before locking the connector. That worked. I am completely underwhelmed with the quality of workmanship, and the non-robust design Samsung put into this appliance. I am now worried that our Samsung stove-top/ convection oven combo is headed for troubles with its electronics. I suggest to anyone shopping for a kitchen stove, or overhead mount microwave, to steer clear of anything that has smarts, and is gadget loaded. Get a gas oven, with the only electronics installed being those really cool piezo-electric igniters. Really. Go for robust, but simple. Kitchen appliances go through a lot of Hell!
My ribbon lock was loose when I inspected it before unplugging everything. My guess is all the door slamming over the years worked it loose. . .It was a simple fix thanks to all the good folks who post on TH-cam!
I called Samsung and told them I was getting the SE error. I had to email them a copy of the receipt of my 3 year old unit. No questions asked, service call scheduled and will be fixed under warranty. Good on Samsung for taking some responsibility for what other manufacturers would have run from!
Well, I thought that I was going to have to buy a new microwave, but after viewing your video, and following your instructions, my unit is now working fine! Thank you Joe!
I wish to sincerely express my gratitude to you for creating a concise, useful tutorial. I have always referred to to your video as it is the most useful when I must disassemble my microwave to correct the SE error. I used 99% isopropyl alcohol to clean the end of the ribbon cable as well as dribbling a drop or two of the ISP into the ribbon cable connector socket. An important detail I wish to emphasize is to be certain to gently insert the ribbon cable into the socket until you FEEL IT BOTTOM OUT in the connector socket, then press down on the ribbon connector lock. BRAVO!
Thank you for publishing this video for the Samsung Microwave Model SMH9187 5E error code, my unit failed at 4 years old. We are a heavy user of the unit, ie, most of our cooking is done with this microwave with no problems. I took off the control panel as suggested and cleaned the connectors with a good contact cleaner. Reassembled and it worked, but only for a few minutes. Removed the control panel again and went back to the ribbon cable, the most suspicious connection. The contacts on the cable were a dark gray in color. The contact cleaner hadn't worked. Then I used the old "Pink Pearl" eraser and buffed the contacts. Amazing, they were bright shinny silver when finished. Reassembled the control panel and it's worked ever since (at least two weeks now under heavy use). The issue appears to be that these ribbon cable contacts, which should have been gold plated like the connector are not, and therefore, in the environment to which they operate just corrode (a resistive surface compound of some sort). A major design flaw by Samsung. Good luck to the next reader, there is hope.
When do you use the hammer? Just kidding. thanks for the video, going to try it on my 5 year old Model tomorrow. thank you for sharing your experience and information!
I followed these instructions and when I plugged it back in and tried to set the clock - same problem - none of the buttons worked - UNTIL I hit the stop button - then it worked fine. I believe the problem was dirty contacts on the ribbon cable - I got a lot of 'black' stuff off with the eraser. THANK YOU Joe!!
Me after successfully fixing my microwaving using this video: I AM THE GREATEST ELECTRICIAN THAT HAS EVER LIVED. (Thank you mate, perfectly detailed and 10 years later still helping people)
I just did this on mine that had that dreaded error code. What I found was that tape-like connector had a lot of grime built up. Used the suggested pencil eraser and some rubbing alcohol and was amazed at the gunk that came off. Plugged everything back in and reassembled. Plugged back into the wall outlet and it freaking Worked!!! Thank you soooo much! A new board is around $100 and a new microwave is 3 times that! You saved me so much!
This was a great repair for us. The microwave lasted 2 years after the last time we implemented this repair. Here we go now, time to fix it again. Thank you for the awesome super succinct and eloquent video Joe.
We had this microwave when we moved into our new house. It looked like this fix has been done before. All of the electrical looked clean except the ribbon cable. Cleaned it with a pencil eraser and it works fine now! I have a feeling that where the ribbon cable is inserted may need cleaning too at some point. Thanks for saving us 75 bucks through the home warranty!!!
Joe, I'm a senior citizen and when the same error code occurred, I assumed it was going to be yet another expense I could ill afford. I followed your instructional video (very well done) to the letter and it is now working perfectly. Can't tell you how grateful I am for this information! Thanks a bunch.
Fixed mine following this in just a very few minutes. Just removed, cleaned with an eraser, and re-inserted the ribbon cable. PULL UP ON THE RELEASE LOCK to release and clean the cable, then re-insert the cable and push the lock back down when finished cleaning to re-install. That's it! Hope it works as well for you and good luck.
I've experienced this issue with my SMH9187B for a couple of years now. When the issue first came up, I followed the instructions of this video and they worked great! Great video! This video is the gold standard for DIY fix-it videos! However, the issue came back about a year later and no matter how many times I repeat the instructions in this video, the SE error comes back immediately. I dug a lot deeper via Google and think I now know the nature of the issue. As others have said, the issue is the ribbon cable. _However_, I don't think the issue is cleanliness of the contacts, but _position_ of the ribbon. The ribbon has a tendency to fold over on itself and this seems to short it out in some way. Stick a piece of paper underneath the ribbon, so that even if and when it folds on itself, there is no shorting. I recommend doing this as you do the instructions in the this video. For reference, check out these other two videos: th-cam.com/video/o0Hp53Cd7e8/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/ikQvqAwLXqQ/w-d-xo.html
Just had this September 21, 2020, on my Samsung microwave bought in 2013. Standing in the kitchen, all of the sudden the exhaust fan began running and about after 7 seconds or so, it turned off and showed the SE. Watched this video within seconds and then it took me less than 5 minutes after that and it was reassembled and working again. Thanks from 7 years in the future!
I too received the dreaded SE error code. So happy I found your video. I was prepared to buy a new microwave if I had to. I followed your clear directions and cleaned the ribbon cable with a pencil eraser put everything back together and it works!!! My husband and son were very impressed and frankly so was I! It took all of 7 minutes from start to finish. Thanks so much for sharing your wisdom... ;)
Thanks so much for this video. We have a Samsung over the stovetop model which is about 18 months old. Ours has all the controls in the door. We were cooking pasta on the stovetop with steam condensation happening on the microwave. I called Samsung and arranged to have it serviced but Samsung told me I would have to cover the cost as it was out of warranty. ($99 just to get a technician to come out plus labor and parts). After watching your video I called Samsung back and argued with the rep armed with the knowledge that it was a known problem and my unit was less than 2 years old. They argued to fix it under warranty “one time”. The technician showed up and stated he needed to order a new door and keypad to see which resolved the problem. The service outfit also told us there would be a $50 charge if the unit had to be taken down to repair it even tho Samsung was now paying for parts & labor under warranty. We are now waiting for the parts to come in. This experience has soured us on future Samsung products. Why would you sell a over the stovetop microwave with a known problem of simple steam causing a failure? And then try to stick the consumer with the repair if out of warranty. I will never buy anything from Samsung in the future after this experience.
About three months ago, I had this problem with our Maytag microwave. A quick fix of using a hair dryer and massaging the keyboard while running the hot air over it worked. The problem recurred a few days ago and that easy technique failed time after time. Your very well-made step-by-step video did the trick though! Hopefully it will last longer than my last quick fix. Thanks for the video - TH-cam to the rescue again!
I tried this fix because I have had a dead microwave for over a week while I have been calling Samsung to get this repaired. I cleaned the ribbon cable and reseated all the connectors several times. Within 15 minutes I had a working microwave oven again. The problem seems to be that the connectors are tinned instead of gold plated and thus are affected by humidity and steam rising up from the range and corroding the contacts. Awesome fix. Thanks.
Dying for a pizza fix, I was stopped in my tracks by the dreaded SE code. This simple DIY video did the trick as I am now listening to a pepperoni pizza begin nuked. Thank you so much today, Sept. 23, 2020. This is the second time I've had to fix this microwave, first time was a blown thermostat. Thank you again, your great......
Dude… You are so the man right now in my hero of the day! I’m a handy woman by trade I was hired to replace a microwave and a rental home Because it was said to not work but when I got there and saw it was a Samsung add an error code I knew this was likely adorable fix but finding A video demonstration that was clear and concise and wasn’t meeting me down some crazy rabbit hole from what I needed but had a little hope. Not to mention anything electrical makes me a little nervous but you are amazing at this and I’m so glad I found a video because it fixed it!!! Got ultimately says there property owners money and Let me keep my reputation for awesomeness and clever fixes. You just made my day I love it!
I'm not sure whether it's the cleaning of the ribbon, or just the act of reseating the ribbon that fixed my microwave. For the record, I clean the contacts on my ribbon using a small amount of Windex on a paper towel. Of course I dried the ribbon before inserting it back into the connector. While I had the panel open I took the opportunity to clean any gunk build-up, and sprayed the electrical components with compressed air. Thanks again.
This video may be 8yrs old but it’s very relevant in 2022. Many thanks for the well detailed video. Cleaning the flex ribbon cable alone sorted the SE problem.
I've never been handy and my wife told me I was crazy to try to fix our microwave but I just followed this video step by step and my micro is fixed! Thanks Joe!!
I just followed the instructions given. Worked great. Two variations. First was that I needed to remove the very long screws that mount it in the cabinet above in order to get to the two screws that hold the exhaust hood in place because they are under the cabinet above. In my personal case this is because I specified the cabinets to be deeper than normal so the microwave does not stick out beyond the cabinet door surface. It gives a nice look but complicated the repair a bit. Since the microwave weighs about 50 pounds, I stacked a couple toy boxes on the stove top to keep it from falling. The second variation is that I used spray contact cleaner instead of air. You must let it dry/evaporate before putting the contacts back together. Total fix took about an hour with most of the spent unscrewing the two very long screws that anchor it into the cabinet above. If I need to do this again, I will definitely have my electric screwdriver available. Thanks Joe for the video. Fabulous.
This worked for me as well. I added cleaning solder connections with a toothbrush and a little rubbing alcohol. Why anyone would design a microwave that fails over time due to hanging over a stove is beyond me... Thanks for the video!
As a person who's been shooting and editing video for 40 plus years, my compliments for an incredibly clear, lucid and well made video about a problem that I have to fix for my niece. Thanks again for making this available, and doing such a good job
WELL DONE. I just experienced the SE code. Followed the instructions which were very well described, step by step, and in a common-sense perspective which is greatly appreciated. I removed the entire panel, used canned air to clear out any debris, applied rubbing alcohol to all the metal components using a q-TIP, it was amazing how dirty the cable itself was. Re-attached the keypad, plugged it back in, and off we went. Worked like a charm. I love these simple and manageable repairs vs. buying a new $400 appliance. THANKS so much. The next issue I have I will send to you for a detailed description like this! :)
Just tried it and it worked great, my SE is no more and back to working. One note - I rushed it first time and the microwave came on asking for time to be set but buttons didn't register my push. I repeated repair and discoverd I had not put the ribbon back in straight - it was a bit cockeyed. Straigtened it and it worked! Many thanks, Joe. You should seriously be paid a helpers fee by Samsung, since you are saving them from paying for numerous warranty house calls and/or limiting customer frustration.
I haven't done this fix, yet but I very much appreciate Joe's terse, rehearsed audio portion of this video. No annoying verbal pausing and no extraneous verbiage. Very refreshing for this venue. Good job, Joe.
Joe, thanks for the video, first off one of the most professional instructional service videos I've viewed. Our Samsung over the range microwave was possessed. The range/night light was going off and on in rapid mode complete with audio beeping. Pulling the power plug didn't reset it. Followed your video and it seems to have solved our issue. Well done. We have 4 Samsung appliances and they've built in a lot of problems in their design. Thanks
FANTASTIC! We got the dreaded "SE" the other day and thought it was just the door. Then when it was constantly going off and coming back up as "SE", we googled and found this. It took my husband and I about 15 minutes total, and that's including gathering the ladder and screwdriver! We only did the ribbon cleaning and that seemed to take care of it. Will touch base again and let all know if it "held" or not. THANKS AGAIN!!
I tried this and it worked for a few weeks then got the error again. I took it apart again and this time looked at the board itself and found it was covered in a fine coating of grease.... I took a new toothbrush and 91% alcohol and cleaned the board completely .... once dry used another toothbrush (new that is) and cleaned all the residue that the alcohol left behind. now it works like a charm! thanks for the starting point.
GENIUS!!! While everything I took apart was disgustingly greasy, there didn't seem to be any grease or grime in the actual wire section. I didn't really feel like I cleaned anything, but it may just have been taking the wires apart and putting them back together that fixed the problem. Either way...it worked! I really liked your clear instructions on how to take apart each connector. Thanks for the great advice. One suggestion...take a picture of the wiring before taking anything apart.
I love this video. Thanks! I LITERALLY told my wife that this was one of the most thought out and well produced TH-cam deals I've seen ever. Thank you so much! I followed your directions and it WORKED! thanks again, you've made me a hero in my own home.
Mine quit working about a year ago, and I put it in the back room, decided today to try to fix it, found your video, and noticed you said samsung may be fixing them for free, called Samsung, and sure enough, they will be sending someone out to fix it, so I'm putting it back over my stove, thanks for the info, I would have never thought to check Samsung without your help.
cant believe this video is 11 years old. I have a got newer version of Samsung microwave. The same issue, resolved it with the same way as yours. A big thanks to you!. Disappointing that Samsung hasn't addressed this issue....
My 5E error came back a few more times and I cleaned all the connections again, but still get error after a few days. I called Samsung and told them my issue but not about me cleaning or removing it. Told them I saw many people with the same issue on the internet. Bottom line is they are sending a service person to replace panel FREE! Mine is 5yrs old, so they must know its an issue. It was replaced 3 yrs ago also. Again thanks for the comments of everyone and to you Joe again for the great video! Eric
Excellent video. My 12 year old samsung microwave got the dreaded 5E error. I followed the video and now I've got a cleaned-up and working microwave. Thanks Joe!
I was awakened in the middle of the night, by our Samsung Microwave beeping, With SE displayed. I unplugged it and read this article, the next morning. It took me about five minutes to fix it, following your directions. Hopefully, it will last for a while. Great video! Thanks!
Joe, just wanted to thank you! I woke up this morning with my whole family coming over for Sunday dinner, and the dreaded SE code showed up on my microwave. Viewing your video, I was able to fix it in less than 15 minutes! Thank you so much!
Fantastic video production: KUDOS! I followed your instructions to the letter, and - despite all appearances that my board was fairly "clean" and intact - your procedure DID restore my micro to operational status! Used alcohol on Q-tips to clean my contacts, and all components... and even though it's one again working, I didn't cancel my order for the "assembly control panel" (which I acquired for $53.73 including priority shipping) - due to the fact that my board smelt substantially of burned ozone... and I suspect certain components are on the verge of failure. Still-in-all, it's wonderful to have it back - even though it may be only a temporary respite before complete failure (the replacement will arrive next Monday (today's Thursday)! Thanks, ever-so-much for your thoughtful, thorough explanation and video!
Heard the beeps, saw the 5E flashing, thought "CRAP!' Searched for a fix thinking it would be complicated and lengthy. Found your video (first search no less). Thought, "no way, too easy." Microwave works, after 10 minutes. Easy-shmeazy fix. THANK YOU....
Thanks for the tip! I once had a similar problem with the control panel of my washing machine. I did the same, but before plugging all the cables back, I added some dielectric tune-up grease. It has metal specs that help conduct electricity and the grease helps seal the connection. You can find a tube of this grease at Canadian Tire or any automotive section of a hardware store for about 6$. My washing machine has been working great for over 8 months now.
Joe ~ You're a lifesaver. Replacing a microwave right before the holidays was not something I was looking forward to doing. Thought I'd give your fix a try before beginning the hunt for a new microwave, and much to my surprise I fixed it. Note: To those who tried it once and it still gives you the 5E error, be persistent and try one more time like Joe recommends. The fix took for me after the second try.
woke up this morning to an SE error. Followed the direction (minus the ribbon cable) and got my microwave working again. mine took about 10 minutes. I also took took the opportunity to clean some of the other surfaces in side that aren't usually accessible. Thanks. This saved me a bunch of time, headaches, and money. This totally worked for me.
Excellent instructions Joe! Worked like a charm! Can't believe how many of these appear to fail! Definitely saved many folks expensive repairs and/or landfills of needless microwaves! You are a hero!!
Instructions were excellent. My Samsung 'broke' about 7 months ago and using this video worked wonders. Been 6 1/2 months and no issues. About two years ago the latch broke and it would not stay closed. There is a video on TH-cam that instructs how to fix that too.
Fix lasted 9 1/2 months until I made soup again. Back to square one on the board. 1st attempt didn't work but will wait a while longer in case condensation is on the inside part of the board and try again.
Thanks Joe! Although cleaning the contacts did not work for me, your suggestion at the end did - we bought a new keypad and we're back in business. Awesome!
Joe, today 11/19/15 our Samsung SMH9187ST above the range microwave showed the SE error code. I followed the steps you outlined in your video with one exception I used a hairdryer (cold setting) versus a can of compressed air.After cleaning and re-assembling the keypad and plugging the unit back in there was "life". So far so good. Many thanks for the detailed and useful instruction. Regards, Mike Thibeau, Midland, MI
Awesome video, thank you!! I did what you said on my Samsung SMH9151STE microwave and it worked great. It took me all of five minutes max to clean all the connectors with a pencil eraser and a can of air to blow them out and it appears to be fully functional again. Thanks again for taking the time to post this! Four years later after your post and still a helpful video!
Excellent video!!! First I tried cleaning only the ribbon wire. I plugged it in and the error was gone but as I tried to enter the time, I realized the numerals on the keypad didn't respond. Then I cleaned all the pins / plugs and ribbon wire again, put it back together and it works perfectly. I noticed other posts on the internet with other brands having the same problem, so I guess it's not inherent just to Samsung. My microwave is almost 5 years old and this is the first time this has happened. Thanks again for posting this solution! UPDATE!!! A day after the fix, the SE error code came back. Out of frustration, I called Samsung Support. To my surprise, Samsung said the SE error is a known issue and based on my model / serial # they would send someone to repair it under warranty. I bought this microwave in December 2009!!! Samsung is still standing behind it and issued an extended warranty to cover it for this particular SE error issue! Kudos to Samsung!
Hi Joe, this procedure worked for my April 2010 unit. It was presented methodically at a nice pace with high-quality narration. The eraser did a great job on the contacts. THANKS!!!!
Thank you for the video. My Samsung microwave model SME1816s has the error message “SE” whenever I steamed cook something longer than 20-30min on the stove. I realized I watched your video almost a year for the same issue. It works every time! Thanks a million!!
Yup I removed and cleaned cables and connections as best as could and put back together. That troubleshooting and repair was completed 4 days ago and the machine is still operating properly. Nice job on the video and you have an excellent speaking voice Joe
we were contemplating a new microwave, when i checked out the SE (5E) code search and was directed to your site and video. Thanks Joe you saved us an unnecessary purchase. it only took few moments of my time and we were back in business. Thanks for the lesson Joe!!
We followed the steps in the video to access the circuit board, then used the paper between the ribbon fix shown in another video, worked perfect and only took 5 minutes! thanks, saved us from having to buy a new unit or having to wait for a repair from the company.
This repair video is amazing! I congratulate you on being clear and concise. It is rare to find a well planned, well edited, and informative instructional video on TH-cam. Your video solved my SE error code. My Samsung microwave now works fine. I want to mention two important disassembly points that are not emphasized in the video. 1) Slide the exhaust grill to left before pulling forward. 2) Slide the keypad upward before pulling forward. I added dielectric grease to my ribbon cable contacts before reassembling. My hope is that the dielectric grease will reduce future corrosion. Dielectric grease is the electrical grease used on automotive connectors and spark plugs.
Just followed your EXCELLENT step by step instructions. Wow, you nailed it! You saved us a lot of time and aggravation, and we are in your debt. Many thanks!
Can't believe this worked! The latch on the handle broke last week which I fixed via You Tube and then the dreaded 5E this week! It's been 30 minutes and so far so good! The instructions were so easy and I did it in 10 minutes while my husband slept. Definitely the ribbon cable with the eraser and then I used a soft bristled tooth brush for the rest. I didn't even use the compressed air. Thank you so much!!
WHY CAN'T ALL HOW TO VIDEOS BE THIS WELL DONE???
I have been in the appliance repair industry for 27 years and this gentleman has done the better than anyone I have ever witnessed.
I know right...
They can't all be this well done because it takes time, effort, and software expertise that most TH-cam duffers don't have. I just appreciate the many hours of volunteer effort that so many well-meaning folks do put in. Some of the worst videos, from a camera and explanation perspective, have been the most helpful.
Literally the best how to video I've ever seen
This worked perfectly for me. I used isopropyl alcohol swabs to clean all the contacts on the ribbon cable and used a toothpick to get in and around the pins of the other connectors. 15 minutes of guided work saved me from buying a replacement microwave. Best how-to video I ever watched. Didn't leave out a step.
This is an EXCELLENT video. Heck, even if the repair doesn't work this is still the best DIY video I've ever watched :)
I have to agree that this guy has a very natural instructive voice and the video was very well made. Samsung should be paying you but I'm sure their wanting customers to buy new microwaves instead...lol
I thought this was a Samsung repair bulletin. This vid is professionally made, and this guy is a natural speaker. I will be rootibg through his channel. He is an excellent speaker with thorough instructions.
I had the same problem. I am no engineer, and was scared to open the cabinet. But I sort of solved the problem like this: I pointed a hair drier at the membrane keypad and left the drier running in full power for about 5 minutes. Apparently this cured the dampness inside the membrane, and it worked perfectly. I had to do this regularly once a day for a week. After that the keypad just works fine regularly!
It is essential that you FIRST either discharge the capacitor with a insulated screwdriver, or let it discharge on it's own by letting it sit unplugged for atleast 8 hours prior to the repair. Failure to do so could result in injury or death.
This is a great how to video, but as with all electrical related repairs safety is your number one priority! Please do not take shortcuts that can put yourself in danger with a DIY project.
Safety is always priority one but this repair is no where near the capacitor and all parts dealt with are insulated and no volt with the unit unplugged. Just don’t jam any coat hangers in there to catch dust bunnys.
I tried this just after Joe posted this in 2013 - cleaned everything with isopropol alcohol (70%) - and it worked right up until today - Aug 23/14. I just did the same process all over again, cleaning all of the pins and ribbon cable with alcohol and it's back up and working like a charm! Great tip...easy fix - nothing to be afraid of, just follow the directions he gives. You don't even have to mark anything, the circuit board is marked "blue" for where the blue connector goes. All the rest of the clips are size sensitive and color coded!
Great to have this online!
Thanks for posting this! I followed most of your steps and put it back together and I now have a working microwave! The only things I didn't do was use the clothe on the end of a sharp object to clean between the contacts (I think the compressed air did an effective job of cleaning things out).
Things I would suggest adding is to use your camera or cell phone camera, to capture a picture of the wiring before disconnecting and then completely disconnecting all wires so you can work on the keypad on a flat surface. In checking the ribbon cable there weren't any exposed metal contacts so I only lightly cleaned it with an eraser and buffed it with a clothe (it appears both sides are completely coated with plastic) - I didn't want to wear away the plastic. I believe that the cleaning and disconnecting and reconnecting of all of the connectors are key. The contacts where I focused the cleaning with the eraser are the four copper contacts that the blue and white wires slide over. In addition, I unplugged the unit and left it unplugged for several days, I am not sure if this is a factor but it may play a role in allowing any build -up of energy to be released. Finally, something that may play a key role is the other end of the ribbon cable - I am NOT recommending to attempt to disconnect the other end but I think it is important that people attempting this repair to not put any stress on this cable, e.g., tugging on it, and I noticed that it seemed to be somewhat extended so I made a point to gently push the other end of the ribbon cable that connects to the keypad back inward toward the keypad. I will provide updated status but so far so good :)
Just repaired this code after watching this video. Now switches works like a new microwave mahcines. Thank you very much.
I'm glad the 2nd highest ranked Google result for "Samsung SMH9178B keeps beeping" is your video. Finding a solution on the internet is fairly common these days. But to find a complete, informative, and professionally produced video like this was a real treat. Kudos to you!
FWIW, cleaning only the ribbon cable did the trick for me as well. Also, my microwave did not show the SE error. It just kept beeping and the key presses only registered intermittently.
Im glad i read your comment before cleaning everything, because it worked on the first try. Yes! Minimal effort because im actually moving out of my rental condo this Saturday! Thank you
My smh9151b was stored away for about 4yrs before put in use, and it's worked for about 12 since.
It started doing random beeping in the middle of the night.
Not sure how far I'll get , this thing was probably obsolete by the time I installed it.
Maybe I'll look around for a connection issue but I don't have much faith in it , and I don't want to waste alot of time goofing around with this thing though.
Video repair guide worked perfectly. Thanks for this excellent fix. The hardest part of the whole process was negotiating with my wife for the over the range access!
After watching several of these "how to fix the Samsung 5e errors" I came to the conclusion that there was one common element. Most of the 'solutions' involved different 'fixes' but one common action. The action was the removal of the cables from the control panel. I removed the grill from the top of the microwave,(2 screws), then removed the panel (1 screw). I left the power on and carefully unplugged each connector on the control panel board until I found the one that supplied power. I knew I had the correct wire connector when the panel went blank, I waited about 10 seconds and then plugged it back in. The panel 'rebooted' similar to a computer and now works. Simply unplugging power from the wall wouldn't work, you had to remove the connector from the board which reset the panel. The whole procedure took about 5 minutes.
This is a great follow-up comment to the video for a successful fix.
Gary DePollo Awesome! I knew it had to be simpler!!
Gary DePollo How long did it last you?
Unplugged everything, waited a few minutes and plugged all the plugs back in. IT WORKS! ~ No cleaning needed
Thank you Gary very very much!!!
I purchased my first house a few months ago and my microwave hasn't worked since day one. I called Samsung and like you they told me the warrantee had expired. I watched your video and it worked!! My microwave is now working wonderfully. Thank you so much, from a first time home buyer who couldn't afford to buy a new microwave!
Good on you, Joe. I've seen many DIY videos, with poor camera shots and zero post production, but yours was not only a breath of fresh air, but IT WORKED for our Maytag microwave/range hood. Evidently, the Samsung & Maytag models are identical. Thanks for your good audio, multiple (helpful) angles, and going the 2nd mile by sharing the Consumer Report data and where to get affordable replacement parts. This was a 10! DD
Joe, you are brilliant! We were just getting ready to go out to buy a new microwave when I saw your fine advice. I cleaned the contacts with isopropyl alcohol and also sanded the one exposed contact. The microwave worked again immediately. Actually, this was the second time for this issue. The first was while it was under warranty...they replaced the key pad. However, I will add this: DO NOT BUY SAMSUNG APPLICANCES. Last year we had three of them fail at the same time...1) the microwave (repaired under warranty, but failed again last week); 2) our DVD / VHS recorder / player, which they refused to fix even though it was still under warranty (They actually said: "Your warranty is active but will be expired by the time you get the product back to us, so we will not fix it free."); and 3) our new Samsung washing machine. The washing machine was the biggest problem. We ended up having no washing machine for 13 weeks! They kept sending repair guys with the exact same parts (4 times) and the exact same failure kept happening. I have a business associate in Korea who used to work for Samsung and does business currently with them. I sent him a flaming email about the washing machine and told him to get it to high level executives at Samsung. He did so and the next morning we got a call from the office of the president of Samsung USA. Ultimately they took away the existing lemon washing machine and replaced it with another. So, I say to all who read this, DO NOT BUY SAMSUNG APPLIANCES, or any other Samsung products. As you learned with your microwave, it was a known problem to Samsung. That is likely the case with my other crap Samsung products.
Thanks Joe! I followed your very clear instructions and the Error SE went away. I believe it was the ribbon cable.
One of the easiest repair video's I've seen! Took the unit apart using your 6 easy step and got everything to work on the first try. Cleaning the ribbon cable with a soft eraser is the heart of the fix since it should have a silver color to the connector and not the same color as the ribbon cable (brown). Be very careful to completely insert the ribbon cable back into the socket and lock it down! I took this one step further and took extra time to get rid of all the grease buildup using a household degreasing cleaner spray in the internal vent hood. If its not sticky...its clean! Joe, you're a great tech and videographer!!!
Now that is an Excellent video. I used it around two years ago. It fixed it. Now the same problem.
Thanks to you I'll try the same repair. Wish all videos were so well done.
Great video. Your fix worked for about a year the first time, and then started the behavior again. I'd disconnect the main power cable for 15 seconds or so while the unit was plugged in (as another video had suggested), and that worked sometimes for a couple of hours and sometimes just for a few minutes.
What did work was total replacement of the membrane keypad. I bought mine from Appliance Parts Pros for $35, plus $6.50 shipping (I don't have any relationship whatsoever with them; I just found them online). Replacement of the membrane, as shown in yet another TH-cam video, was fairly straight forward. It was a bit messy trying to get the old adhesive off of the plastic housing. OnceI did that, laid down the new membrane with its self-adhesive back, and reconnected everything, I was back in business.
The unit now works just fine. I just did it this morning, so I'll check back if, for some reason, it fails again.
Thank you, Joe! This fix worked just as you described. My husband will be amazed by my mad electronic skills!
I'm a single mother who just saved $200-500 with this video. Many, many thanks. My cabinetry was built over top the first two screws and I knew removing the microwave to work on it was beyond me, so I drilled through the bottom of the cabinet to get at the screws and I can use wood-filler to fix that. Thanks again.
Joe.....followed your advice. 1st time thru it was a no go. Took the ribbon out and carefully "erased" the contact points. Voila! I agree that the cause is steam...and the ribbon is the culprit. Thanks for your video. John D.
Called the appliance repair place, described my problem, $145 to look at the problem, $188 for the replacement key pad. Watched your video, clean the contacts with denatured alcohol, reassembled, microwave now working. 8 year old Maytag Microwave now up and running. Thank you for this well done instruction video.
** An EXCELLENT video! Very WELL DONE! Clear, concise, accurate and cleanly edited/produced! THANK YOU!! **
Last night my microwave starting beeping and 4s were appearing on the time screen. Then an SE code popped up. After reading these comments and seeing a key being pressed for 60 seconds will result in this error got me thinking the microwave seems to be sensing the 4 button is being pressed constantly.
I followed the directions on this video - taking a picture of the cables before removing. I cleaned the ribbon cable with the white eraser and then rubbed it firmly with isopropyl alcohol on a q-tip to give it a clean contact surface. Cleaned the rest of the contacts with alcohol too but the ribbon connector is the key to this fix I believe.
I have many Samsung appliances and electronics in my home. I hope this is the only trouble I have because I can't imagine the fix being this easy for anything else that goes wrong.
GREAT how to video - thanks for taking the time to film it!
I cleaned the connectors on my microwave Venmar Jazz, it works, the SE message is gone, thanks
Not only did this work for me but I really appreciated how well paced and clear the directions were. This is one of the better DIY videos I've seen. Thank You!!!
Thanks so much! Video (and others' comments) gave me confidence to tackle first home repair on my own. Just cleaned the ribbon cable as suggested, and got it working again in short order.
You sir, are now responsible for making all "how to" based videos on TH-cam. Your mastery of video editing along with your foresight to narrate your work has never before been witnessed here. You have saved myself several hundred dollars in a new microwave (i.e. me ripping it from the mount and dragging it behind my car in rabid frustration). Your video is not only in my favorites, but I will look back on it from time to time just due to it's quality. You have my most humble thanks good sir!
It is that pesky ribbon connection. I am uncomfortable with that connection. I pulled the panel out, and followed the suggestions for cleaning all contacts in each connector. I tried to burnish the contact edge of the ribbon, I used a white eraser to burnish, and followed up with a contact cleaner pen. I wiped the edge dry, and reinserted it into the connector block. The first attempt did not fix the SE error problem. Second attempt, I used an acid brush (a brush used to clean new solder connections) dipped in alcohol, and forced the bristles directly into the board connector, then wicked away the excess liquid, following up with a canned air blast. Finally, when I reinserted the ribbon, I worked it in and out a couple of times before locking the connector. That worked.
I am completely underwhelmed with the quality of workmanship, and the non-robust design Samsung put into this appliance. I am now worried that our Samsung stove-top/ convection oven combo is headed for troubles with its electronics. I suggest to anyone shopping for a kitchen stove, or overhead mount microwave, to steer clear of anything that has smarts, and is gadget loaded. Get a gas oven, with the only electronics installed being those really cool piezo-electric igniters. Really. Go for robust, but simple. Kitchen appliances go through a lot of Hell!
Use contact cleaner spray. It works on any connector or electronics. Buy at auto parts store.
My ribbon lock was loose when I inspected it before unplugging everything. My guess is all the door slamming over the years worked it loose. . .It was a simple fix thanks to all the good folks who post on TH-cam!
I called Samsung and told them I was getting the SE error. I had to email them a copy of the receipt of my 3 year old unit. No questions asked, service call scheduled and will be fixed under warranty.
Good on Samsung for taking some responsibility for what other manufacturers would have run from!
Thank you Joe, it worked. Microwave is working again. Great video.
.
Well, I thought that I was going to have to buy a new microwave, but after viewing your video, and following your instructions, my unit is now working fine! Thank you Joe!
Worked perfectly for me, thanks! Very thorough and helpful video...hey Samsung, look at all the comments on here...get your shit together!
I wish to sincerely express my gratitude to you for creating a concise, useful tutorial. I have always referred to to your video as it is the most useful when I must disassemble my microwave to correct the SE error.
I used 99% isopropyl alcohol to clean the end of the ribbon cable as well as dribbling a drop or two of the ISP into the ribbon cable connector socket.
An important detail I wish to emphasize is to be certain to gently insert the ribbon cable into the socket until you FEEL IT BOTTOM OUT in the connector socket, then press down on the ribbon connector lock.
BRAVO!
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU! For an excellent video, so even a neophyte like me could fix my microwave!!!
Thank you for publishing this video for the Samsung Microwave Model SMH9187 5E error code, my unit failed at 4 years old. We are a heavy user of the unit, ie, most of our cooking is done with this microwave with no problems. I took off the control panel as suggested and cleaned the connectors with a good contact cleaner. Reassembled and it worked, but only for a few minutes. Removed the control panel again and went back to the ribbon cable, the most suspicious connection. The contacts on the cable were a dark gray in color. The contact cleaner hadn't worked. Then I used the old "Pink Pearl" eraser and buffed the contacts. Amazing, they were bright shinny silver when finished. Reassembled the control panel and it's worked ever since (at least two weeks now under heavy use). The issue appears to be that these ribbon cable contacts, which should have been gold plated like the connector are not, and therefore, in the environment to which they operate just corrode (a resistive surface compound of some sort). A major design flaw by Samsung. Good luck to the next reader, there is hope.
When do you use the hammer? Just kidding. thanks for the video, going to try it on my 5 year old Model tomorrow.
thank you for sharing your experience and information!
I followed these instructions and when I plugged it back in and tried to set the clock - same problem - none of the buttons worked - UNTIL I hit the stop button - then it worked fine. I believe the problem was dirty contacts on the ribbon cable - I got a lot of 'black' stuff off with the eraser. THANK YOU Joe!!
Me after successfully fixing my microwaving using this video: I AM THE GREATEST ELECTRICIAN THAT HAS EVER LIVED. (Thank you mate, perfectly detailed and 10 years later still helping people)
I just did this on mine that had that dreaded error code. What I found was that tape-like connector had a lot of grime built up. Used the suggested pencil eraser and some rubbing alcohol and was amazed at the gunk that came off. Plugged everything back in and reassembled. Plugged back into the wall outlet and it freaking Worked!!! Thank you soooo much! A new board is around $100 and a new microwave is 3 times that! You saved me so much!
This was a great repair for us. The microwave lasted 2 years after the last time we implemented this repair. Here we go now, time to fix it again. Thank you for the awesome super succinct and eloquent video Joe.
We had this microwave when we moved into our new house. It looked like this fix has been done before. All of the electrical looked clean except the ribbon cable. Cleaned it with a pencil eraser and it works fine now! I have a feeling that where the ribbon cable is inserted may need cleaning too at some point. Thanks for saving us 75 bucks through the home warranty!!!
Joe, I'm a senior citizen and when the same error code occurred, I assumed it was going to be yet another expense I could ill afford. I followed your instructional video (very well done) to the letter and it is now working perfectly. Can't tell you how grateful I am for this information! Thanks a bunch.
Fixed mine following this in just a very few minutes. Just removed, cleaned with an eraser, and re-inserted the ribbon cable. PULL UP ON THE RELEASE LOCK to release and clean the cable, then re-insert the cable and push the lock back down when finished cleaning to re-install. That's it! Hope it works as well for you and good luck.
I've experienced this issue with my SMH9187B for a couple of years now. When the issue first came up, I followed the instructions of this video and they worked great! Great video! This video is the gold standard for DIY fix-it videos!
However, the issue came back about a year later and no matter how many times I repeat the instructions in this video, the SE error comes back immediately. I dug a lot deeper via Google and think I now know the nature of the issue. As others have said, the issue is the ribbon cable. _However_, I don't think the issue is cleanliness of the contacts, but _position_ of the ribbon. The ribbon has a tendency to fold over on itself and this seems to short it out in some way. Stick a piece of paper underneath the ribbon, so that even if and when it folds on itself, there is no shorting. I recommend doing this as you do the instructions in the this video.
For reference, check out these other two videos:
th-cam.com/video/o0Hp53Cd7e8/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/ikQvqAwLXqQ/w-d-xo.html
Just had this September 21, 2020, on my Samsung microwave bought in 2013. Standing in the kitchen, all of the sudden the exhaust fan began running and about after 7 seconds or so, it turned off and showed the SE. Watched this video within seconds and then it took me less than 5 minutes after that and it was reassembled and working again. Thanks from 7 years in the future!
I too received the dreaded SE error code. So happy I found your video. I was prepared to buy a new microwave if I had to. I followed your clear directions and cleaned the ribbon cable with a pencil eraser put everything back together and it works!!! My husband and son were very impressed and frankly so was I! It took all of 7 minutes from start to finish. Thanks so much for sharing your wisdom... ;)
Just fixed my microwave with this video. Samsung was asking for 160$s. Shame on Samsung and Kudos to Joe Devlin.
Thanks so much for this video. We have a Samsung over the stovetop model which is about 18 months old. Ours has all the controls in the door. We were cooking pasta on the stovetop with steam condensation happening on the microwave. I called Samsung and arranged to have it serviced but Samsung told me I would have to cover the cost as it was out of warranty. ($99 just to get a technician to come out plus labor and parts). After watching your video I called Samsung back and argued with the rep armed with the knowledge that it was a known problem and my unit was less than 2 years old. They argued to fix it under warranty “one time”. The technician showed up and stated he needed to order a new door and keypad to see which resolved the problem. The service outfit also told us there would be a $50 charge if the unit had to be taken down to repair it even tho Samsung was now paying for parts & labor under warranty. We are now waiting for the parts to come in. This experience has soured us on future Samsung products. Why would you sell a over the stovetop microwave with a known problem of simple steam causing a failure? And then try to stick the consumer with the repair if out of warranty. I will never buy anything from Samsung in the future after this experience.
Excellent video. I just finished fixing my Samsung microwave. The entire process took about 15 minutes and it cost nothing! Thank you!!!!
About three months ago, I had this problem with our Maytag microwave. A quick fix of using a hair dryer and massaging the keyboard while running the hot air over it worked. The problem recurred a few days ago and that easy technique failed time after time. Your very well-made step-by-step video did the trick though! Hopefully it will last longer than my last quick fix. Thanks for the video - TH-cam to the rescue again!
August 25, 2013 - your fix is AWESOME. takes about 20-25 minutes, great video, easy to follow, and we now have our working microwave back. Thank you
I tried this fix because I have had a dead microwave for over a week while I have been calling Samsung to get this repaired. I cleaned the ribbon cable and reseated all the connectors several times. Within 15 minutes I had a working microwave oven again.
The problem seems to be that the connectors are tinned instead of gold plated and thus are affected by humidity and steam rising up from the range and corroding the contacts.
Awesome fix. Thanks.
Dying for a pizza fix, I was stopped in my tracks by the dreaded SE code. This simple DIY video did the trick as I am now listening to a pepperoni pizza begin nuked. Thank you so much today, Sept. 23, 2020. This is the second time I've had to fix this microwave, first time was a blown thermostat. Thank you again, your great......
Dude… You are so the man right now in my hero of the day! I’m a handy woman by trade I was hired to replace a microwave and a rental home Because it was said to not work but when I got there and saw it was a Samsung add an error code I knew this was likely adorable fix but finding A video demonstration that was clear and concise and wasn’t meeting me down some crazy rabbit hole from what I needed but had a little hope. Not to mention anything electrical makes me a little nervous but you are amazing at this and I’m so glad I found a video because it fixed it!!! Got ultimately says there property owners money and Let me keep my reputation for awesomeness and clever fixes. You just made my day I love it!
I'm not sure whether it's the cleaning of the ribbon, or just the act of reseating the ribbon that fixed my microwave. For the record, I clean the contacts on my ribbon using a small amount of Windex on a paper towel. Of course I dried the ribbon before inserting it back into the connector. While I had the panel open I took the opportunity to clean any gunk build-up, and sprayed the electrical components with compressed air. Thanks again.
This video may be 8yrs old but it’s very relevant in 2022. Many thanks for the well detailed video. Cleaning the flex ribbon cable alone sorted the SE problem.
Thanks to your concise instructions, my husband was able to fix our microwave this morning. You are so appreciated at our house!
I've never been handy and my wife told me I was crazy to try to fix our microwave but I just followed this video step by step and my micro is fixed! Thanks Joe!!
I just followed the instructions given. Worked great. Two variations. First was that I needed to remove the very long screws that mount it in the cabinet above in order to get to the two screws that hold the exhaust hood in place because they are under the cabinet above. In my personal case this is because I specified the cabinets to be deeper than normal so the microwave does not stick out beyond the cabinet door surface. It gives a nice look but complicated the repair a bit. Since the microwave weighs about 50 pounds, I stacked a couple toy boxes on the stove top to keep it from falling. The second variation is that I used spray contact cleaner instead of air. You must let it dry/evaporate before putting the contacts back together. Total fix took about an hour with most of the spent unscrewing the two very long screws that anchor it into the cabinet above. If I need to do this again, I will definitely have my electric screwdriver available. Thanks Joe for the video. Fabulous.
This worked for me as well. I added cleaning solder connections with a toothbrush and a little rubbing alcohol. Why anyone would design a microwave that fails over time due to hanging over a stove is beyond me... Thanks for the video!
As a person who's been shooting and editing video for 40 plus years, my compliments for an incredibly clear, lucid and well made video about a problem that I have to fix for my niece. Thanks again for making this available, and doing such a good job
WELL DONE. I just experienced the SE code. Followed the instructions which were very well described, step by step, and in a common-sense perspective which is greatly appreciated. I removed the entire panel, used canned air to clear out any debris, applied rubbing alcohol to all the metal components using a q-TIP, it was amazing how dirty the cable itself was. Re-attached the keypad, plugged it back in, and off we went. Worked like a charm. I love these simple and manageable repairs vs. buying a new $400 appliance. THANKS so much. The next issue I have I will send to you for a detailed description like this! :)
my display went on our 1.5 year old samsung. i bought the replacement panel knowing i'd find a video... Joe Devlin, you are the man
Just tried it and it worked great, my SE is no more and back to working. One note - I rushed it first time and the microwave came on asking for time to be set but buttons didn't register my push. I repeated repair and discoverd I had not put the ribbon back in straight - it was a bit cockeyed. Straigtened it and it worked!
Many thanks, Joe. You should seriously be paid a helpers fee by Samsung, since you are saving them from paying for numerous warranty house calls and/or limiting customer frustration.
I haven't done this fix, yet but I very much appreciate Joe's terse, rehearsed audio portion of this video. No annoying verbal pausing and no extraneous verbiage. Very refreshing for this venue. Good job, Joe.
Joe, thanks for the video, first off one of the most professional instructional service videos I've viewed. Our Samsung over the range microwave was possessed. The range/night light was going off and on in rapid mode complete with audio beeping. Pulling the power plug didn't reset it. Followed your video and it seems to have solved our issue. Well done. We have 4 Samsung appliances and they've built in a lot of problems in their design. Thanks
FANTASTIC! We got the dreaded "SE" the other day and thought it was just the door. Then when it was constantly going off and coming back up as "SE", we googled and found this. It took my husband and I about 15 minutes total, and that's including gathering the ladder and screwdriver! We only did the ribbon cleaning and that seemed to take care of it. Will touch base again and let all know if it "held" or not. THANKS AGAIN!!
I tried this and it worked for a few weeks then got the error again. I took it apart again and this time looked at the board itself and found it was covered in a fine coating of grease.... I took a new toothbrush and 91% alcohol and cleaned the board completely .... once dry used another toothbrush (new that is) and cleaned all the residue that the alcohol left behind. now it works like a charm! thanks for the starting point.
GENIUS!!! While everything I took apart was disgustingly greasy, there didn't seem to be any grease or grime in the actual wire section. I didn't really feel like I cleaned anything, but it may just have been taking the wires apart and putting them back together that fixed the problem. Either way...it worked! I really liked your clear instructions on how to take apart each connector. Thanks for the great advice. One suggestion...take a picture of the wiring before taking anything apart.
I brought my microwave overseas, where there's no Samsung assistance. I could fix it following your instructions. Thanks a lot for sharing!!
I love this video. Thanks! I LITERALLY told my wife that this was one of the most thought out and well produced TH-cam deals I've seen ever. Thank you so much! I followed your directions and it WORKED! thanks again, you've made me a hero in my own home.
Mine quit working about a year ago, and I put it in the back room, decided today to try to fix it, found your video, and noticed you said samsung may be fixing them for free, called Samsung, and sure enough, they will be sending someone out to fix it, so I'm putting it back over my stove, thanks for the info, I would have never thought to check Samsung without your help.
cant believe this video is 11 years old. I have a got newer version of Samsung microwave. The same issue, resolved it with the same way as yours. A big thanks to you!. Disappointing that Samsung hasn't addressed this issue....
My 5E error came back a few more times and I cleaned all the connections again, but still get error after a few days. I called Samsung and told them my issue but not about me cleaning or removing it. Told them I saw many people with the same issue on the internet. Bottom line is they are sending a service person to replace panel FREE! Mine is 5yrs old, so they must know its an issue. It was replaced 3 yrs ago also.
Again thanks for the comments of everyone and to you Joe again for the great video!
Eric
Excellent video. My 12 year old samsung microwave got the dreaded 5E error. I followed the video and now I've got a cleaned-up and working microwave. Thanks Joe!
I was awakened in the middle of the night, by our Samsung Microwave beeping, With SE displayed. I unplugged it and read this article, the next morning. It took me about five minutes to fix it, following your directions. Hopefully, it will last for a while.
Great video! Thanks!
Joe, just wanted to thank you! I woke up this morning with my whole family coming over for Sunday dinner, and the dreaded SE code showed up on my microwave. Viewing your video, I was able to fix it in less than 15 minutes! Thank you so much!
Fantastic video production: KUDOS!
I followed your instructions to the letter, and - despite all appearances that my board was fairly "clean" and intact - your procedure DID restore my micro to operational status!
Used alcohol on Q-tips to clean my contacts, and all components... and even though it's one again working, I didn't cancel my order for the "assembly control panel" (which I acquired for $53.73 including priority shipping) - due to the fact that my board smelt substantially of burned ozone... and I suspect certain components are on the verge of failure.
Still-in-all, it's wonderful to have it back - even though it may be only a temporary respite before complete failure (the replacement will arrive next Monday (today's Thursday)!
Thanks, ever-so-much for your thoughtful, thorough explanation and video!
Heard the beeps, saw the 5E flashing, thought "CRAP!'
Searched for a fix thinking it would be complicated and lengthy.
Found your video (first search no less). Thought, "no way, too easy."
Microwave works, after 10 minutes. Easy-shmeazy fix.
THANK YOU....
Thanks for the tip! I once had a similar problem with the control panel of my washing machine. I did the same, but before plugging all the cables back, I added some dielectric tune-up grease. It has metal specs that help conduct electricity and the grease helps seal the connection. You can find a tube of this grease at Canadian Tire or any automotive section of a hardware store for about 6$. My washing machine has been working great for over 8 months now.
Joe ~ You're a lifesaver. Replacing a microwave right before the holidays was not something I was looking forward to doing. Thought I'd give your fix a try before beginning the hunt for a new microwave, and much to my surprise I fixed it.
Note: To those who tried it once and it still gives you the 5E error, be persistent and try one more time like Joe recommends. The fix took for me after the second try.
woke up this morning to an SE error. Followed the direction (minus the ribbon cable) and got my microwave working again. mine took about 10 minutes. I also took took the opportunity to clean some of the other surfaces in side that aren't usually accessible. Thanks. This saved me a bunch of time, headaches, and money. This totally worked for me.
Excellent instructions Joe! Worked like a charm! Can't believe how many of these appear to fail! Definitely saved many folks expensive repairs and/or landfills of needless microwaves! You are a hero!!
Instructions were excellent. My Samsung 'broke' about 7 months ago and using this video worked wonders. Been 6 1/2 months and no issues. About two years ago the latch broke and it would not stay closed. There is a video on TH-cam that instructs how to fix that too.
cicblue my latch did the same. I watched the video and was able to fix it. now this issue of error codes...
Fix lasted 9 1/2 months until I made soup again. Back to square one on the board. 1st attempt didn't work but will wait a while longer in case condensation is on the inside part of the board and try again.
Thanks Joe! Although cleaning the contacts did not work for me, your suggestion at the end did - we bought a new keypad and we're back in business. Awesome!
Joe, today 11/19/15 our Samsung SMH9187ST above the range microwave showed the SE error code. I followed the steps you outlined in your video with one exception I used a hairdryer (cold setting) versus a can of compressed air.After cleaning and re-assembling the keypad and plugging the unit back in there was "life". So far so good. Many thanks for the detailed and useful instruction. Regards, Mike Thibeau, Midland, MI
Awesome video, thank you!! I did what you said on my Samsung SMH9151STE microwave and it worked great. It took me all of five minutes max to clean all the connectors with a pencil eraser and a can of air to blow them out and it appears to be fully functional again. Thanks again for taking the time to post this! Four years later after your post and still a helpful video!
Excellent video!!! First I tried cleaning only the ribbon wire. I plugged it in and the error was gone but as I tried to enter the time, I realized the numerals on the keypad didn't respond. Then I cleaned all the pins / plugs and ribbon wire again, put it back together and it works perfectly.
I noticed other posts on the internet with other brands having the same problem, so I guess it's not inherent just to Samsung. My microwave is almost 5 years old and this is the first time this has happened. Thanks again for posting this solution!
UPDATE!!! A day after the fix, the SE error code came back. Out of frustration, I called Samsung Support. To my surprise, Samsung said the SE error is a known issue and based on my model / serial # they would send someone to repair it under warranty. I bought this microwave in December 2009!!! Samsung is still standing behind it and issued an extended warranty to cover it for this particular SE error issue! Kudos to Samsung!
Hi Joe, this procedure worked for my April 2010 unit. It was presented methodically at a nice pace with high-quality narration. The eraser did a great job on the contacts. THANKS!!!!
Thank you for the video. My Samsung microwave model SME1816s has the error message “SE” whenever I steamed cook something longer than 20-30min on the stove. I realized I watched your video almost a year for the same issue. It works every time! Thanks a million!!
Yup I removed and cleaned cables and connections as best as could and put back together. That troubleshooting and repair was completed 4 days ago and the machine is still operating properly. Nice job on the video and you have an excellent speaking voice Joe
we were contemplating a new microwave, when i checked out the SE (5E) code search and was directed to your site and video. Thanks Joe you saved us an unnecessary purchase. it only took few moments of my time and we were back in business. Thanks for the lesson Joe!!
We followed the steps in the video to access the circuit board, then used the paper between the ribbon fix shown in another video, worked perfect and only took 5 minutes!
thanks, saved us from having to buy a new unit or having to wait for a repair from the company.
Same problem and over 3 years old. The ribbon was the culprit. Used an eraser and a little alcohol on a paper towel. Great video!
This repair video is amazing! I congratulate you on being clear and concise. It is rare to find a well planned, well edited, and informative instructional video on TH-cam. Your video solved my SE error code. My Samsung microwave now works fine. I want to mention two important disassembly points that are not emphasized in the video. 1) Slide the exhaust grill to left before pulling forward. 2) Slide the keypad upward before pulling forward. I added dielectric grease to my ribbon cable contacts before reassembling. My hope is that the dielectric grease will reduce future corrosion. Dielectric grease is the electrical grease used on automotive connectors and spark plugs.
Have done this twice to my Samsung over the last 10 years and it worked both times. Thank you for a clear and effective bit of troubleshooting!
Just followed your EXCELLENT step by step instructions. Wow, you nailed it! You saved us a lot of time and aggravation, and we are in your debt. Many thanks!
Worked! You're a terrific teacher, presenter, mechanic, and videographer.
Can't believe this worked! The latch on the handle broke last week which I fixed via You Tube and then the dreaded 5E this week! It's been 30 minutes and so far so good! The instructions were so easy and I did it in 10 minutes while my husband slept. Definitely the ribbon cable with the eraser and then I used a soft bristled tooth brush for the rest. I didn't even use the compressed air. Thank you so much!!