Oster Start circuit or keypad failure

Microwave has power and display, but pressing START does nothing; timer does not count down.

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Safety Warning

This repair may involve working with high voltage components or water connections. Always unplug the appliance before removing any panels.

If you are not confident in your ability to perform this repair safely, we strongly recommend contacting a professional technician.

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Possible Causes

Defective START key on membrane keypad, Faulty control board input circuit, Loose keypad ribbon cable, Child lock inadvertently enabled

How to Fix / Troubleshooting

Safety first: Unplug the microwave before removing the control panel.

  • Check for child lock: Look for a lock icon or LOC on the display. Disable the lock per your Oster manual (usually press and hold STOP/CLEAR).
  • Test other keys: If only START is unresponsive while other keys work, the keypad membrane may be worn.
  • Reseat keypad ribbon: Remove the control panel and carefully disconnect/reconnect the keypad ribbon cable to the control board.
  • If START still fails: Replace the membrane keypad or entire control panel assembly. If that does not resolve it, the main control board likely needs replacement.
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Repair Difficulty

Medium 3/5

Required Part

Membrane Keypad
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