Any ideas on a fix for a Tefal Avanti toaster - the lever that lowers the
> bread is not latching in the down position. I guess it is a fault with a
> solenoid. There seems to be a slight attempt to latch it - but not quite
> powerful enough.
>
> Is to be consigned to the bin - or is it worth trying to get inside it? Any
> ideas on how to open it up?
>
My mum's Philips electronic toaster had a similar problem, which I fixed by:
a) Opening up the case b) Remove as much toast residue as possible (yuk) c) Use contact cleaner on the connectors between internal PCBs d) Clean the mating surfaces of the electromagnet and drop lever
I don't know about the Tefal unit, but the Philips was quite difficult to open due to the use of a strange type of dimpled screwhead. I had to "get a pair of pliers and get medieval on its ass", to paraphrase Pulp Fiction.
Needless to say, be VERY careful if operating the toaster with the cover off. With the Philips unit, it was not immediately obvious which parts of the circuitry were live and which were connected to earth.
MH.