Toasters. Testing and repairing.
After repairing and reassembling a toaster, test it for ground before plugging it in. Press down the lift lever until the carriage locks. Attach the alligator clip of a continuity tester to one prong of the power-cord plug; attach the tester probe to the toaster’s shell. The tester should not light. Repeat the test on the other prong. If the tester lights at all, disassemble the toaster again. Check for loose or frayed wiring; bend bread guides away from heating elements. Take the toaster to a repair shop if the problem persists.
Caution: Unplug a toaster before cleaning or working on it. If the internal parts are welded or riveted in place, have a professional service it.
If a toaster fails to heat in a working receptacle, unplug it and gently pry off the knobs from the color-control and the lift levers. Unscrew the screws holding the end plates (if any) and the metal shell. Remove the end plates and lift the shell off the chassis. Tighten any loose connections between the power-cord leads and the switch terminals. If the connections aren’t the problem, free the leads from the terminals; test the cord with a continuity tester (see Power cords). Replace a faulty cord with a duplicate.
If the cord is all right, use a small brush or a fine emery board to clean the heating-element switch contacts. Lower the lift lever until the carriage locks; if the contact points don’t meet, carefully align the contact arms with needle-nose pliers. If the problem persists, have the toaster repaired professionally, or replace it.
Faulty bread-carriage operation
If the bread carriage doesn’t rise or stay down, examine the latch, latch lock, and latch release. Brush off dirt: straighten bent parts with needle-nose pliers. Lubricate the lock and release with powdered graphite. In a toaster with a solenoid, make sure the solenoid switch contacts are clean and aligned. Check the lift spring, if any; slip it back into its seat, or replace it if it’s broken or damaged.