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Remove the carriage lever and unfasten the cover panel.
Inspect the latch assembly and check the carriage for debris that may stop smooth operation.
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A toaster is an electric heating appliance with a timer, carriage, and latch. Most pop-up toasters work in the same manner. A slice of bread or other appropriate food item is placed through a slot in the top of the toaster and into the carriage. A lever lowers the carriage. When the carriage reaches the bottom of the chassis, it latches in position, an internal switch turns on the heating elements, and a timer starts. Once the timer finishes its cycle, it turns off the elements and a solenoid releases the spring-loaded carriage that pops up the toast. A toaster oven works differently to do the same thing on a wider variety of foods.
Service the latch assembly:
- Unplug the toaster from the electrical receptacle.
- Remove or open the crumb tray and empty it. Turn the toaster over above a trash container and carefully empty out any crumbs before continuing.
- Remove the toaster cover by removing levers, knobs, and fasteners (typically on the underside or underneath labels).
- Inspect the latch assembly for obvious damage or crumbs. Use canned air to clear debris from the latch assembly.
- Move the carriage lever up and down to check for smooth operation. If the carriage moves stiffly, sparingly apply an appliance lubricant on the latch rod.
- Verify operation of the latch to ensure that it works smoothly. If necessary, carefully bend the latch to make sure it catches properly.
- You also can inspect and test the heating element(s) while you have the toaster open.
Service a solenoid:
- Remove the crumb tray cover to access the solenoid switch, typically located near the thermostat on the controller side of the toaster.
- Use a continuity tester or multimeter to test the solenoid switch. If faulty, remove and replace it.
- To replace the solenoid you may need to disassemble the toaster, as above. If the solenoid is installed with rivets, replace the chassis as a unit or the entire toaster.
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