My Europiccola will not heat up!

[samgiles]

Argghh!!! My Pre-millenium Europiccola has just lost all power. I took the bottom off and opened up the power plug and all the wires are attached. Can anyone suggest what I should look for? What could have caused this? My machine is the two switch (Red and White) version. Any suggestions would be gratefully received.

[peacecup]

The Ponte Vecchio has a thermal cutoff switch - if it gets too hot (no water in the boiler) it trips to prevent the heating element from frying. happened to me once, and I had to reset it. Don't know if LP has one? Good luck

PC

[TUS172]

Pre-millennium? Does it have a fuse? Is the wiring that goes to the middle of the bottom of the heating element go up into the heating element or does it have a brown fuse? If so the first thing to check is the fuse. If it has the fuse up inside the heating element there is a way to rig one below the base. However it could be the fuse went because of the heating element. So it may be that you could test he heating element with a multimeter. For info on how to do this: http://www.pavoniexpress.com/trouble.html This site will help you.
I have also had the double switch go bad but it is usually because the heating element develops problems and draws additional current. So it may be that your heating element was going bad and caused the fuse or the switch blow.

[samgiles]

Thanks a lot everyone. I'm off to buy a multimeter today. Yes mine has the brown fuse in the centre so I should check that. I hope my element isn't dying. That would be a bummer. In the meantime, I'm glad I kept my old Pavoni Espresso Plus pump machine. Not great but better than nothing. I'll post back any progress.
Sam.

[samgiles]

OK cool. It was the fuse. The multimeter told me the brown fuse had no continuity. I went and saw the local importer today and bought the resettable fuse that the newer models have (red button). I've now installed that and the machine works again. yippee. While I was there I also bought a new seal kit. Tomorrow I'll have a go at my first ever seal replacement. I approach it with some trepidation but I think it should be done. Thanks so much for the help. That link was very valuable thanks Bob.

[zubinpatrick]

Glad to hear you found a simple solution. I am going to add something. DO NOT TRUST THE RED BUTTON RESET THERMO FUSE! It will not always trip in an overheating situation. I have had a Pav melt down because it was left on. When I rebuilt the Pav I tested the fuse. It worked but at too high a temp for the application. Basically, in the position it sits it will not receive enough heat from the base to trip. The boiler can then boil dry (if you have a small leak in the steam valve perhaps) and that's that. I know this does not really apply to the original post....but it's been bugging me for a bit. Also I don't leave my pv plugged in when not in use. Don't trust the switch. Ciao.

[samgiles]

Gosh that's a bit scary. I'm always sure to switch it off but I've never removed the power plug. I'll start doing that too.
Cheers.

[samgiles]

Woohoo. I just did my first ever seal kit replacement. What a difference to the lever action. So smooth. And just as everyone says, it's not hard. Thanks all.
Sam.

[TUS172]

OK cool. It was the fuse. The multimeter told me the brown fuse had no continuity. I went and saw the local importer today and bought the resettable fuse that the newer models have (red button). I've now installed that and the machine works again. yippee. While I was there I also bought a new seal kit. Tomorrow I'll have a go at my first ever seal replacement. I approach it with some trepidation but I think it should be done. Thanks so much for the help. That link was very valuable thanks Bob.

Glad to hear everything worked out okay... You are a 'quick study' and you really resolved the issue with swift determination... When the espresso stops flowing things get really serious, right?

[samgiles]

When the espresso stops flowing things get really serious, right?

Absolutely right. A desperate situation requires swift action. Without my espresso, I'm not very good company

[Remodelista]

Hi - I've got a 2007 Europiccola and just had the same thing happen to me - no water for 15 minutes, and now the green on light goes on but water does not heat up. I saw the instructions to reset the breaker but cannot get the base off. It is attached by a star screw which has a thin pin in the center of it - anybody know how to get this screw out? I have the right size screw head but it can't get into the opening due to the pin, and i'm afraid to force it. Here's the picture



Any suggestions most welcome!

[HB]

It is attached by a star screw which has a thin pin in the center of it - anybody know how to get this screw out?

See Source for Torx Security Wrenches. In addition to the suggestions in that thread, AutoZone or similar car parts store should have them.

[civ]

Hello:

I fear (know?) that many of the forum members any will find this solution to Remodelista's problem rather drastic and even reckless, but it's worked for me in a great many ocassions. I started to do it (instead of rushing out to buy yet another tool and a special, hard to find one at that) basically because I realised that my equipment belongs to me, that I paid for it, so no manufacturer has the right to put in a security screw to keep me from getting inside it to do whatever I feel.

Like voiding the warranty, for example. =-D
After all, it's not really yours till you've taken it apart, right?

I have the right size screw head but it can't get into the opening due to the pin ...

Here's how I have solved this problem with many appliances with these damn screws:

1. get a very small cheapo flat-head screwdriver.
2. check that you can fit it in between the pin and the sides of the hole
3. push it in to the bottom and slowly use the screwriver as a sort of a crowbar to bend the pin off centre.
4. repeat the operation from the opposite side.
5. repeat 3. and 4. again till the pin breaks off. It takes two or three times, no more. It is rather soft steel.

With the pin off, you can now unscrew the torx off with no problems. If you are very precise about these things, you can eventually dremel off (with the right bit, lots of care and patience) the little stub that remains at the bottom, but I have found that it is not really necessary.

Caveat: this worked for me because I've done it many times and in doing so acquired a certain practise. Maybe it was because either the gods were smiling upon me at the time, I'm very lucky or it was just a fluke. This does not mean that, even if you are as lucky as I am and even follow my instructions to the letter, it will work for you.

But I do hope you get it sorted out. =-)

Best regards,

CIV

[Remodelista]

Dan and Carlos,

Thanks to you both for your quick replies. There is an auto parts store right down the street so i'll investigate what they have in Torx screw drivers and the cost. Appreciate the help.