The left side of the toaster does not stay engaged...if I hold it down it heats up but it doesn't stay down ..it doesn't catch.

Contacts may be coated with Burt oil, butter, other matter. When engaged, contacts aren't engaging.

The selenoid has broken

I have no experience with the deLonghi toaster but in my experience automatic toaster all work in similar ways since they went electronic - toasters were about the first to do that.

Pressing the lever down against the spring pressure also presses an internal switch that sends current to the heating element as well as to the electronics that control an electromagnet, the purpose of which is to keep the mechanism engaged until the toast is brown enough and then the current to the magnet will be cut by the browning brain and the toast pops up.

If removing any crumbs from inside by inverting it and giving it a good shake and then pressing the lever a few times fairly vigorously doesn't make it work then nothing short of surgery will make it work so returning it will be the only realistic option.

Most times this is caused by a build up of crumbs in the bottom of the toaster. There is a small electo magnet that holds the lever down, if it gets covered in crumbs it won't work. Take it outside turn it upside down and bang the heck out of it till everything comes out. If this does not work then check and make sure the magnet is still attatched inside. Other than that, this toaster gets terrible reviews from folks with issues just like yours. I can only assume the electronics are failing on these units far to quickly. It can be repaired if yuou send it in to the manufacture but that is really not economical. I hope the upside down banging cures the problem.

I am having the same problem with mine. I have found that if I hold the lever down, it will stay down after the elements start to heat, and then pop up according to your dial number. This isn't a solution to the problem, but you can still use your toaster.

It's probably one of two things:1) They pressure contacts that engage the electromagnet may have burnt carbon deposits similar to spark plugs. One needs to clean in between the contact (two on each side) while putting slight pressure as the contacts meet.2) The spring mechanism that engages these contacts has snapped at the securing point, thus not able to put enough pressure to engage these contacts that power the electromagnet.
For some reason it's always the left side.
If the toaster is more than 5 years old I would suggest buying a new on , even though these toasters are very reliable. As the crumbs that left inside are so powdery and coats every surface inside, as well.

When you push the slide down on the side, there's a wire that it pushes down inside the toaster. If the wire gets bent down a bit, pushing the slide down doesn't push the wire down enough. The wire is like a teeter totter. When it gets pushed down, it closes the circuit which turns the toaster on. The reason why the slide doesn't stay down is without energy, the electromagnet doesn't get engaged. That's what keeps the slide down. You need to remove the 4 screws on the bottom, and the 2 screws that hold the legs on that also hold the side on with the slide. Once the side is off, take a pair of needle nose pliers and bend the wire up a bit that acts as the teeter totter.

You can fix this but you must do so with extreme care. I am presuming this is a mechanical catch.

The catch acts in a manner similar to that of a mouse trap. You must remove the cover which will expose you to dangerous electric voltages and dangerous heater elements. Examine the catch and bend the linkage to suit your needs. Plug it in and test it. Contiunue this process until you are satisfied with the operation.

Be careful!!!!!

(((You may be better off with a new toaster)))

I hope this helps you

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Black & Decker T4050 OptiToast 4-Slice and it will not stay down and heat either. However you can hold it down and then it will heat. I apparently has an electromagnet that is supposed to hold it down and it's not working. Any Suggestions?