How to Repair a Cuisinart Coffee Maker
Like many other home appliances on the market, a Cuisinart coffee maker requires regular maintenance and some small repairs. Even though they are made with the highest quality from a very trustworthy company, small errors can sometimes occur that can make a coffee maker useless. Instead of wasting the money to buy a new coffee maker or send it back to the manufacturer, it can be very beneficial to learn how to repair a Cuisinart coffee maker.
Troubleshooting
The first step in learning how to repair a Cuisinart coffee maker is learning how to determine if there is actually a problem that needs to be fixed. Believe it or not, many people actually think their home appliances are broken, when in reality, they are either doing something wrong or forgetting a step. If your coffee maker is not working correctly, you will first want to check and make sure everything is in order.
Make sure the appliance is plugged in and the outlet is working, and turn on any light switch that is needed to power the outlet. You will also want to check that all parts of the coffee maker are in place, since many models will not turn on if the coffee basket or pot is not in place. It is beneficial to inspect the entire coffee maker to make sure nothing is out of place, since many problems can actually be easily solved with a very simple solution.
Power Failures
One of the most common problems that can occur with a Cuisinart coffee maker is it having lack of power, meaning the entire appliance will not work. Like mentioned above, the first step is to make sure that the outlet being used is working, and that a switch does not need to be turned on to provide electricity to the outlet.
If the outlet is not a problem, the next step is to check out the machine. There is a chance the cord could have tangled and caused some of the wires to break, or the power supply on the inside of the appliance may not be connected. Although not all electrical problems can be fixed, the best bet is to try and straighten out the cord and make sure everything is connected correctly.
Prevention is the best solution for power problems on a Cuisinart coffee maker, which can be done by taking care of the appliance even when it is not being used. Bundling up or twisting cords can cause them to break, so it is best to roll them loosely to keep them in tact.
Brewing Problems
Another common problem that can occur with the Cuisinart coffee maker is it will stop brewing, even when there is water ready to be transformed into coffee. The machine still turns on and works like it should, but does not continue brewing an entire pot of coffee, and acts like it has finished brewing even when there is still water sitting in the bin. This type of problem is pretty common among various coffee makers, and usually occurs when there is a problem inside the machine.
One of the best ways to fix this problem is by flushing the coffee maker out with a vinegar solution, which can be made with equal parts of vinegar and water. It should be poured in the same place as the water that is ready to be brewed, and will help to clear out the machine and make it ready to start brewing again. This problem is usually caused by calcium building up within the machine, and the vinegar helps to clear out any blockage to help it start running smoothly again.
Weird Tasting Coffee
After using your coffee maker for an extended period of time, the coffee can sometimes begin to taste bitter or like metal. It can be prevented by keeping the coffee maker and the pot clean on a regular basis, but is sometimes inevitable when the coffee maker is used on a daily basis.
Although vinegar does work great at cleaning out the machine, it can also be beneficial to use a de-calcium product such as CLR. Place about ¼ cup of the solution in the machine and fill the rest up with water, and the metal taste should be gone soon after. Make sure to run water through the machine several times after using the solution, to make sure and clean out any solution that may be left behind.
It isn’t hard learning how to fix a Cuisinart coffee maker, since many of the problems can be easily solved. By providing the machine with regular maintenance and keeping it clean as much as possible, many of the common problems can be easily solved.
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guys and gals it is one of the two thermal fuses that are put against the heating element. they had a bunch of defective ones . You can get new ones from radio shack. you have to take it apart.
JavaJenius is NOT much of a genius! This is simple maintenance, not repair as the title would suggest. Not much help!
So how do you open it up? I tried every size of Allen wrench I had in the holes in the base.
Is it glued together? How do you get to the fuses?
Our lid will not latch anymore, do we need a whole new lid or is there a way to fix it?
Use a Torx
This first response you have likely tried. Make sure the filter basket is seated fully. Second, look and watch inside the lid as you shut it to be sure the inner workings are not hung up. The lid likely snaps apart to access the inside, but a pencil eraser is all that might be needed to nudge the inside back into place. Hope this helps
Did you get your coffee pot to work? Mine is doing the same thing. I took most of it apart and with a volt meter, ohm meter, and amp reader, I traced it to the on dial. I cannot seem to get to that switch though to see what I can do.
Did you get your pot to work? Mine just started the same thing.
Tonight I traced the problem with mine to the on dial.
Mine just quit too. Red light on and nothing. I traced it with a volt meter to the switch.
I tried cleaning my coffee pot out with the vinegar solution and it over heated and now is flashing Not Ready what do I do??
Where do you buy parts for the Cuisinart Coffee Makers?
Very disappointed in my Cuisinart coffee maker.
same here. i suspect the switch.
light on, no brew, cold carafe base.
i just can’t figure how to get to the switch.
I’d replace it with a toggle if i could get in there.
I am speechless. Last week I bought a new Cuisinart coffee maker model 1200. I followed manual suggestion and ran one cycle without coffee before using it to brew. Put in 12 cups of water and only 8 had come out into the carafe at the end of the cycle. The other 4 cups were standing in the cone shaped coffee basket. Tried it 3 times with same result. Called Cuisinart and they had no answers. So I returned it and bought a Cuisinart 2650 coffee maker in its place. Just ran the water only brew cycle and it did EXACTLY the same thing. Amazing! The directions are quite simple..I called Cuisinart again and got the same reply. Return it. I will, but I’m done with Cuisinart.
Scott,
Where did you find the special allen wrench to take the bottom off the Cuisinart coffee pot? Thanks…JS
I believe it takes a Torx wrench …not hex / allen
my problem two ….this is the second switch in three years.
Take my advice and buy a new one. It takes a #-10 torx but the parts will justify buying a new one.
Bunn coffee maker is the best.
My carafe heating element stopped working. Any suggestion?
My one month old Cuisinart 12 cup coffee maker made 14 cups this morning even though we only added 10 cups of water! Yesterday we added 10 cups of water and got 10 cups of coffee. Where in the world did the extra water come from?
Mine just gave up the ghost. Tried different outlets and nothing.
our coffee pot, DGB-650 Series, will often not go into the pot when it is brewing & goes all over the floor.We try always to put the pot where it belongs, but it sometimes still leaks out.
Also, sometimes the coffee is very weak. Whats the problem? This was a very expensive coffeepot & is only a year or so old.
our coffee pot, DGB-650 Series, will often not go into the pot when it is brewing & goes all over the floor.We try always to put the pot where it belongs, but it sometimes still leaks out.
Also, sometimes the coffee is very weak. Whats the problem? This was a very expensive coffeepot & is only a year or so old.
You need to use a number 10 torx
If the toggle switch is not working on your DCC1200 the ‘spring’ of the copper tabs inside the switch is probably weakened. To get to the switch you only need to remove the top of the coffee maker. I took the whole thing apart starting from the bottom (with a long T10 security torx – socket wont work) but didn’t need to do that. I also took the water disfuser above the filter off but probably didn’t need to. Tools:
small Phillips screw driver
utility knife
sealant
Here’s what you do:
Remove filter assembly
Remove carbon filter
Dump water from reservoir if present
With the lid open and the toggle facing you, there are two round plastic inserts between the filter assembly opening and the front of the machine. Using a sharp knife like a utility knife, gently pry these plugs out to expose the two Phillips head screws.
Remove these screws.
The entire top should be able to be pried off now (again, you may have to remove the water diffuser and the flat water line going to it – this can be done by lowering it as far as possible and sliding it right).
With the top off you will see four more Phillips screws. note that they are different length and two of them have sealant.
Use the knife to cut the bead of sealant near the front of the machine.
Slide the control portion of the machine forward
Unplug circuit board
Remove three Phillips screws to remove PCB from front panel. This will expose the switch.
Note the 4 copper tabs on the switch and gently bend them out a little.
Assemble in reverse order – remember to seal there the sealant use to be.
Use some of the sealant on the plastic plugs if you damaged them – perhaps seal those Phillips screws under the plugs.
Make coffee!
For the record, it’s a Torx-10.
I see two diode-sized devices clamped to the heating element. I assume these are the thermal fuses you were referring to?
Both thermal fuses show continuity.
With the maker plugged, all functions–brew light, clock/timer, etc. Appear to be functioning normally.
With power off, I measure 13 ohms across the heating coil in the bottom. With power ON, there is zero VAC.
All the connecting wires disappear into the upper panel, and it look like a giant PITA to get to them.
Doesn’t Cuisinart have a service department?
..
Joe
Did you get your maker to work. Ours just died this morning. Red light on, you hear a click but nothing happens? Any suggestions?
Coffee brewer is jammed. will not turn. checked all parts and there is nothing in machine to keep it from grinding. Is there a reset switch? It just buzzes when I turn it on.
Brand new DCC1200 coffeemaker. Everything seems okay except the clock light does not light up. How can this be corrected or replaced with a new bulb?
Thank you so much for the Vinegar solution in “Brewing Problems.” I would get around the partial brewing of water by pressing the “1 to 4 cup” button. When this didn’t work anymore I would turn the machine OFF and then ON and also press the “1 to 4…” button. Finally this approach didn’t work either.
So I used a mixture of approximatly 2/3 vinegar to 1/3 water. The amount that I used was only to the 8 cup level. The amount of calcium in the resevoir was quite visible but it was also the first time that the machine used up all the water/vinegar that was poured in. I was so happy! I then brewed fresh water upto the 12 cup level 3 times to get rid of remaining calcium & vinegar.
Note: I always use filtered water when brewing coffee. Maybe this removed some of the calcium. I bought the machine a year ago and used it at least 4 times a week. I would say the machine could use the Vinegar treatment once a year. Thanks for your solution.
My DCC2400STR coffeemaker quit working. At first the on/off switch started blinking, but brewed. Not it won’t brew at all. I tried decalcifying it with vinegar. The clean function worked. I tried to decalcify it a second time and now everyhing shut off (even the clock). It is now totally dead? Help
my dcc-790 fully automatic burr grind & brew the on/off switch on but not it won’t brew at all
This coffee maker has a quirk with the basket where the filter goes. When you fill the reservoir with water and place a new filter in, be sure to push the basket down firmly and it should click into place. If this basket isn’t seated, the spring loaded stopper at the bottom of it will not be pushed up far enough by the top of the carraffe for the coffee to drain out the bottom during the brewing process. As a result, the water will fill the basket and overflow onto your counter and the coffee will be very weak. Hope this helps.
My coffee maker turns off by itself. Sometimes the coffee is made and sometimes only half made. Today I unplugged it because after it was made it sounded like the heat element was still sizzling. Didn’t want a fire! So, I unplugged it. Luckily I had a cheapie back up.
Looks like from all these comments that I don’t want another Cuisinart. Only had it 4 years. Too bad.
Had a Bunn that went out after a year. (The previous Bunn was 24 years..when things were made to last.)
I have a cusiinart DCC2000 IB5528 and only used it a few times and loved it until it just stopped working and would not come anymore. why in the world would a company make such a bad product. Do they think after someone bought their expensive coffee pot they would go out and buy another lemon!!! You are right, you call then and they do nothing and will not replace the one that does not work or want to fix it.
The on/off switch worked for me for about 2 days. The machine won’t brew again. I suspect something in the logic board. Lasted 8 years though…
Ours quit just as the 3yr warranty expired. Seems suspicious! A call to Cuisinart rep who basically said “tough luck.” I considered another one, but since it seemed to mysteriously shut off right after brewing for the past year, I decided to get a Bunn Phase Brew. It works great and coffee is delicious! Goodbye Cuisinart!