The George Foreman Lean Mean Fat-Reducing Grilling Machine Grill (known commonly as the George Foreman Grill) became a popular cooking appliance in the mid-1990s. Glitches in the device can be caused by a variety of reasons, including the grill being plugged into the wrong voltage outlet; a frayed electrical cord; or a blown fuse. The following instructions are specifically geared toward the George Foreman Champ GR10ABWCAN model, though certain steps may work for other models.

Determine if the grill is plugged into an appropriate outlet. The George Foreman Grill works with outlets that effectively handle 120 volts. If you are not sure how much the outlet can handle, test another 120 volt device in the same outlet or consult an electrician. Test the grill in several other outlets as well to see if the same problem occurs. If it still does not work, move on to step two.

  • The George Foreman Lean Mean Fat-Reducing Grilling Machine Grill (known commonly as the George Foreman Grill) became a popular cooking appliance in the mid-1990s.
  • Test the grill in several other outlets as well to see if the same problem occurs.

Check the electrical cord to see if it is frayed, chewed or strained. These issues would prevent the device from properly receiving electricity from an outlet. If the cord is the problem, trim back the insulation about half an inch with the wire cutters. Cut off any wire that seems unusable and then splice the wires back together with the crimp. Cover the open area with electrical tape. If the cord is not the problem or it still does not work, move on to step three.

Open the grill with a screwdriver meant for Torx security screws. The screws will be located on either side of the grill. Remove the screws and gently pull the shell pieces apart. Inside, you will find a brown live wire with a small thermal fuse. A fuse looks like a small rectangular box that in this case may have signs of a crack or charring. This may signal that the fuse has blown and needs to be replaced. Unscrew the fuse from the device using your regular screwdriver. Pull it out carefully. The device is a 240 degrees Celsius fuse; contact a local electrician or electronic parts store to purchase a replacement. Place the new fuse into the same place and screw it back in using the same screw. Re-assemble the device and test it out. If it still does not work, move on to step four.

  • Check the electrical cord to see if it is frayed, chewed or strained.
  • Unscrew the fuse from the device using your regular screwdriver.

Look at the circuit boards in the still-open grill. A solder joint is a small piece of metal that joins two parts of a circuit and is typically shiny and metallic in appearance. You will see the joints as points on the line of the circuit which look somewhat like cars on a road from high above. If any of the solder joints on the board have a dull, grainy exterior, they may be causing the grill to malfunction. This is called a cold solder joint and it may cause the grill's circuit to be incomplete. A circuit is a path through which electricity flows. Heat this solder joint with the 15 to 30 Watt soldering iron and take it off the board with a pair of tweezers. Purchase a rosin core solder (a type of soldering material) from your local hardware store. Use the solder to resolder a new joint at the point where you removed the cold joint. Apply a small amount of the solder to the board to create a small concave mound but not enough to create an entire ball of solder. This will only take a second or two and the joint should not be moved for at least three seconds after soldering. After the metal has cooled, reassemble the device and test it out. If the device still does not work move on to step five.

  • Look at the circuit boards in the still-open grill.
  • Use the solder to resolder a new joint at the point where you removed the cold joint.

If you do not know much about electronics or the grill is still having troubles you may want to call an electrician or buy a new grill.

WARNING

Do not attempt to use soldering or electrical equipment if you are inexperienced. It is best to call a professional electrician.