Toaster gets really hot for a few seconds and then shuts off?

"There's an adjustment you can make yourself will usually fix these problems. If you turn the toaster over and open the crumb tray on the bottom there's an adjustment screw right in the middle of the opening, on a piece of metal that goes between the two bread slots. Turning that screw one way tightens the mechanism inside, and turning it the other way loosens it up. Depending on what is causing your problem, you might need to be either tighter or looser. The problem is knowing which way to go.

What I recommend to people is that they turn that screw clockwise 1/4 turn, then try the toaster. If it still doesn't work, turn the screw another 1/4 turn and try again. Keep doing that until you've turned the screw two or three full times.

If it isn't working better, turn the screw counterclockwise back to its original position, then start going 1/4 turn counterclockwise and trying the toaster. Keep doing that until you've gone a couple turns counterclockwise.

Usually in the process of doing this you'll discover the toaster is starting to work better (or worse). That confirms you're going in the right (or wrong) direction. Then it's just a matter of making the adjustment until it's just right.

UNPLUG the machine.

It's also possible for crumbs to clog up the works. Emptying the crumb tray and shaking the toaster (over the sink or the wastebasket!) will get the loose crumbs out. Of course you don't want to flush it out with water or anything like that. Just shake it a bit.

If this doesn't fix your problem, sometimes a good cleaning will help. You can remove the screws on the bottom of the toaster to remove the bakelite base, then remove the screws in the tabs along the bottom of the sides to remove the single chrome piece that forms the front, back, and top of the toaster. This will give you access to most of the moving parts."