Same problem. Can't believe such a little thing stops the iron from producing any steam!
Thank you so much. I was about to buy a new iron.
Gavin, March 2022
Same issue here - unblocked the hole and now fine. Thank you so much for the tip. Shame Philips don't put this in their manual, but I suppose if they did they'd sell less replacement irons!
madamefifi, September 2017
good job i found this thread iron works and de scales perfectly now i wonder why philips havnt mentioned this as a common problem
Mark Elliott, September 2017
We also spent a couple of hours following the handbook instructions, in despiation turned to google and found this thread, magic, one small hole cleared and success.Thanks to all concerned
Rachael P Cambridge, August 2017
Worked for me with an Azur 4890. After 2 hours of trying to de-call, a very sore thumb, and as a last resort some descaling liquod (which you're not supposed to use) I am across this thread which immediately resolved my issue. Open the water filler cap first which immediately generated a load of steam so I knew the pin-hole trick was going to work. Thanks everyone for sharing this trick. Philips, you really should bout his in the manual and on your website instead of making Consumers resort to buying new irons for no good reason!
Rakesh, June 2017
I also didn't know about this little hole - iron is like new now. Thanks Google and whoever gave this tip in the first place!
Bernard, January 2017
V helpful - can't thank you enough!
Sezah, December 2016
Amazing - my iron is now working properly after a year.
Grateful V, October 2016
Absolutely brilliant!!! Did this and my iron is as good as new. Didn't even know about this hole.
Angela, July 2016
Yep, just poke a pin in to clear the tiny hole in the filler cap (between the 5 o'clock and 6 o'clock position at the edge of the circle shape in the cap). Steam galore!
Philbo, June 2016
Thank you everyone. My non steaming iron now works perfectly with the cap open. Will clean out the holes in the cap. Saved me buying a new iron.
Wendy, February 2016
Absolutely amazing - de-scaled multiple times but still no steam, then saw this article - opened the water filler and steam as per usual, then cleared out the filler cap with a paper clip - iron is as good as new. Was about to buy a replacement, but absolutely no need now. Also since clearing out the filler cap the de-scaling works much better, in fact its quite violent compared to the way it was working until I fixed that.
Wayne T, February 2015
Small air hole in filler cap blocked, poked it with paper clip and - hey presto, we have steam!
Tel, October 2014
Philips Azur. Came online after unsuccessfully using the calc-clean button due to my iron stopping steaming. I saw on here the success a couple of people have had when leaving the plastic cover open where you put the water in and thought it was worth a try, not expecting it to work at all. I am so pleased it WORKS. So if our iron stops putting out steam give this a try. Good luck.
TC, May 2014
Hi im not an electrician and not overly handy with tools, but want to give it a shot in repairing my iron same issues with the pholips 4340
Not steaming. Can someone provide some dummy guide instructions to fix it ta
Mark, November 2013
NO STEAM . This fix is from 2010, Google never ceases to amaze me. Wife`s iron had no steam, after dismantling three times and seeing all parts seemed to be working OK. I was a little baffled. Then found this fix, back working in ten min`s well done TREBZ
“The auto steam is enabled when the iron reaches temperature and causes a bi-metal disc screwed to the top of the sole plate to distort. The disk has a metal tab which when the disk distorts pushes on the underside of the steam diaphragm and allows water down into the sole plate. I found the screw holding this disk in place had come lose, the disk had rotated and the tab no longer made contact with the diaphragm. Tightening the screw with the tab in its correct position fixed it!
Ian D, May 2013
My iron keeps shutting off as in the blue light flashes even though it is in constant use, which means the iron goes cold. The only way to get it going is to switch it off at the plug.
Lindsey, August 2012
i've just tried mine with cap open its now working great again and yes the hole was blocked thanks for the advice guys
kevin marsh, June 2012
the blue light works but no heat comes out, how can i fix it?
yolanda Ziani de Ferranti, November 2010
The auto steam is enabled when the iron reaches temperature and causes a bi-metalic disc screwed to the top of the soleplate to distort. The disk has a metal tab which when the disk distorts pushes on the underside of the steam diaphragm and allows water down into the soleplate. I found the screw holding this disk in place had come lose, the disk had rotated and the tab no longer made contact with the diaphragm. Tightening the screw with the tab in its correct position fixed it!
Trebz, August 2010
Try opening the water filler cap and see if the problem goes away. If it does then the small hole in the water filler cap is probably blocked. I used a small paper clip to unblock mine, and the problem was resolved.
greg1a2b, March 2009
I had exactly the same thing and went through all the manual and did the incredibly obvious things that Philips point out but then I tried it without the top cover closed fully (the one you put the water in) so some air could get in. Now I have more steam than I know what to do with. Do not know if this will work for you but it is worth a try and it looks like the plastic cap seems to get a bit blocked / melted maybe with the heat ?????