The control valve has gone bad. This is the dial that you move on the top of the vacuum that has numbers on it.
You cannot do anything to bypass this problem from outside the machine.
The part can be bought at the local outlet. You should look in your local yellow pages for Aerus (new name for electrolux) under vacuum cleaners, or go to www.aerusonline.com and find your local dealer. It is not too expensive to have fixed, it is a common issue with later model electroux vacuums.
To open the vacuum and get at the valve--
If you want to open the machine, the two bumpers on either side, that say ELECTROUX hold the egg shell together. This is the process....
1. remove the bag, leave the bag cover open
2. lay the vacuum on its side on the floor with the bag cover to your right hand side.
3. place screw driver blade flat against the bumper on the opposite end from the bag cover, near the cordwinder cover, strike the screw driver firmly with a hammer, this will unlock the bumper and it will slide off toward the bag end of the machine.
4. turn the vacuum onto the other side, and follow the same process.
5. after both bumpers are removed you can get into the vacuum.
You can e-mail me at danddvacuum@comcast.net for advice
VACFIXER
April 2007