Panasonic MC-E468 vacuum cleaner. Motor not running - switch tested ok - have undone 4 screws on motor casing and top cover comes loose on left but top right, hand looking from front seems to be still held by something and cover will not come off. Have I missed a hidden fastening? Want to get to motor to test for power getting to terminals and check brushes.

My guess is it has plastic teeth that latches on somewhere, use flathead screwdriver gently to see if it'll budge. Normally the bottom is where it detaches, start there.

I have a similar vacuum. You literally will have to flex/pry carefully to separate the plastic shroud (Horizontal part from the upright portion. Then you can remove the panel covering the motor, trace the cord to replace. Have done that several times. When you do, you might want to purchase the long industrial cord for future convenience.

You will have to access the motor by removing the entire bottom brush housing and tilting the vac motor shaft out of the housing. Once released you will have a main body and brush housing.
There are visible motor housing screws in the lower portion of the main housing and if I recall there may be twoscrews inside the bag chamber as well

HI If the cleaner is loosing suction make sure to check all inspection tubes and the dirt channel hoses after the spinning brush. Also check the main hose for any clogging. One of the worst faults of this model is clogging hoses. Hope that helps you.

Hi! Sometimes really hard to remember which of these models is which, so please forgive me if this is not a complete solution.  I'm pretty sure you will find there are two filters.  The first is a foam filter, and is located at the bottom of the bag compartment.  It pulls out to the front, and is washable (of course it must be completely dry before re-use).  The second (and here I'm on less secure ground) is a HEPA filter, and is located behind a removable panel on the front of the bag compartment door.  The HEPA filter is not washable, but rarely if ever needs to be changed unless the machine has been used for vacuuming a lot of extremely fine dust. I hope this helps, and I value your feedback. Please remember to rate my response.  Good luck!

first remove handle
single screw rear of cleaner and slide handle horizontally rearwards
remove access cover (2 screws) for electrical connections and switch

Panasonic MC-E 450UK upright vacuum cleaner.
Just had this problem myself...........easy to get at it when you know how.
Panasonic UK wouldn't help me so I spent some time working it out..........here it is.
Remove the hose from its mounting storage at the rear (called hose clip) where the main body of the vacuum cleaner meets the base of the handle assembly. Remove the screw at the rear of the handle assembly which is behind where the hose 'was' situated and is located inside the deep recess.
Using the soft part of your clenched hand as a hammer, knock the base of the handle assembly at the front and it will slide backwards off the main body of the vacuum cleaner. Don't be scared, give it a thump and keep moving it backwards with a few more knocks.
Next remove the two screws at the front which hold the mains cable and on/off switch cover in place.
Finally looking from the rear once more, lift the plastic 'lug' at the top of the cover and which is part of the cover. This will now allow you to release the cover and pull it forward.
There you go! Told you it was easy!
Watch out for the funny little spring at the front behind the cover in the tiny plastic tube where it connects to the small rubber tubing as it could possibly try to escape.
You now have complete access in order to cut the intermittent part of the cable out and remove it from the 'choc' block.
Happy fixing!!
Jack.

Use a flat blade screwdriver, The dusy compartemnt door will come off by pushing it back, it just pops out. Then the rear top cover is held on by a tab, one in each corner. Put the flat blat in the slot at the bottom of the cover and work it until it pops loose. Then there are 2 screws to tak out to remove the cover over the motor and cord reel asm. But now you can get to the motor.

yes it is safe, but i would make a switch?

I had the same problem, and i found this is the user guide: problem: Tripped circuit breaker/blown fuse at household service panel. Solution: Reset circuit breaker or replace fuse so, i've replaced the fuse (my friend did) and it solved it.