Before this thread get removed.... (This forum is for professioanals) I would like to say,
BUY A NEW RICE COOKER! It is not worth the risk you are taking with the life of yourself, and family.
Servicablity in items like this are against the laws of commerce. Most are made to self-destruct in subtle ways that just make you say, "it broke - get a new one" If you continue to mess with this thing you will mess up the delicate engineering of the item that would allow it to die quietly, and it will eventualy fail in not so subtle ways, like FIRE!
Give the wife the wallet, and tell her to buy the rice cooker of her dreams!
BTW, I really enjoyed the colorful anagolies.... "Entrails..."