Any dishwasher gurus in?

We have a Bosch SMS50E06UK dishwasher, which has decided to become increasingly temperamental - currently, the workaround is to switch off at the mains plug until it plays nicely, but I have this sinking feeling that the day is coming when this won't work any more.

The symptoms have me puzzled:

Initially (about six weeks ago) it decided of its own accord to 'stick' on the 'EcoDaily' program, but would not start to actually wash any dishes; Mains cycled, it then decided it would start, but still not on the desired program so I reset it (hold down the start button for 3 secs); Power button was inoperative, despite no program running, so a further few tries at cycling the mains eventually restored normality.

The normality was short lived, but the symptoms are different now; it will switch on from its power switch, allow program to be selected and then run perfectly when the start button is pressed. At the end of the cycle, if you press the power button it will switch off, 9 times out of 10 it will switch off fine and will then be OK from powering on the next time. On the odd time, it won't switch off, requiring it being switched off at the wall for a couple of mins which seems to reset it.

If, however, it reaches the end of the cycle and we open the door without switching off (so to unload, reload and do another cycle for example) - we can't then start the next cycle (although the timer does reset, so it 'knows' that the door has been opened), as it seems to ignore the start button and the power button is also inoperative; again, switching off at the wall is the only solution to this.

Switching off and back on at the wall is a real pain in the neck as its plugged into a hidden socket which can only be reached by stretching through a cupboard full of glasses etc. That coupled with the fact that it seems to be becoming a more frequent occurrence is spurring me to try and fix it before it lets us down all together.

I initially thought it was a duff power switch, but that can't be the case as the program selectors also freeze, so now I am wondering if its the main control panel?

 

Not our model - ours was purchased in 2008, so isn't one of those affected.

 

I don't do extended warranties either, mainly because I am reasonably proficient at repairing stuff.

Going to get the tools out tomorrow and see if I can be a bit more scientific about diagnosis

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I can believe it John - an unprogrammed control panel is 120, a programmed one is 150; good a machine as it is, at that rate I will run it til it dies completely and replace it


Thing is, it might only want a 15 part, and I hate scrapping stuff for no real reason

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Symptoms have changed again! Its just finished a cycle, so the timer is down to zero - won't switch off, won't allow any different programs to be selected, and even opening the door makes no odds (timer still reads zero instead of resetting to the start of cycle time, so its as though it doesn't know that the door has been opened).

I've left it on in 'fault' state for now, while I try and work it out, because I just know that if I kill the mains, I will be able to reload it, switch it on, and away it will go.

@Jack McHammocklashing - Power switch is a separate switch only £15 odds, and should be dead easy to replace. BUT, if I power the unit off at the mains and then back on, this switch that is not currently working will work perfectly well - that kinda makes me think that its not a physical fault with the switch, but more a logic fault?

The Start button is part of the central control panel - no option to get at it and clean, or replace a single switch; as mentioned above, the control panel is £150 for the programmed one.
Given that I have found a Bosch dishwasher on AO for £280, delivered on Saturday if I so choose, you will understand my reluctance to spend £150 on a scatter-gun approach to a repair.