It's got nothing to do with either 1 or 2 above. The problem is your relay. It's a small see-though square box on the opposite side of the front panel (basically its at the top middle of the inside of the machine.
Spare part costs about £25.00 + shipping, but it beat £££££'s for a technician to call to your house, or a nw machine!
I had the exact same problem myself, relay solved everything.
The King.
July 2011