hoover optima oph716df 1600 rpm. knob/programmer ?

The control knob is very stiff and when set on a program (say rinse), it does a full wash.!
Levered the knob away from the fascia, and the knob eased in movement.....there was some flashing on the lights, so I suspect a short somewhere too.
But is it the control knob shaft (simple), or is it the programmer.