Whirlpool F/F digital display panel

Struggling with my parents’ Whirpool F/F digital display. The alarm has been ringing for weeks. At 91 and 92, they are pretty deaf, but it’s driving me nuts! The machine thinks it needs a new air filter but relaxing it then pushing the famous “OK button” results in the ringing not ceasing!

Whilst fiddling with it AGAIN tonight, I have turned the darned machine to “standby”, but cannot turn it back on again! (Good news – the machine doesn’t ring any more, but of course it ain’t working at all!). I am embarrassed, ‘cos it’s Friday night and no help available!!

The digital panel seems to have died – all I have are the two hyphens and I cannot get it to turn back on again.

I have tried “rebooting” by powering down for half an hour. When I plug it back in, panel seems to be running through a “boot sequence”, but it comes back onto the hyphens again. I am distraught!

I have 92 year old parents with duff fridge freezer at the start of the weekend!! Can anyone help?

Thanks

Sue