Siemens SE24200 – intermittent electrical problem… HELP!?!

folks – just joined this excellent forum – hope someone has already seen this problem and can possibly help!

Ok, the dishwasher has an intermittent electrical problem in that when you switch it on, most of the time, it does not start.

If you gently push inwards from the top of the door handle, the machine will operate. The power “on” neon will flicker as the power makes/brakes… not good.

Ok – you are now all saying its the door interlock switch… which as I have found is a simple “wire” interlock into the main double pole power switch. BUT ITS NOT!! I have checked the switch (even opened it up after checkin the replacement part price!) and eventually made two small wires up with 1/4″ spades on the end to jump out the switch…. and the fault is still there!! (dont worry – was a quick test and made sure everything was safe…)

So, when the machine is working, if you gently flex the door from a corner (top left or right) the machine will cut out again.

In everycase, you hear something arcing, so where is that damn dodgey connection!?! I have tried distrurbing all the wires in the door (including the wire “bends” as they leave the door at the bottom) to see if any of them create or remove the fault but they are all ok…. Also, I have tried to get my ear near to try and track down the arcing noise… but you know what its like… the machine makes enough noise from elsewhere.. its not easy to hear where the arcing is comming from.

So, in summary… without physicaly flexing the damn door it wont fail!!

If anyone has seen this before, I would appreciate a few clues!! I now feel it must be the timer/clock thingy as its not likley to be the programme switches… they all seem ok no matter what I do to them!!

Thanks in advance

David