Must manually turn knob for washer to wash

I set my washer to heavy, go away and come back and the washer is turned off. I then move the dial to light and it seems to fill with water, door lock is on, but stopps after a while and I have to move the timer a few clicks then it seems to work. I am not sure the clothes are really getting clean. They seem a little dry.
What do you think the problem is?

thanks, Zena