I believe the start button on my washer is broken. The repair man want to replace the interface board for $300. I am trying to get to the start button myself and have got the top of the washer off and down to the interface. Now I need to remove the interface to get to the start button. It seems the control know (on the front of the control panel) is keeping me from getting the interface panel up. How do I remove that contol knob?
As far as I know you just pull straight out on it and it slides off. Here is a diagram of how the control panel goes together. http://www.appliancepartspros.com/partsearch/model.aspx?model_id=502723&diagram_id=28135095#d28135095
I have tried pulling straight off, but it was requiring more effort than I thought safe. I will try again with more confidence now.
You were right!!!just pull straight off…Just need the confidence, as I have already broken about three plastic clips getting to where I am!!!
Yeah, those clips are pretty easy to break.
Just to follow up. I got down to the button. The button itself was fine. The VERY SMALL plastic clip built into the electronic interface that held the button in place was broken. It really makes me mad that such small pieces of plastic are used to hold these buttons in place. To get the start button fixed, I will have to buy the entire electronic control interface ($185.00 plus shipping)…even though there is nothing electronically wrong!
For now, I am just taking the start button out, and simply using the eraser end of a pencil to push the tiny electronic control through the empty whole where the button was!
If I were to buy the electronic interface I am still unsure how to unplug the original wiring ribbon. I tried to get the ribbon unplugged from the central control unit, but once again was afraid I would break something…like the VERY SMALL plastic clip that seems to hold it in. Do I pull the wiring ribbon down toward the floor, or out toward the side of the machine?
Thanks for any help you can give me!
If the plastic hinge like thing is broken behind the button, you may be able to fix the hinge part with a small piece of flexible plastic or rubber. I found this picture of one. 
Did yours break at the two hinges (circled in red)? If so clean it up with some alcohol, then make a replacement hinge out of thin rubber, leather, or plastic. Then glue it on using contact cement or epoxy. Just make sure the hinge part stays flexible.