Psycho Cycle

   My new, well fairly new, washer is on the fritz.  The button that I push to start it has been temperamental for some time, I realize, now that the one-year warranty has expired.   Sometimes I would push the button to start it, and since there is quite a delay while the computer genius it possesses would sense the volume of the load of laundry, I would be upstairs before the process even began.  When I'd go to the basement to put the clothes in the dryer, I'd find nothing had happened and would assume that either I hadn't pushed the start button firm;y enough or had forgotten altogether.  Just another brick in the wall of my self doubt.
    When the washer wouldn't start at all, I was told by Customer Service to reboot it.  So I did and it worked. Once.  So I tried rebooting again, and again, for longer and longer times with no results. Since the Whirlpool rep had said the next step would be to schedule a repair visit, I  tried another option. I went on the internet and contacted an appliance question service where you interact with a repair technician, and you pay what you think the service is worth, if you're satisfied.
    I stated my problem.  His reply was to ask me if I had recalibrated the washer.  I told him that I didn't know what that meant, and even if I did, I wouldn't know how to do it.  Here's how, he told me:
   "Rotate the knob, slowly, 2 full revolutions counterclockwise, stopping at 12.  Then slowly (1/2 second between clicks) rotate the dial 3 clicks forward, 1 click back and 1 more click back.  All lights should light up if done correctly.  Then rotate forward until only Rinse is lit and press Start.  See if it completes a calibration and try it."  And oh, the washer should be empty.
    So I removed the load of laundry and tried it, several times.  It didn't work. So I combined the calibration with  the rebooting and eventually it worked, or at least it completed the Rinse cycle  on an empty tub.  I dumped the laundry back in and tried again, pressing the start button several times before it made a struggling sound and I could hear the water slowly entering the tub.  By this time, I'd made several trips upstairs to communicate my progress to the tech.  After a while we agreed to wait and check back to find out how the process worked out and if I'm satisfied enough to pay him.
   Caught between the Rebooting and the Recalibration, I'm reluctant to ask the washer to perform.  If it does work, I don't know how to tell which procedure is effective and how often will I need to employ them?  Every time?  Dirty laundry is taking on new meaning.