I can't get into my filter on my Miele 'Novotronic Premier Plus' washing ma?

OK here goes - I might have to take a picture later to get my point across though..

I have a very expensive, yet 10 year old Miele 'Novotronic Premier Plus' washing machine.

The little red light showing a filling or draining problem is occurring keeps showing up and is now on all the time.

So we looked at the inlet filter and that looks OK.

So we looked at the manual and discovered (for the first time since owning it) that we should have been checking the drain filter bit periodically (ooops!)

So decided to try and clean that bit. BUT..

I can
- open the flap
- unscrew the large turning knob plastic bit
- remove the spring
- and round flap behind that (it has rubber-ish seals behind it)

BUT! there is a plastic shaft thingy sticking out, which from the diagram in the manual looks like it should come out. It seems to be sealing off any access to the filter area.

I am presuming once I remove this I can get my hand into the filter area, remove any junk, fluff or buttons, check the impeller revolves OK and then out it all back together??

But how on earth do I remove this shaft cover thingy? I have pulled pushed and twisted with rubber gloves BUT cannot get a proper grip to do any twisting. Is it supposed to come out? How? I'm guessing it stuck/crusted shut after all these years.

Does that make sense? I'm thinking I might need a special tool to grip the plastic shaft to see if that twists open.

Would pics help more?

Other than that I might have to resort to calling an engineer. Any ideas how much one of them costs? Sad

Thank you Smile


MBB