I just paid a repairman to diagnose my Kenmore Elite Washer (5 yo) that has a control board that lights up but the Start button would not trigger the lock to close and start the cycle. His diagnosis was that the spongy switch contact behind the panel was worn out. He told me I needed a new control panel. That he could not simply switch out the switch contact. He put everything back together and sent me an estimate for over 600.00 to replace the cover or the panel or both with ones from OEM.
After he left I took the control cover off, switched the spongy contact with one from a switch I never use and put everything back together and it works great. The worn out contact must cost no more than 10 cents, but I cannot find a way to buy new ones.