The indicator light on the left for control lock

The Control Lock is a safety feature that allows the consumer to lock the control panel to prevent small children from manipulating the controls. It can inadvertently be set by leaning against the panel, or following power interruptions due to brown outs and black outs. The following link explains how to turn the feature on/off:

http://www.fixya.com/support/r2469429-kenmore_elite_amp_whirlpool_duet

The instructions are also printed on the front panel of the unit. If this does not correct your problem, then you may have a more serious problem than a simple operator control issue. If you need further assistance, please let me know. I hope this corrects the problem for you.