-
sensor is being triggered
After another shot at cleaning I Googled some more and came across this
https://www.justanswer.com/uk-appliance/6sea7-hi-miele-638-plus-dishwasher-reading.htmlInside there's a shutoff switch of some sort with a little float underneath. It's very cleverly designed. There is a slight leak from somewhere, the inlet pipe(?) maybe? This is Triggering the switch. So I cleaned it and moved it to higher ground for the moment.
... I also got a shocking reminder of why water and electricity don't mix.
You may have water somewhere where it shouldn't be, and a sensor is being triggered - the machine thinks it needs to drain, and will keep the pump running (this happened on a Bosch - Miele's may be very different though).