The clean light is flashing and the unit won't run. The start button flashes when I push it.

The manual says to be sure the water is turned on... which it has been for the past 3 years as the unit has been working well... but it just stopped working. Is there a way to force the water on to be sure the unit is getting water?

I pushed the Normal wash and heated dry buttons a couple of times each, all the lights came on, I pushed cancel and closed the door and it went through a drain cycle (as I'd splashed some water around in it to ensue the unit was not sensing suds). But after it drained - it went back to flashing the clean light when I tried to start a new cycle. Any suggestions? (.. and is there a way to confirm water flow?)