Washing machine programme seems to be stuck!

Hi,
My sis has a washing machine crisis.
When she puts it on a program to wash, it has recently started ok but then seems to stick in the one place,dial refuses to budge any further.
She is then manualy turning the dial to get it on to the next stage.
Can anyone help?....

a) because I like things to get mended,
b) she will expect a new one without thinking about repair,
c) it will please her hubby to save cash they haven't got,therefore overdraft can be used for something else!!

Sharon xx

PS..My mum has just informed me she has been having to turn her washer dial manually for the past 18 months.
I may be able to kill two birds with one stone here!!

Check whether or not the heating element is heating the water up. A lot of mid cycle freezing is caused by the heating element not being able to heat the water to the correct temperature. Other causes.

Blocked drain hose.
Faulty thermostat.
Faulty controller.

Hope this helps.