why is my vax rapide not working???

[alannabanana]

got a vax rapide second hand from a relative who barely used it, and it just won't do my carpets...which are bogging and crying out for a clean!!
you turn it on and it whizzes into life, you start moving it around and almost instantly the little blue filter thing pops up blocking the suction and preventing any cleaning from getting done. so frustrating.
dh has taken the fcuking thing apart and read the manual cover to cover and can't see why its doing that - theres no blockage/full filter or anything so its really weird.
any vax owners experienced this/got any suggestions???

I had problems with our one. I found out that I'd been using too much soap and too little water. This had caused one of the filters to block but I don't think it was listed in the instruction manual. If you take out the bottle that you fill with water and look underneath it you will see a small sponge circle. If this feels slimy when you take it out then it needs a wash.

thanks so much jaffa, i'll give that a whirl.
ds did another wee on the carpet yesterday so i DESPERATELY need to get it working!