I push the start button (the one with the red light) and the light turns on, but then nothing happens. (Yes, I had water in the tank and coffee in the filter part.) Usually, I push the button, the light goes on, and within 30-40 seconds the water begins to gurgle as it reaches brewing temperature.

See page 8
8
8
FIRST USE
Rinse water tank before first use.
Fill water tank with fresh, drinking water. insert
water tank to machine.
Switch machine on. Power button starts
blinking red while machine is heating up for
approx. 40 seconds. Afterwards power button
lights steady green and machine is ready.
40 sec
ON
Push selection lever to the "HOT" position.
Machine starts rinsing.
Open locking handle and insert empty capsule
holder. Close locking handle.
Place jug under outlet.
Push selection lever to the "COLD" position.
Machine starts rinsing.
After approx. 60 seconds push selection lever
to the "STOP" position. Empty jug and refill
water tank with fresh, drinking water.
Make sure that the selection lever is in "STOP"
position. Then plug the power plug into a
mains power socket.
After approx. 60 seconds push selection lever
to the "STOP" position. Machine stops rinsing
and power button blinks red for about 5
seconds.
1
4
7
2
5
8
Place drip grid on drip tray. Then insert drip
tray at desired position of drip tray.
Then insert drip tray at desired position of machine.

is it switched on? have you pushed the start button etc ? more info please

I looked up your problem and found the same one was answered previously on fixya. I have copied and pasted the previous answer here for you. Good luck and I hope you have a great day!
After many months, I solved the problem of the red light staying on the Tassimo Coffee Maker. Use these easy steps.
1. Fill a 2 cup measuring cup with hot water.
2. Mix in descaler.
3. Pour in the empty water tank.
4. Put the yellow cleaning disk in the chamber and close chamber. Put the two cup measuring cup under the spout.
5. Push and hold the brew button for about 3 seconds (until the red and green light flash.
6. Now don't touch the machine. It will do it's thing for about 20 minutes. (Don't be impatient and start to push buttons, just leave it)
7. When it finishes it's cycle. The red light will turn off. Then clean the water tank and put fresh water and run clean water through the brewing cycle 4 times. Your machine is now ready for use.

Make certain the line from the water resource is cleaned and not obstructed. If the pump fails to move the water from the reservoir to the heating tank, then the pump needs to be replaced.

push it for 5 second and if its still flashing doesn't matter turn the steam knob anti-clockwise end let the machine do to the descaling cyrcle, when then water tank emptied the rest of buttons starts to flashing, turn the knob off and your machine is ready!!

why question to all of this is with a "self clean" button, why doesn't it every tell you to clean it..... ??

If it is not connected to a water line then you cannot use the hot water faucet or the start/brew button, you will have to manually brew coffee by pouring the water into the reservoir.

Hi Descaling the Palazzo: The Palazzo is programmed to descale the boilers on its own, when set in the correct mode. You program the machine to descale it's self, do the following. With the machine turned on, push and hold the left 2 buttons (clean and pre-ground). This should light the top right red indicator light. Mix your descaling crystals in 32 to 48 oz in your water tank. Stir until they are completely dissolved in the water. Next, have a container that can handle about 2 quarts of water under the steam wand, or have the machine positioned next to a sink. Next open the steam knob on the right side of the machine. You should hear the pump turn on and pump about 2 to 3 oz's. of water through the wand into the container. The pump should turn off and there will be a wait of about 2 minutes. The pump should turn on again and more water will come out. It will do this until it has completely drained the water tank. Do not interrupt this cycle until the machine has stopped on its own. When it does stop, all lights on the bottom will flash. Rinse out the water tank and refill with fresh water. Place the water tank on the machine again, and then close, and then open the steam knob again and let the water just flow through the boilers until it is emptied by the machine. Don't turn off anything until the machine stops on its own. This will clear the descale light. Refill the water tank again with fresh water and push the water button on the right. It will light(very dim), then open the steam knob again/ The red light will go out and it will start to heat and your ready to go.

Try doing another rinse cycle until water tank empties. I had to do that a couple of times, then the red exclamation mark came on. Then I turned knob to off position, refilled water tank, pressed the descale button for 6 seconds, green light came back on and it did its priming.

There are a couple of sensor switches on this machine to prtect user and also machine. flashing red right is the worning of some sensor is reporting unusual situation. Can I suggest you to check left side ground case is cleaned and pushed enough in to main unit, open the front upper door and check if brewing unit is staying right, water ok, having coffee, etc.