Need help with water sensor on Gaggia Syncrony Compact

[androidle]

My Gaggia has stopped working. when I turn it on I get a low water indicator. In the past I was able to fix this by repairing the little float sensor in the water tank by adding some cork to the top of it. I tried the same fix this time but it still is indicating low water level. Not sure how to fix this. Is there a way that I need to prime the pump? Otherwise the thing is basically a boat anchor. Help would be appreciated.

 

[androidle]

I did figure out that if I remove the water tank, and then touch the float magnet to the Gaggia the red water low light goes out. (Any magnet works.) So now I am wondering if the problem is that the float magnet has lost enough magnetism so that it can't penatrate the plastic of the tank and set off the sensor in the unit. I can order another float magnet, but before I do that would like to be sure.