Filter Pump cycles off and on

[Zanyman]

I just cleaned the tub, and filled it getting ready for the Summer. This is a Coleman Horizon Series. I would guess it's about 8 or 10 years old. It was built into a deck on the home we bought a few years ago. It was running fine last fall when I shut it down and emptied it for our Michigan winter. Now the filter pump pulses off and on for about 15 seconds, and then shuts off for about 15 seconds. Then starts cycling again. Pump 2 runs fine. Blower runs fine. Heater is not coming on. It's a problem to work on since there's only about 30 inches of head room under the deck.

[MaryH]

Is it surging like there may be an air lock in the pump (http://www.hottubworks.com/SpaParts/SpaPumps.php) or plumbing lines? Since you cannot get to the pump union (http://www.hottubworks.com/SpaParts/PumpUnions.php) to loosen and see if it is an air lock you can try shutting the power off to the spa, remove the filter (http://www.hottubworks.com/HotTubSpaFilters/Filter_Search.php) and sticking a water hose in the open to try and force air out of the system with water on. I don't know if this is what is happening due to it shutting off which is kind a doubtful but worth a try. It could be the pump itself or even the circuit board. (http://www.hottubworks.com/SpaParts/ElectricalCircuitBoards.php). That would require taking a voltage reading from the board.

[Zanyman]

I had previously tried the hose in the filter location. I can access the connections. It's just difficult to do. Additionally, the digital readout is giving bogus temperatures. It may read 31 degrees which of course would be frozen, and it may read 161 degrees which obviously is wrong. Also, the digital symbol that shows which pump is running, and is low speed or high speed flashes off and on with the motor pulses. It is flashing off and on indicating the high speed, and I can't turn it off or go to filter speed.

[MaryH]

It may be the temperature sensor (http://www.hottubworks.com/SpaParts/HeaterSensors.php)causing the incorrect readout for the temperature. It may also be telling the pump to come on to heat then goes off when it senses the higher temp. Can you tell when the pump is coming on what the temp readout is and does it change when it shuts off. Unfortunately it very well could be the circuit board as well but I would start with the sensor.

[Zanyman]

Oh, I forgot. The temp reading does not change unless I turn off the main breaker, and then it comes on at a different reading.

[MaryH]

I have been thinking about this and since you said that the indicator light is flashing on and off when the pump is surging, it could be an issue with the topside panel. I haven't ruled out the temperature sensor though. In normal operation and the pump is running for a automatic reason such as in a heat call does the indicator for the pump come on or do you have just and indicator showing that the heater is on? This is something to try and not sure it will work. Turn the power off to the spa and unplug the topside panel from the circuit board. Make sure it is clean and reinstall. Do the same with the temperature sensor plug and reinstall. Make sure all connections are good and turn power back on to the spa and test. It may be a loose connection.

[Zanyman]

The pump indicator symbol flashes off and on (High Speed) even when the pump is not running. I need to refill the tub before I go any further. The weather here has been absolutely lousy, so it may be a few days before I can do this.This may be a dumb question, but is the temp indicator the object on top of the heater or is it the metal object in the tub wall. If it's the metal object in the tub wall, it's behind the control panel and heater, and I'm not sure that I can access without moving the panel? As far as your other question, there is the word "Heat" that comes on when the unit calls for heat. This indicator is not coming on.

[MaryH]

The temp sensor is the sensor mounted on the wall and your high limit sensor is the sensor mounted on the heater.

[Zanyman]

I filled the tub this am, and turned on the breaker. Tub runs normally? Can't figure why we had the problem before, but I'll keep my fingers crossed. The temp sensor is covered with spray foam so I can't get to it, and the control box where the pad is connected can't be opened enough because of wood framing under the deck. Can't believe they built this deck like this. Thank you for your help anyway. Now, I need to get a new cover.

[MaryH]

Well that is great news, glad to hear you are back up and running normally. If you are in need of a new spa cover (http://www.hottubworks.com/SpaCovers/Features.php)we are the one to contact. You will find our covers are made of the finest material (http://www.hottubworks.com/SpaCovers/SpaCoverFeatures.php) and the non pro-rated warranty (http://www.hottubworks.com/SpaCovers/Peace.php) will give you comfort in knowing your cover is protected "bumper to bumper". Please check out our cover site and see all the features we have to offer.

[Zanyman]

Well that is great news, glad to hear you are back up and running normally. If you are in need of a new spa cover (http://www.hottubworks.com/SpaCovers/Features.php)we are the one to contact. You will find our covers are made of the finest material (http://www.hottubworks.com/SpaCovers/SpaCoverFeatures.php) and the non pro-rated warranty (http://www.hottubworks.com/SpaCovers/Peace.php) will give you comfort in knowing your cover is protected "bumper to bumper". Please check out our cover site and see all the features we have to offer.
Well it's spring again and I am back with similar trouble as last spring. The filter pump is back to it's surging problem although somewhat different. The pump won't shut off, and it's like trying to go to high speed, starts surging, and I suspect it overheats, shuts off, and then restarts after ten or fifteen seconds. There is a ticking sound like a clock while it's off, and the high speed indicator flashes in sync with the ticking. Difference from last year is that I have heat, and the temp readings are correct. On the Economy setting the pump should only run during the filter cycles, but it runs all of the time. If I shut it off, it restarts after a few seconds.

[Zanyman]

Did get a new cover from you, but now my old problem is back this Spring. Pump 1 is stuck in this cycling mode. Can't get the pump to default back to low speed. It cycles on and off in the high speed mode, then rests for about 15 seconds, and goes back to re-cycling. Cleaned it, and started it two days ago, and it heated and ran normally. Then today, I used it, and it started the cycling thing. Frustrating!

[MaryH]

Does your topside panel have a indicator light or symbol that comes on when you push the button to turn on the jets? If so does that light stay on? It may be circuit board or topside causing this.

[Zanyman]

I answered this two days ago, but don't know if the post went through? There are digital type symbols that appear to show which pump is running and whether it is slow or fast speed. The filter pump quickly goes from slow to fast, over and over in a surging or cycling. The button will not stop this. The only way to stop is to turn the breaker off. This has happened the last three Springs in a row, but ceased after a week or so. I could send you a video if there was a way to send an MP-4.