Need professional advise on board problem

[rubadubeh]

On my display I have a flashing light that tells me when the hearter is on.
The light was flashing but the heater was clearly not working as the temp kept on dropping.  
My dealer has been execellent and I believe that he is honest.  He came out and changed the flow switch and a couple of relays and claimed that the problem was fixed.
 I emptied and cleaned the tub, filled with new water and installed new filters.  When I powered up, the temp was 60 degrees.  Within 1/2 hour the display said the temp was 95 degrees, but it was clearly still very cold.  
 I turned the power off and called the dealer back.  He came back and cleaned out the circ pump and said that it was clogged.  Within 6 hours the tub was up to about 92 degrees and still climbing.  I had the temp set on 99.  
 A couple of hours later I lifted the cover and the heat was up to 109!!!!!   The flashing red was off but the hearter was clearly still on.
 Now my dealer says I need a complete new circuit board.
 I want to think this guy is reputable as I have no reason to suspect otherwise but the fact is that I dont know jack about hot tubs and I could be easilly conned.

 Any professional help would be appreciated.

[hottubdan]

Are you being charged or is this warranty?

[rubadubeh]

Are you being charged or is this warranty?

What I am being told is that the dealer is going to submit a claim for warrenty and if it is not covered, I will have to pay.  I do not want to mention the brand of tub at this time however I can confirm that it is a premium brand and I payed top dollar.  
 What worries me the most is that the repair guy is trouble shooting via process of elimanation.  The pumps work, the thermostat works, the lights work and the heater now works but just wont shut off. How does this translate into needing a new board?  
 
 I am aware that many professionals will refuse to incriminate one of there own, but I just want the problem fixed and I dont want to get scammed in the process.

[Brewman]

 There are several spa techs who particiapte in this forum.  I'm not a tech, but I'd think that they'd be better able to give you advice if you'd disclose the brand and model of spa.  
 

[hottubdan]

The way the warranties work is technician/dealer submits claim with defective part.  If part is not defective, then claim is denied.  You should not be responsible for misdiagnosis.

They are responsible for the correct diagnosis and repair.  Have they been testing to find the problem?

It sounds like a communication problem to me.  I don't see how they can hold you responsible.

[rubadubeh]

The way the warranties work is technician/dealer submits claim with defective part.  If part is not defective, then claim is denied.  You should not be responsible for misdiagnosis.

They are responsible for the correct diagnosis and repair.  Have they been testing to find the problem?

It sounds like a communication problem to me.  I don't see how they can hold you responsible.

 The fact is that I am a stand up guy.  If I should pay, I will happily pay.  
The repair guys claims the only way to properly diagnose this problem is to hook up a costly laptop to the board and he does not have this tool.  
 It is my opinion that the first 4 visits he used the old process of elimination to diagnose the problem and now he has given up and claims I need a new board.
 I have a feeling that I will have to pay for his first 4 visits plus a new board....

[rubadubeh]

There are several spa techs who particiapte in this forum.  I'm not a tech, but I'd think that they'd be better able to give you advice if you'd disclose the brand and model of spa.  
 

 I made a point of not mentioning the brand.  I want to give the manufacturer and dealer every opportunity to make this right and as of now I have no reason to suspect otherwise.  
 I do not want to name the brand and turn away potential buyers strictly due to my bad luck.  
For anyone that must know the make and modle to better advise me , I will give out that information privately.  

[Dipstick]

It would be helpful to know the brand or at least what brand equipment it has. Cannot troubleshoot something if you do not know what it is.

[Jacuzzi Jim]

What I am being told is that the dealer is going to submit a claim for warrenty and if it is not covered, I will have to pay.  I do not want to mention the brand of tub at this time however I can confirm that it is a premium brand and I payed top dollar.  
 What worries me the most is that the repair guy is trouble shooting via process of elimanation.  The pumps work, the thermostat works, the lights work and the heater now works but just wont shut off. How does this translate into needing a new board?  
 
 I am aware that many professionals will refuse to incriminate one of there own, but I just want the problem fixed and I dont want to get scammed in the process.

 To me it seems more like a bad temp sensor, If not, one reason the board may need to be replaced is because of a faulty relay?? In most cases now days means a new circut board.      This should be I would think be under warranty.

 Have they replaced the temp sensor yet?  How do they know its working other than its telling you its 109*  Part of the temp sensors job is to tell the relay when to shut the heater off and when to turn it on.  It would be a quick fix to try.

  Sounds like its Gecko equipment??

[tony]

 To me it seems more like a bad temp sensor, If not, one reason the board may need to be replaced is because of a faulty relay?? In most cases now days means a new circut board.      This should be I would think be under warranty.

I had a faulty temp relay a while back.  Temp kept rising.  Took no time to diagnose.  Tech swapped out the whole circuit board, which he had with him, all under warranty.

[Brewman]

 I made a point of not mentioning the brand.  I want to give the manufacturer and dealer every opportunity to make this right and as of now I have no reason to suspect otherwise.  
 I do not want to name the brand and turn away potential buyers strictly due to my bad luck.  
For anyone that must know the make and modle to better advise me , I will give out that information privately.  

 

Posting the brand or model of spa shouldn't do anything of the sort, not to anyone who actually uses their brain, anyway.  Every brand of spa has occasional repair needs.  Every single one.  
 My Sundance Optima has needed two repairs so far in 4+ years of ownership.  If this makes anyone feel insecure about buying a Sundance spa, then that person isn't doing their homework.  And they'll never actually buy anything, case like i said, no spa maker can truthfully say they've never had a control board fail.
  

[rubadubeh]

Posting the brand or model of spa shouldn't do anything of the sort, not to anyone who actually uses their brain, anyway.  Every brand of spa has occasional repair needs.  Every single one.  
 My Sundance Optima has needed two repairs so far in 4+ years of ownership.  If this makes anyone feel insecure about buying a Sundance spa, then that person isn't doing their homework.  And they'll never actually buy anything, case like i said, no spa maker can truthfully say they've never had a control board fail.
  

  Ok,  The tub is a Canadian made Pacific (aber) modle Europa LXT with stelth heating system and I am told a Generation III board...  
  I purchased the tub in Nov of 2003.  It was in storage for almost a year and the heater has not been working since Febuary of this year so you could say the tub only has about 2 1/2 years use on it however we use it daily, sometimes twice daily.
 I have take great care in making sure filters are clean, water chemistry is correct.  
 Every few months I would have to take the circ pump apart as the impeller would get clogged with hair.   This tub is clearly not neglected.

[Pathfinder]

Call the BC office and ask to speak to Nick in tech  he should be able to diagnose your problem.  To me it sounds like a faulty temp sensor. I think they were using a spabuilders pack in 03 with a Laing heater.

[rubadubeh]

I get a voice mail today saying that the tech was out and replaced the "spa pack"  and the tub is now functioning fine.  I dont even know what the "spa pack" is?   Is that the main circuit board?
 I called the dealer back to see if I have to pay or if it is under warrenty and they do not know as of yet.  
I give the dealer an "A"  for effort.  I am also a little scared that I may get stuck with a huge bill....
 What does a spa pack cost and how long is the pacific warrenty?

[Pathfinder]

With your year of tub they should have only changed either the temp probe or the spa side thermostat control.  Not the entire pack. Its should also still be under warranty.  as Equipment should be 5yr