B.Y.E. BOB

Hello 'ol wise ones! I have a 2003 sweetwater Bahia. Here is the history of my issues, well not all of them just my spa issues. a few years ago had the circ pump changed along with the top side control. Worked fine for a while then started having temp issues, the water temp would not be regulated by the thermostat temp just kept going up till OH and water temp would reach 105+. Would shut it down to cool water temp then make sure to power up few hours before we wanted to go in so temp would go up. Got fed up and let it sit for a while. Got cold out, would make sure to start up so it wouldn't freeze up. Damn! Fast forward to spring. Had to replace flow switch and wet end on pump 2 because they cracked. Watchdog code is present, pump 2 is running, pump 1 and circ pump not. Have to start troubleshooting and think I should start at the circ pump. Is that a good place to start? Can I, since it is 115v, plug it into a cord and see it it works? If the pump starts up will that then allow my top side control to work so pump 1 (2 speed) can be turned on? I know this is a lot of questions and that i will need many follow ups answered. Please let me know if I am making any sense. PLEASE HELP!