linD43

Does the whole part really need to be replaced? Anyone ever just replace the gasket? Easy or challenging job? is there a tech out there who might be able to confirm that this the part I need if I have to replace the whole thing?

Oops. Replied to this, but looks like I didn't do it correctly, looks like I did it in the thread by mistake.

Thanks for your response. It's not the hose. It's leaking along the seam, I don't think it's cracked, at least not the part I can see. The tech said that is usually a gasket, but suggested replacing the whole thing. I did actually consider some sort of sealant, but suspect that if it's a gasket, that it will continue to leak in the back part that I can't get to. Is that a definite on the part? I see it can't be canceled or returned once an order is placed. I can only see what I showed in the picture, and don't want to take it apart for fear of making it worse. At least it is currently useable, though sure wouldn't be if it was in the house! Only leaks under pressure - when Circ or jets are running.

I have an older (2005) Sundance Capri. Last winter I ended up having it winterized because it really needs a new cover, which wasn't in my budget, and I figured the cost of heating it would be prohibitive. When I fired it up, it ran for awhile, then appeared to have blown the Flo switch. <sigh> That has been replaced, but it now seems to have a fairly substantial leak around a 'heater?' part (around the seam). I took a picture, so will try to see if I can include it ... the tech who looked at it (not a Sundance one) thinks the entire part will need to be replaced. I would love to have more info so I can make an informed decision. If needs replacement, part # and/or cost. I love my tub, and would really like to keep it running if I can. However, I don't have a ton of money to sink in it either ... Thanks so much for any help you can give me!

While more knowledgeable folk may correct me, I was talking to a Jacuzzi dealer at a fair last year and he told me that Jacuzzi & Sundance were basically the same, much like Dodge Caravan & Plymouth Voyager were basically the same vehicle w/ different names. I love my Sundance Capri tub (bought it used years ago)and have considered a Jacuzzi after hearing they were the same (mostly because there is a local dealer) should I ever come up with enough money to replace it. A friend had a Baja, but I wasn't all that impressed w/ the jets.

Thanks! Called the local Sundance dealer and he said $175 for them to replace. Interestingly ... it hasn't happened once since I called! Though I have raised the thermostat setting from it's summer 94-95 degree setting to 100. Maybe it 'likes' that better?

Photo? Tell me more! I think I am looking at a replacement here as well. My Sundance Capri has intermitently FLASHED a Flo error for the last couple months. When it's flashing, everything still seems to work and then it eventually stops ... until the next time. Now it has taken to saying just FLO (no flash) - when that happens none of the controls work. Sometimes if I shut the circuit breaker off and turn back on it works. A couple times it has come up as FLO2 instead. With winter coming, not a good thing.Is this an easy repair? Anyone have a ballpark figure of what it would cost to have a tech fix it? I did manage to successfully replace the heater but my technical skills don't go much beyond that. Help! linda

Photo? Tell me more! I think I am looking at a replacement here as well. My Sundance Capri has intermitently FLASHED a Flo error for the last couple months. When it's flashing, everything still seems to work and then it eventually stops ... until the next time. Now it has taken to saying just FLO (no flash) - when that happens none of the controls work. Sometimes if I shut the circuit breaker off and turn back on it works. A couple times it has come up as FLO2 instead. With winter coming, not a good thing.Is this an easy repair? Anyone have a ballpark figure of what it would cost to have a tech fix it? I did manage to successfully replace the heater but my technical skills don't go much beyond that. Help! linda

I DID IT ! I DID IT !!! Yahoo! And it's WORKING ! Good thing, temps going down to low 20's tonight! Thanks so much for your encouragement and GREAT DIRECTIONS. You were right (you don't know how much I hate admitting that to a guy! LOL) It WAS pretty easy. Biggest challenge was getting the wires out. (OK, the biggest challenge was getting the nerve up to do it!) Only one minor 'oops' that I'll deal with in the AM when I have better light. I was rushing towards the end as it was getting dark (definitely right AGAIN <g> about not doing it late in the day, but I didn't have much choice.) I missed threading the wire through the hole in the bottom of the electrical panel so couldn't put the cover back. I'll unwire and fix it tomorrow, but I've had enough excitement for one day. : ) Thanks again Wuice! If you were closer I'd buy you a beer !! : ) Have a great Sunday. linda in nh

THANKS! I finally got the nerve to even WATCH the video (can you tell I'm not really excited about messing with the electrical guts of my tub?) though I'm not thrilled about it, it didn't look TOO bad! Hoping to be able to get the part locally, though when I called the guy (who I don't think was a tech) wasn't too convinced that I could know that was what the problem was without a tech looking at it. Is there something else that it could be (like the heater itself) that would give me that error message? (Still gives me a Hi Temp reading on it's brief run before reverting to Watchdog mode.) At this point it is definitely NOT hot! Thanks again. linda in nh Told ya it wasn't gonna be that bad, i have customers replace them themselves all the time trying to save a few bucks, you just need good eyes (or reading glasses), good light (don't do it in the evening/dusk), and time (go slow, no rushing at all). If you are nervous remember the cost comparison, you really are not saving a "ton" of money, $30 and maybe some (unnecessary) stress for dyi, or $90-$120 for the professional to knock it out in 15 minutes. Buy the part from a sundance dealer only, use the Dealer Finder to find the closest and go to the store or call them and have them send you the part numbers i listed previously. Again make sure you get the new stainless steel core, not the older plastic one. I had you look at the temperature at bootup to help diagnose the temp sensor as the problem, heaters will not cause watchdog, and if it were a hi limit sensor you would see an "OH" error, a transformer or bad capacitor on the circuit board can cause watchdog...but wouldn't report the temperature as 104 when the water is 60. I'm like very sure, like very very sure, like i bet you 30 bucks it's the problem (turning this into a 60 dollar fix) LOL. No bets. Though the OH message gave me pause as I thought I recalled seeing that along with the overly hi temp reading when I last flipped the thing on. Just went out to re-check. This time it showed ONLY the OH before kicking back to watchdog. Great, just great ... so does that mean both things are gone? <sigh> There is a Sundance dealer about 40 minutes from here who has the part in stock, though I didn't think to ask about the stainless vs plastic part. I wish I hadn't procastinated about this as it's pretty cold out there. (32F) Of course if both things are kaput perhaps my best bet is to just drain it and hope I have more discretionary hot tub money in the spring. : (

THANKS! I finally got the nerve to even WATCH the video (can you tell I'm not really excited about messing with the electrical guts of my tub?) though I'm not thrilled about it, it didn't look TOO bad! Hoping to be able to get the part locally, though when I called the guy (who I don't think was a tech) wasn't too convinced that I could know that was what the problem was without a tech looking at it. Is there something else that it could be (like the heater itself) that would give me that error message? (Still gives me a Hi Temp reading on it's brief run before reverting to Watchdog mode.) At this point it is definitely NOT hot! Thanks again. linda in nh

OK. I've retested per Wuice's instructions and do still get the 'high temp' message before it goes back to - - - - , so I am hoping that it is indeed just the temp sensor. As money is limited, I think I was rather hasty in deciding that **I** wasn't going to mess with it. I think that before I make that decision, I'd like to see what 'easy' entails. : ) Does anyone have step by step or better still PHOTOS of what is involved? Fingers crossed, linda in NH who is missing her hot tub!!

Aha! Thanks. The 2nd time I shut it off and on, this DID show up briefly just before it cut out. As the tub didn't FEEL overly hot, I discounted it as not being a REAL error message. I'm not sure I'm up to doing the actual replacing, but if the part is cheap perhaps they won't charge too much to replace it. Thanks so much. Fingers crossed! linda in NH Cool, at least with this diagnosis you can be pretty sure it will be a cheaper fix Yes, and certainly much easier to call a couple places and say 'I think the temp sensor needs replacing on my tub.' and get a price than to call and say. My hot tub isn't working, how much will it cost to fix it?! I had pretty much decided to drain it and worry about it in the spring when finances were hopefully better. Thanks so much for the info. This board is the best !!! linda in NH

Aha! Thanks. The 2nd time I shut it off and on, this DID show up briefly just before it cut out. As the tub didn't FEEL overly hot, I discounted it as not being a REAL error message. I'm not sure I'm up to doing the actual replacing, but if the part is cheap perhaps they won't charge too much to replace it. Thanks so much. Fingers crossed! linda in NH

<sigh> Ok, thanks Gman. I have tried to 'reboot' a couple times hoping for different results (guess I spend too much time on computers <g>)but no luck. Guess I better cut that out! Can this sometime indicate a minor problem or is it usually a biggie? I suppose on the plus side, at least it has happened in warm spell and not mid winter. Thanks for your input. linda in NH