Initial Setup

The E2 Error

So, your older Bestway Spa Pool has started throwing an E02 error? It's not an uncommon issue but very frustrating when you just relax into a long soak in your Spa.

Essentially, the E02 is a water flow error. The water flow sensor on your Bestway Spa Pool is not sensing enough water and letting you know. Several things can cause this, from blocked filters and water lines to faulty pumps and even the water sensor itself. 

Let's go through them.

First Things First

If you have no idea what you are doing and don't consider yourself a particularly 'handy person' - that's fine - but - it might be a good idea to have someone else have a look at your pump before you do permanent damage.

Regardless, if you are going to be working on your pump, the first thing you need to do is unplug or isolate the power to the unit. The best way of doing this is physically pulling out the plug from the socket. It's quick and very hard to get wrong!

Water Filter 

The first place to check is your water filter. You are meant to clean and replace this semi-regularly. If you don't, they will clog up and block the water flow through your pump, resulting in the E02 error.

It's simple enough to check this - simply remove the filter, run the pump and see if you get the error. If you don't, it's time to replace the filter. If this is the first time you have checked this, it's probably time to replace the filter anyhow!

Debris Filter

The debris filter is another area that can block up. By design, it is meant to trap larger debris before it gets into the system - so it being full is in some ways a good thing!

Check it's clear; if not, clean it out with the garden hose and replace it. Run the spa and confirm if you still have the E02 error.

Again, something that should be done regularly before getting an E02 error.

Dirt Buildup on the Flow Sensor Paddle

 Sometimes, depending on conditions, the water flow sensor paddle can get a buildup of dirt and debris on it that will prevent it from moving to the correct position when water is flowing.

This paddle is supposed to lift up and trigger a sensor to tell the system that water is moving when the pump is turned on. Start by putting your black stoppers on all of your debris screens inside the tub and disconnect the egg. This requires you to remove both filter housings to put these stoppers on. Look inside the top hose connector, and you should see the flow sensor paddle hanging down.

If you can see dirt and debris around that, you need to clean it. First, flush water through the egg in both directions to help loosen and remove any other debris that may be hanging around the inside. To do this, run your hose into the top port on your egg. Then switch the hose to the port just below that one and do the same thing from that end. 

Now, look inside the top port again and see if the debris has cleared. 

Once flushed, re-attach the egg to the tub and re-test. Remember to remove the black stoppers from the ports inside the tub. Forgetting this will DEFINITELY cause an E02 error.

Crushed or Kinked Inlet/Outlet Pipe

 A crushed or kinked inlet or outlet pipe can be caused by different things. One reason could be that your liner is low on air. The main reason for this is usually due to a kink in one of the hoses that go through the liner from the egg because of a sag in the liner.

The loss of air will allow the hose to bend, restricting the water flow.

Simply filling your liner with air can straighten the pipes out, and if that was the issue, you should be good. Other things such as pipes going soft over time can cause this. Another option to solve this would be to get a short piece of rigid pipe to fit inside this pipe to keep it from collapsing. 

This may be helpful to do to both the top and bottom water pipes. The pipe should fit inside the grey end and be long enough to go through the liner but not come out the other side. This length can be different depending on your tub model.

Broken, Stuck or Damaged Impeller or Impeller Shaft

 The impeller is the pump part that makes the water move. The motor spins this, and the paddles push the water. There are several things that can fail concerning the impeller, one being the impeller shaft.

The impeller shaft in the image to the right is the pin that goes through the centre of the impeller with the two small black caps on it. Many of the impellers used in the egg have an impeller shaft that is made of ceramic.

These shafts have been known to break on occasion. When this breaks, the impeller will not spin freely and can lead to a decrease or complete stop of the water flow. If the impeller moves with a broken shaft, the egg can be very noisy and make a rattling sound.

Another thing with the impeller can be a rusty or damaged magnet. When a magnet gets rusty, it gets weaker. When the magnet gets weaker, it cannot spin as efficiently or at all. In this case, you will need to replace the impeller. 

Damaged Water Flow Sensor

 These pumps have a water flow sensor to tell the pump that water is actually moving through the system. The water flow sensor is a tube with a small paddle that contains a small magnet that hangs in the water's path, and when water flows through the tube, the paddle is pushed upwards, causing the magnet to trigger a magnetic switch. When the switch is triggered, it indicates that water is flowing. The way the system works with this sensor can trigger not only an E02 error but it can also trigger an E01 error.

We'll start with the E01 error. When the pump is turned on, it immediately checks this sensor for a split second looking to see that it is not triggered before turning on the pump. If the system sees that the flow sensor is triggered immediately upon startup, it assumes that the paddle is stuck in the up position. With the paddle stuck in the up position, the system assumes that it cannot accurately detect water flow and will display an E01 error. If this is the case, sometimes a quick smack, not too hard, to the side of the pump will get the paddle to drop into the normal position. Another thing that can cause this is debris being stuck in the sensor, but if you did the flush in the earlier steps, this should not be an issue.

Now back to the original E02 issue. A few things can cause the sensor not to trigger the magnetic switch. One of the main causes of this is broken plastic around the magnet that causes the magnet to get wet and rust. As a magnet gets rusty, it gets weaker; if it gets weak enough, it can't trigger the sensor mounted at the top. If this is the case, the paddle will need to be replaced. You will need to remove the cover to access the sensor.

Start by putting your black stoppers on the inlet and outlet ports inside the tub and disconnect the pump from the tub. Once disconnected, remove the screws on the lip about halfway up the pump. Slowly lift the cover off, but watch for the attached ribbon cable. You may be able to just set the lid aside with the ribbon cable attached. If you need to disconnect it for any reason, grab the black connector on the sides and squeeze it, then pull the connector apart. Once the lid is off, look just behind the top outlet pipe, and you will see the water flow sensor.

Remove the four screws on the top of the sensor and lift the top off, being careful of the sensor wire that is connected to it and the rubber o-ring seal under the lid. A pin through the side will hold the paddle in place. Push that pin from the side, being careful not to break it, and pull it out. Install the new paddle and replace the pin. Move the paddle back and forth to ensure that it moves freely. Now inspect the o-ring seal to see if it is damaged or looks worn. If so, it is best to replace it.

Once you have the paddle replaced and the o-ring inspected/replaced, re-assemble the flow sensor carefully not to knock the o-ring out of place and screw it back together. DO NOT overtighten the screws as you may damage the housing, which will cause the seal to be weak and leak over time. Replace the cover, being sure to connect the ribbon cable if you had it disconnected. Then re-connect the pump to your tub and give it a test. You should be back running.