Hello all! first time poster, long time lurker.

I've got a used 103 coleman with an FL error. Manual says it's a flow switch or blockage. Is this switch IN or ON the heater?

I just took delivery a couple of days ago. I turned it on and it's like on high all the time. By the time it reached temp. it gave me a " FL " error. That's the flow valve (according to the manual). It says to look for an obstruction and call a tech.

If I try to put the jets on or off, it bogs down and turns the jets off. A few seconds later, it trys to turn them on again and repeats.

Is the problem truly the flow switch or is it really the pump or something bigger???

Thanks for any help!

Okay---so, I replaced the flow valve and it made no difference. I replaced the motor since the High speed would hum and buzz, then shut down.... I'm out $400 and no change yet.

Is there anyone with any advice? Are there any tests I can run to further determine the problem?

Did you have a flow switch or a pressure switch?

Does the motor still do the on/off/on cycling on high?

I do have a flo switch...could i also have a pressure switch? I have read plenty on the forum about adjusting the flow switch and have tried that...(take out the filter, turn the switch down to get error, loosen it up one turn until error goes away)

what happens is; I flip the breaker and the spa comes on. It stays on ( i can't tell if it's on high or low jets) and it comes up to heat. Then, it keeps going! I have never had the spa working (since i just bought it used) but first time it was set at 104. it went to 105! is that common? It's like it won't stop heating....anyways, if i push the pump high button at any time, the motor (new or old) boggs down. It stops pumping and hummms. after 4-5 seconds it goes back on to low and continues heating. If i let it go, it gives me a FL error. I can't see anything clogging and the jets do work fine on the low speed.

I just bought an amp meter- are there any tests i could perform.

As i see it, i have only three options:

High limit sensor...if it keeps on heating and heating...would this give me a FL error?
New circuit board---last ditch effort
New top side controls: could the high speed button have been damaged in the move?

My real fear is i replace all three, have a new spa, but still have this problem.

If it's adjustable it's a pressure switch. A flow switch will have some sort of a paddle mechanism and is only adjusted by being sure it is oriented the right way relative to the direction of water flow.

Going up to 105 or even 106 isn't unusual. It might then allow the water to drop to 102 or 101 before it begins to heat again. Does it go further than 106?
Sounds like the motor might be wired improperly. When does it give you the FL error? When trying to run on high or after low comes back on, OR (how) long after low comes back on?

Yes, but first you're concerned about continuity on the flow switch. The error either means you've got no continuity across the switch with the pump on or continuity across the switch with the pump off. Check to see which condition you're getting.

I don't see anything that would lead me to any of those three just yet, though it might be a board issue. If your heater is getting stuck on and heating up above 110 then you'll get a high limit error, but just because it's doing it's job.