Coleman SaluSpa error codes: E01 to E05 and E08 explained

Safety first. Unplug the pump before you remove it, open couplings or reach into the tub. If the GFCI plug fails its test, do not use the spa, and never run it from an extension cord.

Common symptoms

The pump display shows a code such as E02 where the water temperature should be.
A code appears right after you press the filter or heat button, or partway through a heating cycle.
E01 shows up before you have pressed any button at all.
The heater light is on, but the water does not get any warmer.
A code comes back on cold mornings or on hot, sunny afternoons.
The buttons do nothing. This is often the panel’s auto-lock, not a fault.

Quick checks before anything else

Both stopper caps are off the inlet and outlet ports inside the tub.
The water sits between the MIN and MAX lines on the liner.
The filter cartridges are clean, or you have a fresh pair ready.
The GFCI plug passes its test: plug in, press TEST (the light goes off), then RESET (the light turns red again).
The control panel is unlocked. Hold the lock button for 3 seconds.
The pump unit is in the shade, not in direct sun.

How to read a SaluSpa error code

Coleman SaluSpa tubs are made by Bestway under license from Coleman. The pump has a small LED screen that normally shows the water temperature. When something is wrong, the screen shows an E code instead. The Coleman SaluSpa 90427E owner’s manual lists six codes. It skips E06 and E07.

Code	What the manual says	First fix
E01	The flow sensors report flow before you press filter or heat. The sensor flags are stuck, or the sensors are broken.	Unplug, strike the side of the pump (not violently), plug back in.
E02	The flow sensors do not detect water flow while filtering or heating.	Stopper caps, cartridges, debris screens, then pipes and washers.
E03	The water reads below 40 F.	Unplug. Restart once the water reaches 43 F.
E04	The water reads over 119 F.	Unplug. Restart once the water is 100 F or lower.
E05	The temperature sensor’s connection has a problem, or the sensor is broken.	Contact Bestway support.
E08	The thermal cut-out has tripped, from air over 122 F, direct sun, or a broken cut-out.	Unplug, move the pump somewhere dry and cool, restart once the water is 93.2 F or lower.

For codes from other brands, use our error code lookup.

What causes SaluSpa error codes?

Dirty or swollen cartridges Water cannot pass through fast enough, so E02 appears during filtering or heating.
Stopper caps left in The ports are sealed, so no water reaches the pump. E02 shows as soon as you start the filter.
Scale on the debris screens Hard water leaves calcium on the small screens in the ports. E02 keeps returning even with new cartridges.
Stuck flow sensor flags The little flags inside the pump do not drop back into place. E01 shows with the filter off.
Cold or hot water Very cold fill water brings up E03. Water that gets too hot, or a pump baking in the sun, brings up E04 or E08.
A failed part A broken sensor, pump or cut-out. The manual’s tests below help you tell this apart from the easy causes.

Finding the cause of an E02 (from the SaluSpa manual)

Remove the stopper capsFrom the inlet and outlet ports inside the tub
Take the filter set outLift it out of the tub
Press filter or heatWatch the display
Does E02 come back without the filter?

Yes: the cartridges are not the cause. Feel for water at the outlet, then clean the debris screens and check the pipes and washers.

No: the cartridges were blocking flow. Clean them or fit new ones, then put the filter set back.

Step-by-step: fixing SaluSpa error codes

We start with the free, safe checks that clear most E02 codes, then move to the temperature codes and the reset. Unplug the pump before you touch anything inside the tub or take the pump off.

Remove the stopper caps. The caps seal the ports so you can fill the tub or move the pump. The manual lists forgotten caps as the first cause of E02. Take both off before you run the filter or heater.
Test without the filter. Lift the filter set out of the tub and press the filter or heat button. If no code appears, the cartridges were the problem. Clean them or replace them, then put the filter set back. Bestway says to check and clean the cartridges every day and change them every week, or sooner if they stay dirty or discolored.
Feel for water flow. Turn on the filter and hold your hand in front of the outlet pipe inside the tub. If no water comes out, the manual says the water pump is broken. If water flows out but E02 still shows, the flow sensors are broken. Either way, that is a warranty or support call.
Clean the debris screens. Empty the tub. Run a garden hose into the pipes from outside the tub and from inside, so you flush both ways, and scrub stubborn bits with a toothbrush. Hard water builds calcium on these screens over time.
Check the pipes and washers. Look through the spa connection for bent pipes. Then unscrew the couplings and check the washers inside. Bestway says they can perish or wear out, and worn washers are a known E02 cause.
Clear an E01. Unplug the pump, strike the side of it firmly but not violently, and plug it back in. This knocks the sensor flags back into place. If E01 returns, the sensors may be broken.
Warm up an E03. The tub is not designed to run with water below 40 F. Unplug it and restart once the water reaches 43 F. Fill with water above 42.8 F, or E03 will appear when you start the heater. If E03 shows while the water is warmer than 44.6 F, the manual says the thermometer is broken.
Cool down an E04 or E08. Unplug the pump. For E04, restart once the water is 100 F or lower. For E08, move the pump to a dry, cool place and restart once the water is 93.2 F or lower. Keep the pump out of direct sun. If E04 shows while the water is below 113 F, the thermometer is broken.
Restart the pump. The 90427E manual shows no separate heater reset button. To restart, unplug the pump, plug it back in, test and reset the GFCI plug, then hold On/Off for 2 seconds. If the code returns at once, go back to the step for that code.

Stop. If the GFCI plug fails its test, do not use the spa. Bestway says a failed test means there is a defect in the spa. Never plug the pump into an extension cord or a multi-plug adapter; Bestway warns the plug can overheat.

Before you call support, note the code, what you were doing when it appeared, and the model number on the pump. A phone photo of the display helps too.

SaluSpa vs Lay-Z-Spa vs Intex codes

Coleman SaluSpa. The 90427E runs on 110 to 120 volts with a GFCI plug. The 90427E manual lists E01 to E05 and E08. E04 trips when the water reads over 119 F.

Bestway Lay-Z-Spa. These are the UK and European versions, with a PRCD (a safety plug like a GFCI). The AirJet manual uses the same E01 to E05 meanings, but its E04 trips above 122 F, its E08 is a manual-reset thermal cut-out with a reset button on the pump, and it adds a ground connection fault alarm. Bestway’s UK support pages list more codes for newer pumps. Our Bestway Lay-Z-Spa error codes guide covers them.

Intex PureSpa. Intex uses a different set of codes in the E80s and E90s. E90 is no water flow, the same problem as a SaluSpa E02.

If the tub runs with no code but stays cold, see inflatable hot tub not heating.

When to call a pool or spa pro

The GFCI plug fails its test, or it trips on its own. Our GFCI tripping guide explains why that needs an electrician or the maker.
No water comes out of the outlet with the filter running. The manual says the water pump is broken.
E05 shows at all. Bestway lists no owner fix for it.
E01 comes back after you strike the pump, or a temperature code shows while the water is clearly in range.
The washers or seals are damaged and need replacing.
E08 keeps returning with the pump in the shade on a mild day.

Under warranty, contact Bestway first through the support section of bestwaycorp.com, with the model number and a photo of the code.

Common questions

What are the common SaluSpa error codes and how can I fix them?

E02, no water flow, is the one most owners see, and the fix is usually clean cartridges and removed stopper caps. E03 means the water is below 40 F, and E04 means it is over 119 F; unplug and wait for the water to come back into range. E01 is a stuck flow sensor, cleared by unplugging and striking the side of the pump. E05 and a repeat E08 need Bestway support. More background is on our inflatable hot tub problems page.

Why does my Coleman hot tub keep saying E02?

Because the pump cannot sense water moving through it. The usual causes are dirty cartridges, stopper caps left in, or calcium on the debris screens. If E02 still shows with the filter set removed and clean screens, check for bent pipes and worn washers, then test for flow at the outlet.

What does E03 mean on a Coleman hot tub?

E03 means the pump reads the water as colder than 40 F, and it will not run below that. Unplug it and restart once the water reaches 43 F, and fill with water above 42.8 F. If the water is clearly warmer than 44.6 F and E03 still shows, the manual says the thermometer is broken.

How do I reset my SaluSpa hot tub?

Unplug the pump, plug it back in, press TEST and then RESET on the GFCI plug, and hold On/Off for 2 seconds. If the buttons will not respond, hold the lock button for 3 seconds, since the panel locks itself after 5 minutes without use. A reset clears the screen, but the code comes back until you fix its cause.

What do the different error codes on my hot tub control panel mean?

Each maker uses its own codes, so the same letters can mean different things. On a SaluSpa, E codes cover flow, water temperature and the temperature sensor. Hard-shell spas use codes like FLO, OH and dr, which we explain in our hot tub error codes guide.