Intex or Bestway pool pump not working: how to fix it

Common symptoms

• The pump will not turn on, or it stopped and the display shows 00, a dot, or two dashes.
• The motor runs, but no water comes back into the pool.
• Water trickles out of the return, and you hear air or gurgling in the pump.
• The pump hums but does not seem to spin.
• It runs for a while, cuts out, then starts again later.
• A Bestway Flowclear display shows Er, or its filter light comes on.

Quick checks before anything else

• The GFCI plug is reset and its light is on. Press TEST, then RESET.
• The pump is plugged straight into a grounded outlet, with no extension cord, adaptor or plug-in timer.
• The timer is still inside its run time for the day. A finished cycle looks like a dead pump.
• The pool water covers both wall fittings, the one the pump pulls from and the one it returns to.
• Every valve on the pool wall is fully open, and no blue stopper plug is left in a fitting.
• The filter cartridge is clean, or you have a spare to swap in.

Why does an Intex or Bestway pool pump stop working?

• Timer cycle ended The pump is fine and simply waiting for tomorrow’s start time.
• No power A tripped GFCI plug or house breaker. Nothing lights up.
• Hot motor The built-in overload switch stops a hot motor and lets it start again once it cools.
• Air in the pump An airlock after setup or a cartridge change. The motor runs but little water moves.
• Blocked or closed flow Low water, a dirty cartridge or strainer, a closed valve, or a forgotten stopper plug.
• Air leak or swapped hoses Loose hose nuts let air in, and reversed hoses stop the pump from priming (filling with water so it can pump).

Step-by-step: Intex or Bestway pool pump not working

We start with the free checks that explain most “dead” pumps, then air and flow, then the motor. These steps follow the Intex Krystal Clear FP633 manual and Bestway’s Flowclear manuals and FAQ. Older or different models may vary, so check the model sticker on your pump.

1. Check whether the timer finished. On the Intex FP633, the display shows 00 when a cycle ends. After 5 minutes it drops to a dot (power saving), and the pump turns itself back on 24 hours later. To run it now without the timer, turn it on and press the timer button until the display shows FP, which means nonstop running. Bestway timer pumps show two dashes in standby and restart at the same time the next day. Bestway says a power cut or an Er alarm resets the timer, so check the run time and set it again.
2. Test the GFCI plug. Plug it into a grounded outlet, press RESET (Bestway’s light turns red), press TEST (the light goes off), then press RESET again. If the test fails, do not use the pump. If the GFCI cuts power without anyone pressing TEST, both makers say current is leaking to ground: unplug the pump and have it checked. Intex also says not to use the pump if the end-of-life light on its GFCI plug is flashing.
3. Let a hot motor cool. Both brands use a thermally protected motor. Intex lists “motor too hot and overload protection shut motor off” as a reason the pump will not start, and the fix is to let it cool. If the house breaker trips again and again, Intex says your electrical system may have a fault: turn the breaker off and call an electrician.
4. Raise the water level. Intex lists low water as a cause of a pump that does not work. Bestway says never to run its pump dry: both the pool inlet and outlet must be fully under water before you switch it on.
5. Open every valve and pull the stopper plugs. Intex plunger valves open when you turn the handle fully counterclockwise until it stops. Bestway says never to run the pump with the connection valves closed. Bestway’s cartridge change uses blue stopper plugs in the wall fittings to hold the water in. If one is still in place, no water reaches the pump, so swap it back for the debris screen.
6. Let the air out. On an Intex, open the lower plunger valve first, then the upper one, then open the air release valve until water comes out, and close it. Intex warns never to remove the air release valve, because water can shoot out with force. On a Bestway Flowclear, unscrew the air purge valve on top until water comes out, then screw it closed. Bestway says to do this before first use and after every cartridge change. For larger pool pumps with a strainer basket, see pool pump not priming.
7. Clean the cartridge and strainer. Unplug the pump first. Intex says to replace the cartridge at least every 2 weeks, and its gauge shows green for clean, yellow for clean it, and red for clean or replace; read it with the pump running. Bestway says to rinse the cartridge with a garden hose, replace it every 2 weeks, and check it weekly. Clean the strainer screen on the pool wall too. A pump that runs but filters poorly leaves the water hazy, covered in cloudy pool water.
8. Tighten the hose nuts. Intex lists an air leak on the intake hose as a cause of slow or no flow. Hand-tighten the hose nuts, check that the hose O-rings sit in their grooves, and look for cracks in the hoses. On a Bestway, tighten the hose clamps.
9. Check that the hoses are on the right ports. Intex says the lower fitting on the pool wall (with the strainer) connects to the pump’s water inlet, and the upper fitting (with the return nozzle) connects to the pump’s water outlet. Swapped hoses cause airlocks and weak flow.
10. Clear the intake if the motor hums. Unplug the pump. Intex lists “faulty motor or the impeller is jammed” for a pump that does not work, and the fix is to clear sticks or leaves from the intake hose. The impeller is the small spinning wheel inside the pump. If the intake is clear and it still hums, contact the maker. Our pool pump humming guide covers the same fault on larger pumps.

Intex vs Bestway: what differs

Run time differs too. Intex’s FP633 table gives 2 to 8 hours a day by pool size, and its timer runs 1 to 12 hours per cycle. Bestway recommends at least 8 hours a day. Our pool calculator works out your pool’s volume. The same brands make inflatable spas, where flow problems show up as heater codes instead; see inflatable hot tub not heating. For a full rundown of these pumps and tubs, start at our inflatable hot tub and above-ground pump guide.

When to call a pool or spa pro

• The GFCI plug fails its test or trips on its own.
• The house breaker trips again and again. Intex says to call an electrician.
• The cord or plug is damaged. Bestway says to discard the pump; Intex says to have a qualified electrician replace the cord.
• The motor hums with a clear intake, or will not start after it has cooled.
• The pump is under warranty. Intex says not to return it to the store but to call Intex, and Bestway asks you to contact its service center first.

Common questions