I shut down power because the spa was not working right. I was on vacation so I do not know how long it was running that way or if there were any other problems getting to the present point. The spa makes a chugging noise like it is trying to run but can't. It has a sentry 850 series controller. The light in the spa flickers dim. The top controller has dashes. I can take pictures and get part numbers if anybody wants.

Of course I am 5 months out of warranty. I called the dealer and they sent somebody after about a week. He looked at it for about 2 minutes (charged an arm and a leg) and said I should have a spa pack installed for about $1200. He said it was most likely a circuit board and it was expensive to replace ($300 to $400 plus labor) and that might not fix the problem. He says I would lose the ozonator and those do not work right anyway.

My husband looked at the spa afterwards and found the top controller has water damage. It looks like the water seal failed and it has a rusty color in one corner.

I guess I am posting to find out how to fix my spa or should I just replace it. I felt like the service guy was taking advantage of me because I am female. I studied electronics for 3 years so I have a little bit of understanding of the problem. This guy checked to see if there was power to the main board and that was it.

If this is a basic swap out I might be inclined to do the work myself. However do I want a top controller or a spa pack? I looked at one place for parts but was not sure which spa pack would be the right one. If it makes any difference, I usually use my spa as a hot tub and leave the jets off. I would be ok with just getting temperture control back. Not pleased of course, but I could use it while I save $$ for a complete repair.

What is a reasonable initial service call / labor fee?

Any help would be great!

My opinion, I think it would be foolish to replace the entire spa pack over this. But you know what they say about opinions!:shock:

I'd start by recomending a new topside cntrl first (ONLY because it's a much simpler item to test), unplug the old topside control (without uninstalling the old one), plug in the new control, and see if that works. Leave the new control in the original packaging, just make a hole in the packaging big enough to pull the harness through. Push the buttons while it's still in it's bubblewrap. If it still doesn't work properly, push the harness back in and return it unused, and use the credit on a new PCB (circuit board)

The tech is probably right, it probably is a circuit board, but it's impossible to tell without having a new one to test.

The tech was part lazy, part honest. I doubt he was taking advantage of you, I feel that he probably has no idea what's wrong, and is honestly telling you, "might not fix the problem" beacuse he truthfully doesn't know, and couldn't know unless he had either a new PCB or topside to plug in and begin a process of elimination.

Circuit boards are easy to install, as well as topsides. These are jobs you can likely handle yourself, just pay VERY close attention to what plugs in where, and make a thorough, accurate recording of it before getting started. Some people disconnect one wire at a time, disconnecting from old PCB directly onto new PCB when possible.

these spas are actually very simple to correctly diagnose for a decent trained technician with proper test components on board - if your dealer has an incompetent service guy, try another local dealer who do know what they are doing - i suspect you have straight lines on the display which is a watchdog fault - usual cause - faulty temp sensor or board - very unlikely to be the board. sensors are easily tested with a 'test plug' which then isolates the fault to board or sensors - if board looks bad, the transformer and fuses should be tested also - a bad transformer fuse will also give this error
if you have no joy, do not use any tech other than a sundance experienced tech - contact sundance for assistance

Alacy if you find one good one of those here in the usa, you'll be doing good.