Polaris 180, 280, 380, 3900 Sport Tips and Troubleshooting

The Polaris Pressure Side Pool Cleaners are the top choice in their category. Polaris dominates the Pressure Cleaner market and for good reason. Here are some troubleshooting tips for you for the Polaris 180, 280, 380 and 3900 Sport.

First, you must have a separate pump plumbed in for the Polaris cleaner or you cannot install this cleaner. It needs it's own pump to work off the pressure (return) side of the pool verse the suction skimmer/side port side.

I have several customers with these cleaners installed (Two with Polaris 180 models which means that after 30 years they are still working fine) and all work off the same principal. The Polaris pump sends high pressure to the line the Polaris is attached to spinning the wheels and moving the cleaner. Every few minutes the Backup valve activates and reverses the cleaner (prevents it from getting stuck in one area).

Here are some troubleshooting tips:

Hose length is important. Too much hose and the cleaner will not work properly.

The Back-up Valve must be installed 14-20 inches from the cleaner and the water opening (where water shoots out of) must be facing the cleaner and not away from it. These valves tend to fail often. To know if it is working properly, lift it out of the water when the Polaris is running. If water is continuously shooting out and never stops, it has failed and you need a new one, otherwise the Polaris will not run.

The Quick Disconnect that attaches the Polaris to the wall also has an adjustment on it, make sure it is not all the way open or there will not be enough pressure. They tend to crack under the pressure so check it periodically to see if water is shooting out of it from a crack.

Sometimes when you clean the filter, some element will enter the Polaris return line. Simply disconnect the wall connector and clean out the small debris basket (looks like a Thimble).


If you find the Polaris on it's side in the bottom of the pool, the rear float has probably failed and is full of water. Simply remove it and install a new one. These are the most common problems you will have.

If the cleaner starts and runs for a few seconds then stops, then runs again and stops; check the skimmer basket & pump basket for debris (possibly low water too), if pool does not run the Polaris will not either since it works off the return water pressure.

If the Polaris hose is tangled and doesn't seem to unwind, just add a Swivel to the hose by cutting the hose with a blade, and inserting a swivel with 2 nuts to hold it in. Make sure the arrow on the swivel is pointed towards the Polaris and don't add a swivel within 10 FT of the Polaris (otherwise it will do 360 all day).

Note:  Also if the Polaris wheels are not moving, more than likely the bearings are bad, very easy to change. Just take off the plastic nut, the wheel comes off, pop the old bearings out, pop in the new ones and you are set. If you have a Polaris 360 or 380 the drive belt may also be worn or broken. If you have a Polaris 180 or 280 the drive shaft might be stripped, especially if it is over 10 years old. If you have a Polaris 3900 Sport and it is not moving, the chain may have come off.

These are really reliable cleaners but like everything else do do eventually wear out and break down. If you need more help just contact me and I will be happy to help.