Unknown error code (E168) on Potterton Promax 24 HE Plus?

Simplest and easiest disconnect condense pipe as a frozen pipe will bring this error up.
If not then look at disconnecting each item until fault disappears. Mine was the condense bodged up with no insulation on outside. Will return to fix up temporary solution place into bucket.

Saj
December 2021

Can I join the E168 club? Ive been plagued with this intermittent fault for a year. The problem is that the boiler always behaves when the engineer is there ! Its as if it knows it will be found out. I can usually get it to fire up after a few attempts but its a pain having to waste my time fiddling with the controls. I suspect the PCB every time as it is made in China or Korea using the cheapest components they can find. The relay contacts are probably all corroded with use causing bad or no connections. The capacitors are probably as bad. All this rubbish about a poor external electrical supply is just a tall tale.

Raymond
April 2019

Had E119 right thro last winter. Tightening up rad valves cured this. Then came the E168! Calling out help is often just a way of burning money as verified here. So tried 'new' PCB (black transformer instead of blue, box dated 16/9/13) and it first gave an E133 then ran for about 30 mins but water not hot (only warm) then blew fuses (internal and external) and also gave an E50. At this point I went back to my old PCB wh at least is normal for DHW. Can I discount an ignition fault as DHW is normal and prob only appears when rads are selected? Have also changed diverter valve motor and igniter. Any ideas welcome! Maybe it's time for a Worcester Bosch?

Jim
July 2016

We had this fault intermittently for ages. Finally the fan gave out, so we had it replaced. OK for a few days, then E168 again. This time though, the radiators heated up when we tried using our hot taps. Turns out the distributor valve was sticking. That meant that the boiler couldn't switch properly between feeding radiators and hot water supply.
Seems to have got rid of the error now (touch wood), so I suspect that the boiler couldn't figure out what was happening and threw the error to say so.

Phill
August 2015

Potter ton Gold 33HE. Fault code e168. Reset the boiler and the Same fault reappears after a short time. Contacted Potterton for advise but they couldn't give me an answer. They said they really don't know! I stripped the boiler down and found that the electrode was cracked. Replaced both flame sensing and spark electrodes. Lasted 24 hours then went back to e168 again. Potterton suggested I changed both hot water and heating sensors. This I did and it lasted nearly 48 hours this time before going back to e168 again
Rang Potterton again and they suggested I tested and renewed the diverted valve motor. Did this and after a few hours, yes you guessed it' fault code e168. All components have been tested electrically and there don't appear to be any electrical supply issues. I have just replaced the PCB and keeping my fingers crossed! I am an experienced British Gas Engineer with 40 years experience and never came across such a intermittent complicated fault before. Potterton has failed to help. Keep you posted!

Dave
December 2014

Hi,
E168/E131 is an ongoing issue with my Promax combi, like many others (far too many).
To date, I have had 6 visits from British Gas engineers and 4 visits from the manufacturers engineers (Heat Team).
The problem remains unresolved and I am waiting for a phone call from Heat Team this morning to advise on the time of their 5th visit, sometime today.
That means on 11 occasions I have had to take time off work.
It has reached the point where my lost income would have paid for a top of the range boiler, including installation.
Looking back at the comments on this forum I see that the E168 fault has been a problem since 2007.
That's 7 years !
Surely Baxi should have sorted out this problem before now instead of continuing to sell them knowing that after a relatively short period a problem will occur.
Luckily, I took out a Homecare contract with British Gas for an extra £250 after they had installed it, but unfortunately, it doesn't cover the lost income and there is no guarantee that todays engineer visit will be any different to the previous 10 visits !

Trent Duval
March 2014

I had a E160 problem and fan and fan PCB was okay. Filled up expansion vessel to 1 bar using foot pump as recommended.
When switched back on, new error reported was E168 and boiler would not start.
Switched on/off about 6 times and each one gave E168. Left it for 15 minutes and then boiler started and ran for 1 hour.
Now E160 is back again, so may try another vessel expansion top-up or check pressure.

So I can only say that E168 may sometimes be a temp fault, so try quite a few times.
Either way good luck to all.

DaveD
February 2014

We have had the e168 code flashing up for the past three weeks and each time a repair man has come out, he has replaced a different part and it is still not working! We have had an air vent installed, new sensors put it, a new circuit board fitted. All to no avail. The latest guy says its the actuator. Does anyone know if this is likely? Given the number of parts that have been fitted needlessly so far, I am concerned that this is yet another dead end!

Frustrated
February 2014

Can I just throw in a comment regarding code E168?
Mine is a Baxi Platinum with this code showing. Working away from home, my good lady helped with this diagnosis! Boiler was installed some 6 years ago. Standard combi install - heating controlled by room stat and hot water as usual. Extension built with wet underfloor heating (UFH). System adapted with 2 off 2-port valves for the heating. Recently part drained system to add inhibitor, then ran system to pump it round. E168 showed then. Fixed this 'issue' by calling for 'rad' heating first (with a reset). Assumed that UFH (when requested) was working. Now when trying to use UFH, code E168 shows again. Using the 'good lady', it looks to me like the UFH 2-port valve is not making the necessary circuit. The boiler (I assume) knows that it should be doing something but cannot achieve this. Hence, the E168 code shows. I cannot confirm this until I get home next weekend but am very confident that this is the cause.
The boiler trouble shooting does not cover external modifications that have been made to the system (no fault of the manufacturer).
With this in mind, I have to say I like the code E168 - the boiler is stating there is a problem, I am not going to work until you fix something.
I hope this will help people having 'issues' with this fault.

Alan Clark - Peterborough
November 2013

Changed pcb to latest version , then had e130 come up, so changed flue sensor, same fault, so then changed the pump to see if the heat exchanger was blocked , it was fine so then changed the wiring harness to the pcb to the flue sensor. And it still has fault E130 , so i have changed all parts linked to that error code and it still has not fixed it???????

scott ellis
September 2013

Heateam person, If 90% of the e168 problems are a simple board fault then that's one hell of an unreliable board.

As someone who fixed their 168 problem by actually finding the underlying fault, just swapping the board out would have meant another board fault happening in the not to distant future, as is evident from posts all over the internet.

Neil
December 2012

As a heateam engineer let me let this to bed before anymore conspiracy theories arise. E168 is a generic unknown fault ie the board recieves an electrical response that is outside the parameters it is expecting to recieve. In 90% of cases this is a BOARD fault ie replace. Sometimes it is a gas valve ignitor pump or wiring harness fault. Simpless.

wolfie 39
December 2012

It appears the E168 error code comes on when it forgets what the error is. Baxi told us that the first time a problem happens the true error comes up and if you do a reset it then forgets what the error was so you get E168, and this error could be for anything so please don't balme the engineer, we can only go on what technical help tell us. Best thing to do is fit the new Vaillant boilers. Easy to install, easy to work on and easy to fix

Chris from Taunton
December 2012

nothing more i love than helping a lot of people out with my knowledge on this kind of stuff and i;ve worked on potterton for about 80% of the 60-70 boilers i fix in a week over the past 5 year, e168 is coming up quite regularly nowadays and its an easy issue to find a cure for but too many times i hear "YOU COWBOYS RIP EVERYONE OFF" but tbh i aint ever ripped a soul off, if anything i'm all too often the one out of pocket but not a soul has been put in danger yet, the cowboys answering this with "all you got to do is this" need to sort yourselfs out and stop putting people in danger!!!

bobby "no spurs" hooter
October 2012

Look at the HT leads from the spark generator to the spark plug. Are they crossed over and blackened at the crossover point? This is causing a lot of the E168 errors, insulation on the wires breakdown after about 2 years and cause a partial short. This will damage the PCB over time. Replace HT wires, re-route so they do not crossover or come near any other part, then replace the faulty PCB.

Neil
October 2012

Had the same issue with this E168 error code. Boiler wouldn't work on heating but hot water was a bit tempremental. Managed to fire up the heating after many resets but hit temperature within 60 seconds. Didn't really look like a pcb problem but sure enough replaced it with new one and boiler running perfect.

Carlos
September 2012

Literally e168 can mean anything baxi wanted 300 to send an engineer to replace the pcb because that's what the fault is USUALLY linked to ( her words) friend of mine came roung switched the boiler off and turned the water and heating dials to half way and said its just over heated we had a cuppa switched it back on and it's fine. So £300 to baxi or a tea bag to a mate?? Also customer service said touching my own boiler is illegal lmao so ask a friend just to be on the safe side

Vivienne
September 2012

Hi, I'm yet another victim of the dreaded E168 error code which mysteriously does not appear anywhere in the manual troubleshooter guide. Well of course it doesn't - it's a good wee earner for lots of people! I've been decorating my hall and had taken off the thermostat so surprise, surprise, that was what the first engineer attributed the problem to - he fiddled around with things and got the boiler working again, ot water and heating but by 6 hours later it was back to E168!!!! I reset, nothing! I switched off and on again, still no change. So, in anger I switched to off and went to sleep. In the morning phoned for an engineer to come out, he could come the next day. Went all day without hot water or heating, finally had a go again, switched boiler on again, ran the hot water tap and wow, it seemed to work for hot water anyway. Had my first wash in 2 days! Next day engineer comes out already having been told it is an E168 error and immediately tells me it is a problem with the pcb. At this point it is working and he does not touch it at my request. It will take about a week for the pcb to arrive and it has to be ordered. Zzzzzzzz. Heard it all before. I feel like I am a character in some tired old farce...

I dont know who to complain to about this, is there a gas services ombudsman lol.......wish there was!!

Jane D
September 2012

I am another victim of the E168 fault. Imagine this going on for over 6 years. I will be contacting contacting consumer affairs. This crowd are obviously cowboys.

Penny
July 2012

Another baxi duo tec 24 he owner to the e168 list

Unhappybob
February 2012

i'm on the 2nd pcb board. this is a manufacturing defect pure and simple. who would we contact in the uk to get baxi to replace our defective boilers?

baxivictim
February 2012

e168 means there is earth leakage on one of the components starting with the pcb but more commonly one of the others try disconnecting them one at a time untill the code goes in this order pump,gas valve,diverta actuator,spark generator the one that clears the code needs replacing. if your electrically competent use a multimeter set on highest megohms and test between all connections and earth on each component as listed the one that gives a reading is faulty

John [gas safe engineer]
December 2011

got the same problem with my 3 years old Potterton Promax boiler and homeserve came 3x but problem still not resolved.It`s really a nightmare.....

evelyn
December 2011

try pouring hot water over the plastic condensation pipe that goes to the drain outside outside the house in case it is blocked with ice.
this worked for me.

the 7th earl of auchenshuggle
December 2011

Have the same problem... have had few engineers from British Gas try and change parts etc.. no luck ! grrr
Only way around it is to switch it on/off or change the temp/pressure dials etc and eventually fires up... tho not what you want to have to check/try 1st thing on a cold morning..

Mr Getting Annoyed
November 2011

Had same fault on my sons boiler it would work on DHW, but as soon as HTG load was on it displayed E 168 they had not moved into house yet so i checked all components on boiler after talking over fault with Potterton. In the end i changed the PCB, problem solved.

Les Millar
November 2011

All baxi, potterton and main boilers are the same appliances with different cases/display panels I'm an installer/repair engineer. They all install, commission using the same parts and procedures. Potterton and main models have a cheaper, more basic control panel and certain parts missing internally so baxi can sell at the lower end of the Market. The main Eco series is a baxi 105 HE with a different case/display I came across this code(E168) a few years ago and rang baxi to find that even the young lad on the phone was bamboozled. He did however find a more experienced head to diagnose the fault. The dreaded E168 code is the pcb board(everytime) Heateam (baxi) warranty is normally 12 months after installation and if the appliance is registered then a further 12 months is added. Out of all appliances, past and present, I have to say that you will struggle to find a more reliable, installer friendly with competitively priced parts appliance as a baxi group appliance. I have a 4yr old 40kw duo tec in my kitchen which has needed a pump, dhw plate(burst) and is now at this minute flashing E168 at me...........40kw board winging it as I type.

Engineer
October 2011

I got this code today. I am on prepayment meter and the gass supply switched off, so I added credit and put the gas supply back on. It usually takes a minute or two for the gas pressure to recharge and then the pilot comes on, but today I got the E168 code. Tried resetting, power off at mains, all the above solutions, all to no avail. Then tried fiddling with the hot water temperature dial and it made it work!! Maybe I was just lucky...whatever the cause, Potterton need to know what their fault codes mean and tell their engineers how to fix them!

neo196910
October 2011

Wonderful. I too am getting the e168 code. Annoying. To get the heating to click on I now have to run the warm tap :(

Steven johns.
October 2011

Just joined the 'Potterton boiler E168 owners club'! I wonder how many Potterton employees have one of these boilers at home. They must be having a laugh at poor old Joe Public's expense - but at least we'll all know next time not to buy another Potterton.

Graham
October 2011

Hi.Had this boiler put in just before I bought my council house. Now 3/4 year later we are having problems with the E168 error appearing. Heating and water go off but are at the moment easily put back on. Just a bit of a nuisance at the moment. My dads a plumber and didn't know what the problem was. After reading everyones answers at least I know what to try. Thought my boiler would have lasted a lot longer.

shell
June 2011

Wow, thought I was the only unlucky person with a code that's not in the fault finding section... yes the E168, and I've only had the boiler fitted since Feb 2011.
Also getting another unknown code E131.... are these related in any way.
Very interested in hearing about possible causes such as using hot water when Central heating on, my problem is that the boiler is in my loft!!!!

Chris
May 2011

If you've faced an E168 fault, either as an installer or a consumer, please sign the following petition. Please also pass on this petition link to anyone else you know that has suffered this problem. http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/e168error/

Stuart Wilson
April 2011

If you've faced an E168 fault, either as an installer or a consumer, please sign the following petition. Please also pass on this petition link to anyone else you know that has suffered this problem. http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/e168error/

Stuart Wilson
April 2011

Another victim here of the E168 nightmare. Potterton are clueless on the issue and attempting to pass these off as isolated incidents. May well start an internet campaign to unite everyone that has faced this problem and force Potterton to face up to its responsibilities...

Nightmare on E168 Street!
April 2011

The E168 was on my Potterton Promax Combi 28HE Plus (3 and a half years old). British Gas engineer has just replaced the PCB and so far all OK though he had to contact Potterton several times as he ruled out other possible faults. I think it is disgraceful that a PCB has such a short life. Has anyone contacted Watchdog yet?

Yonsk
March 2011

Sorry that should reas Same as Promax
over the last 4 to 5 years

Alan Ellis (L. A. Ellis & Co. Ltd)
February 2011

I have just got my first E168 Code on a Potteton Gold, ame boiler as Promax combi.
I have to say, as an installer this is the 1st Fault I have had on any of these boilers and and the last count I have installed 35 of these units in the last 45 years.
I my opinion this is the most reliable boiler on the Market, if you want generic problems try having a Vaillant with there Diverter valve problem.

Alan Ellis (L. A. Ellis & Co. Ltd)
February 2011

please contact watch dog about this error as the company thinks it is a normal thing 4 there boiler to only last two years before the break and will not help with out a large cost to your self to fix the problem i wouldnt recomend the boiler to any one

jennifer
February 2011

E168 its a bugger aint it? got an engineer here (British Gas) as I type this, he says E168 isnt listed but tried a flue sensor, didnt work. Now in the process of replacing the pcb (printed circuit board). Every body part I can cross is crossed...not just my fingers, so heres hoping! Should have said mine started out as E130 (flue sensor) but went to good old E168, wish me luck

cold pissed off chris
January 2011

same story here code e168 at least twice a day ours is a council property so they can come and fix it at their expense this isnt the first problem i certainly would not buy or recommened potterton ,north tyneside council has installed hundreds of these boilers into properties around here.

andy.
January 2011

had this problem today.
tracked the problem down to a frozen condensate pipe.
Modern condensing (HE) boilers use a condenser to extract extra heat from the water vapours in the exhaust gases created by burning natural gas. The condensation from this process is gathered in an auto-syphon and expelled via the condensate pipe.

to fix -
the condensate pipe is the plastic pipe (always plastic, never copper ) that takes the condensed water away from the boiler to the outside drain.
i defrosted the pipe with boiled water, reset the boiler and now we have warmth again.

note-
there will also be a copper overflow pipe but that is not likely to cause a problem unless the boiler water pressure gets too high. worth defrosting this too if you can though.

22 december 2010

PPG Jason
December 2010

In addition to my experience below. If you don't have Potterton's "Instalation and Service Instructions" where a 5 step PCB swap guide is it is available you can get it as a pdf on the Potterton website. It does not however mention the anti static issue, so one wonders whether this precaution is ever carried out by engineers in practice. With over £100.00 riding on it I certainly did.

Jim
December 2010

I had an Error 168 issue with my Potterton Gold Combi 28 HE recently, 5 months out of the 3 year warranty. It worked ok until the thermostat temp had been reached, then refused to relight when the temp dropped giving E168. Relighting was generally no problem and it would work for a while again. After getting no help from Potterton Heateam other than an invitation to pay them £289.00 to fix it I found this website. I also questioned Potterton about the components breaking after so short a time and their response was that the current highly efficient boilers have to work the PCB very hard indeed ( poor thing ) and that is why they sometimes fail. Whether this amounts to an admission that some of the components of their boilers are not up to the spec necessary to to the job I'll let you judge. They were pretty vague about what an E168 signified also. After checking out posts in this and other threads which pointed towards the PCB being the fault I took a gamble and purchased a new PCB ( £103.00 ), as advised in a thread, from a local from a local supplier who were very helpful and got the part the same day from their wholesaler. I got Potterton's Instalation and Service Instructions with my boiler on how to change many components and while I wouldn't touch some jobs, changing the PCB I thought looked pretty straight forward. It was, and what's more, it fixed it. Getting the wires off the old board can be difficult because they are quite tight but they were all either spade type or proper plugs with NO soldering in my case. You do need to remember to swap the drive pins from the old board though ( these are what the dials on the front are connected to ). Take care to insert them the same way round they were on the old board. It's all pretty straight forward. One note is that with the new PCB came an anti static wrist band which you should attach to the boiler so you don't damage the PCB with static from your body. I used it as instructed and would recommend anyone to do the same. Sorry about the length of this post but I thought my experiences might help others decide if they are comfortable to try it for themselves.

Jim
December 2010

HELP HELP HELP! Pensioner
My Potterton Promax Combi 28-33 plus was installed inclusive of parts and labour for £3,100.00 (rip off)September 2006, low and behold E168 started showing up September 2010, oh yes forgot to mention the 4 year cover (run out) Coincidence? I think not. Rang fitter "Power Surge" he rang Potterton "E168 is not the book they'll fix it for £700 must be pcb or something else" After further phonecall "Potterton engineer will do it for £300 with 1 year cover (sounds familiar) but must have money ready". WatchDog here I come.

EEH
November 2010

It funny my potteron is down after 2 years aswell can anyone tell me what is a pcb thanks

mark
November 2010

yes this for def a pcb fault if the pcb has been changed and the fault is still there you must change the pcb again try getting a more expensive one and it will work fine e168 indicates that the pcb cant relate to anything

andy from sunderlamd
November 2010

Called the heating installers and found I had a 5 year warrenty on the boiler (sure they said 3) so YEAH!!! me. Potterton sent out an engineer who replaced evrything that was quick to replace. I think it was 2 sensors, ignighter and PCB all seem well now.
Sorry about spelling no time to check it....

PaulBB
October 2010

i have the same code got hot water but no heating i got away with resetting the bolier for a while and it wud fire bk up and heating would work, but then had to start putting hot tap on the resetting it and that workd for abit to but now it has gone off comlpetely still got hot water but as soon as i try and put heating on it just gives erroe e168 again, i herd that potterton are programing PCB to fail when boiler gets to a certain age so people have to buy parts and labour to fix it, another way ov making more money. my plumber is coming to change the pcb board tonight so hopefuly will get it back on, but at an expensive cost to me which i feel is wrong and i shouldnt have to have this expense and potterton makers are making money from dishonesty and tricking people into buying things they no are going to break. I will be contacting watch dog and hopefully you all do the same and put a stop to it.

tasha
September 2010

spoke to the potterton man yesterday E168 is a power surge to the boiler , if you have a card meter isolate the boiler at the fuse spare before resetting your meter. you may find your pcb has been scrambled and you will require a new one thanks

marktheplumb
September 2010

Well now I don't get the e168 error code anymore ..heating don't work at all but I don't get any error code. Still the good news is the hot water still works ....... umm for now .. Hope my home emergancy cover will take care of this "fingers crossed"

PaulBB
September 2010

theres a good chance its the spark electrode, the gap between the 2 forks should be about the thickness of a pound coin, often strinks or warps, try this before changing pcb

Nick
September 2010

What a lucky boy am I mine has managed 3 years TO THE DAY before getting this error.
It seems that it happens when both the cental heating AND hot water is being used at the same time. When the switch is on just hot water its fine and when the switch is on for both heating and hot water its fine PROVIDING the boiler doesn't have to heat the central heating AND hot water at the same time as soon as it does off it goes with E168 error. HOWEVER this appears to happen if the water pressure in the system is around 1.5 bar or lower. AT 2 or 2.5 bar it appears to be ok BUT I noticed that when the central heating starts from cold the pressure drops all of a sudden down to around 1.5/1.6 bar. Also the thing that triggers this faul the most is the shower. I'm still not 100% sure this is all right as the fault has only been happening for a few weeks now but I will try it further and see if this is the case.
Of course this still means its faulty but this may help get round it for a while.

PaulBB
August 2010

I said earlier this month that I had the E168 problem.I had a new PCB board fitted today and all is working. Keeping my fingers crossed??

Jim Buchan
August 2010

i have the very same problem the engineer came and fixed it, but it has returned they say they are now waiting a new part.

jim buchan
August 2010

add my name to the list .a promax he plus. 2 years old!
How can these crooks get away with this. they shouldnt be allowed to run a business!
I agree with jan above expose these crooks by contacting watchdog. Its the only thing they will pay any attention to.

disco dav
June 2010

my mom had e168 fault code, pcb changed 18 months from new, now 19 months after that same problem. My boiler is a worcester/bosch 10 yrs old and no problems .The so called "internal fault" on the pcb is odd the fault obviously hasn't been cured why aren't potterton doing a cheap exchange unit.or a softwear update if it is a softwear problem? or is there a timer inside failing the system after so long?

ed
May 2010

My Potterton boiler (2 years old) has just started going wrong and displaying the E168 code. Many thanks for all your comments on here and especially to Andy C - I have a repair man coming next week and have passed on your advice. Thanks again!

Jan
April 2010

Oh...have just come accross e168 wondered what is was guess i am not alone looks like i am in for a cold night.bugger

thanks for the comments atleast i know

matt
February 2010

the cheapest, council bought appliance available..... makes me wonder why we pay our taxes!!!!!!!

kevin evans
February 2010

i had a problem with my potterton boiler showing e168 and after various discusions and a bit of searching found that e168 is an internal board timeout fault ???? and as is shown here is quite common. replacing the board sorts it. a word of warning alot of these boards have failed and you need to be sure the board you buy is sound i bought one on ebay which turned out to be faulty causing me no end of grief thinking the fault was else where. to be fair to the vendor the money was refunded. i then sourced one from a local boiler spares shop and all is now good (£95+/-) the latest boards have blue transformers and a model specific sticker on them. quite easy to swap over.

andyc
January 2010

We have a 4 year old potterton promax 24 he plus and its been a nightmare since it was 1 month old, even under guarantee it's had just about everything changed on it. We constantly have to re-set it. If the boiler is warm it is really hard to get it going again, stone cold and it resets ok.
We used to have a baxi gloworm for 20 years no problems at all, We recon this was more energy effecient if you included all the fuel used by the engineers getting the potterton to work and the fact the only reason for calling them 'energy effecient' is they don't use much gas because they're always off!

Grumpy cold Jan
January 2010

my boiler is breaking down atleast 3 times a day now! Am going to contact WatchDog. I suggest you all do the same.

Napatak
December 2009

Have just had a new Programmable Control Board (PCB) fitted by British Gas ~ had to pay £50 due to my contract. Boiler is just over 2 years old ~ the PCB cost British Gas £111. The only diagnostic information on his computer stated E168 - incorrect PCB fitted, my boiler also had the error code E128 ~ there was nothing on his computer relating to this code. Apparentley according to my sources the PCB on this model of boiler is prone to power spikes during a power cut (which we had recently). Maybe Potterton are aware of this design fault ?? or maybe they think silence is the best option and a bad reputation for reliability. Baxi have a new combi back boiler with a gas fire which would look good in a fireplace.

R.A.G.T.M a Christmas NO 1 due to a myspace campaign maybe 2010 will be good year :)

Ian from Sunny Donny ~ Doncaster
December 2009

same here.....what a total con..if these had been cars, they would have been recalledE168 error code..boiler is 18 months old

mo
December 2009

I think Potterton has sold off all the old stock to Energy Saving companys who then install them into all the old folks homes.... As I have seen over 30 with the same error!!!

On speaking to the house owners they were fobbed off by the installers for over 12mths and then told "its out of warranty"

POTTERTON BOILERS DO NOT USE EVER

Master Jedi Thirsk
December 2009

i am also getting e168 flashing on my 2 year old promax it seems this is a common problem wish id bought another brand spoke to potterton and was told that it would cost £260 to sort not funny.

andyc
November 2009

British Gas have visited 3 times. The engineer phoned Potterton, who said it could be one of 1o things! It goes several times a day. Very annoying!

Don
November 2009

Does anyone know who governs these things, (boilers etc) as there must be some way of taking Potterton to task on this E168 error. Let me know and I will start the ball rolling. Had an nice conversation with the 'Heateam' earlier....."Never heard of that error, we can book you an engineer for £300". As I said let me know

jonno
October 2009

This has got to be a scam. Most of these boilers are only a few years old. I had an alarm system that the pcb used to die every year after the first 2 years. It's easy to program a time limit into these things. Potterton buyers beware, you will be scammed

Usa Worcester
September 2009

It's just another scam from Potterton, change the boiler, cheaper in the long run!!!

Another Victim
September 2009

yo E168 is a scam

lee p
March 2009

i was getting the same error code on my he 28 plus i change the pcb and its working fine. i got the pcb off ebay for £75 from uk heating spares. if you need to call somebody out do'nt reset it or they will find nothing wrong and you end up having to pay the call out charge

dave
March 2009

i have the error on mine too this seems a bit too common iv been able to get it working by re setting it but thats even stopped now

mike
March 2009

I've had the same issue on and off for the last month (E168). sometimes it likes to play ball when I leave it turned off, and then reset it. But it seems it loves to die on cold days, especially during that week long snow shower we just had in january. I hate the sodding thing.

Chris B
February 2009

I am also getting the same e168. The boiler is 2 years old, i have to turn off and back on every time, happens once a month at the mo. Not very happy.

P. Forster
February 2009

I have found a supplier for the PCB and been quoted £105+vat, (the part number & supplier I actualy got through the potterton website part 5115061, GC No. H29110 PCBSiemens LMU 34 System 24).

I was thinking about fixing it myself, but it's got worse now and based on notes above saying the fault might be elsewhere, I going to call Potterton to fix it with their all inclusive one off charge which includes all parts labour & 1 year warranty for £299.

I hate giving in to them, but think it's best this time.

Chris.
November 2008

I have the same problem- on Potterton promax 24, Potterton refuse to acknowledge it is a common problem and want £269 to come an repair it. My local engineer thinks he can't get the part for much less than that, but advised I grumbled to see if they would cave in and do it under warranty even though the warranty has just expired. It didn't work.

I'm fuming now!!! Has anybody else had any joy getting the manufacturer to accept responsibility for this common fault??

Chris E
October 2008

24he same fault code only 18 months old i hoped this boiler would last my mum who is 81 a good few years her old one lasted 30 years now they want £250 to fix wnat can i say?

Ed
August 2008

I've been getting the same error on a new (fitted end Sept) 28 HE Combi and have now had a couple of visits from the manufacturer's engineers.

Although the code indicates an internal error on the control board they now think that the error is in another component, but the control board doesn't understand the error it is getting so reports an internal error.

All the control boards that have shown this error are perfectly OK when returned and tested.

They haven't managed to reproduce the error on a test rig, so are left with a process of elimination on customer's boilers: changing other components and seeing whether the error still occurs. At the last visit here I think they changed the the igniter and the gas valve - no problem so far after three days, but it went nearly three weeks before showing the error last time.

Phil
November 2007

Ive got the same problem... just bought a house with a 'new' boiler and its got this E168 code. i jhust reset it everytime but its annoying to do it every day.

Adam Lang
October 2007

Having been quoted £250 for a new PCB, I have left the boiler switched off for 3 days. I restarted it and did a reset and it is working properly.... The HEAT-TEAM were sure that E168 was a PCB error.

Dave
June 2007