Vp17-3 bunn o matic will not brew no water will come out if i wait about 15-20 mins it will start spitting out some water like 1/4 full! The heating elements are working on all 3 burners

VPS/VPR are pour over brewers. Like the 12 cup brewers you find at home, they need to be filled with 12 cups of water (a full pot), heated and then peculated over the coffee grounds and collected in a decanter.
BUT there is one main difference! The VPR and similar COMMERCIAL coffee machines are quick brewers. They usually have a pre-heated pot of water stored inside the machine.
* VPR's and similar machines REQUIRE a pre-fill and heating period prior to brewing. This means it's sitting on a level table and filled with water until water sprays from the brew head. At this point the unit is plugged in and the heater is turned on (there may be some water discharge from brew head as the water expands). Ready light will come on in about 15 mins.
* To Brew; Place coffee grounds in filter, place in funnel and brew head, clean empty decanter under funnel, slowly pour one full decanter of water (cold or hot) into brew tray. Do not overflow tray. Allow water level to sink before adding more water. Only fill with one pot as an equal amount will come out the brew head and funnel.
* Make sure the decanters are all the same size. do not mix a 12 cup pot with a 10 cup pot. One will over fill and the other will under fill. Make sure they match (in cup volume) FYI; Thermo Air pump pots are usually bigger than one pot. Typical filling only to 3/4th of the container. (I think most are in 2.5 to 3 liter sizes)
* If your not getting a full pot then the brewer was partially empty. The second brew (if done within the next hour) should come out full.
* If your still not getting a full pot then the water is leaking or is boiling off. Does it always steam from the top? Thermostat is shorted. Unplug the brewer and call vendor for service.
* Final; If your unplugging when not in use. Then follow the Pre-heat instructions mentioned above prior to plugging the brewer back in. If the tank has been emptied at night or dried up after an idle week. Then there is a chance you may over heat and blow the thermal fuse. Or at best have a half pot short brew as the water dried up.
* Note leaving the brewer plugged in without brewing daily is not a good idea. The water evaporates and eventually drys out the pot. Takes about 1-2 weeks but it does blow the fuse(s) and the unit will need service.
* Final; Follow the Bunn set up and care instructions (manuals from Bunn.com for down loading. *FREE*)
Aloha, ukeboy57

Check the thermostat on the machine, make sure pot is full before brewing. The water in the tank just heats up it is loosing most of it, make sure lid is on pour in screen.

It sounds like the tank isn't full. It takes 2 full decanters of water to fill the tank in the bank. After pouring in 10 cups of water, close the lid and wait 3 min. Then open up the lid and pour in another 10 cups of water and close the lid. Then turn the vacation switch on and wait 15 min. Now you are ready to brew coffee. Place your grounds and filter in the funnel basket and pour in 4-10 cups of cold water and place decanter on warmer plate. Close the lid and in 3 min you will have a pot of coffee. If this doesn't happen, please call 800-352-2866 and we will be happy to assist you.

The brewer has not had enough time to reach its operating temp (usually 7 mins after a brew cycle). If that is not hte case then the machine needs to be descaled.

YES.

The unit has a tank used to heat the water for brewing.
When you add more water, the unit starts the brew cycle.

before plugging in place your empty filter basket in the coffee maker and place a pot under it. Slowly pour in two pots of water using the pour pitcher. Now you can plug it in. it'll take 15 min to heat up first time . when you brew your first pot leave your water level a little short,because the water will expand (only the first time)

open the cover on the brewer- depending on your model, it could be the front or the back cover. look for a brew timer dial. turn this up slowly, running a brew each time to see if you now have a full pot

There is a brew timer on the left side of your machine near the heater switch. you need to remove an access panel to access it. turn this down a little, let the water heat up, then try another brew. Adjust as needed, brewing another pot between each setting.

It sounds like the tank isn't full. Unplug the machine and make sure there is a pot underneath to catch water. Pour clean water into the tank until it starts flowing out. Plug the machine in and let it heat up. Then try brewing coffee.

The way your machine works is that there is a holding tank for the water and it isn't actually brewing with the water you just poured in, it is using the holding tank water. If the holding tank gets low, and you pour water in all it does is fill the tank but nothing will come out.

Hope this helps.

The pour-over type of Bunn coffee brewers require several pots of water to fill an empty tank.
1. While unplugged, pour in two and a half to three pots of clean water (put an empty pot underneath the brew basket). When the tank is full, water will come out of the brew basket.
2. Plug the unit in and wait for it to heat - about 5 to 7 minutes. These brewers are meant to be left plugged in all of the time to keep the tank water hot. You will probably heat some rumbling noises which is normal as the water heats.

If for some reason the water isn't hot after 10 minutes you will need to check the thermostat. Unplug the machine and take the screws out of the top. The thermostat has a little dial or a t-bar that you can turn. All the way left is off and all the way right is boiling. Turn this up about 90% of the way and put the top back on the machine and plug it in. If it gets hot, you are ready to brew. If it doesn't get hot, you may have blown the limit thermostat and will need to replace it.

The limit thermostat isn't the same as the thermostat. It is a ceramic and metal item that senses if the tank gets too hot from having the unit plugged in without any or enough water in it. It is inexpensive and relatively simple to change.