My new refurbished X3 can not push out a double shot. I hear the pump working but espresso only comes out in drips. Is there a way to test the pump strength?

try cleaning with vinegar

Solid red light is a ventilate light.. Try Priming the machine to see if the light goes away.

Something may be in the flow meter. Its the while device between the water tank and the pump of the machine. You would have to open the machine and clean out the flow meter.

Also, if you haven't descaled the machine already, I would start there.

Saeco Espresso Parts Brew Groups Pumps Boilers Water Tanks Drip trays

I work on industrial machines have done so for 15yrs
if your machine is anything like the prof rigs in terms of engineered design then what you are noticing is the pressure release valve working-letting any unused and pressure + water drain from the group head to a small plastic black box below the stainless housing panels/drip tray after extraction is complete.

What i describe should only happen after the shot stopped.

you should hear it and see it the water for about 2seconds after you stop the extraction manually/automatically

All espresso is coffee, but not all coffee is espresso. Espresso is a term used to describe a way of preparing coffee.
Coffee is a drink made from the roasted seeds of a Coffea plant. Espresso is made by pushing a shot of hot water at high pressure through very finely ground coffee

I keep hearing how this machine makes great crema but I'm about ready to toss my machine in the dump. It seems like the water comes out way too fast no matter how I work the grinds or tamp it. Can someone contact me about what might be wrong?

Check it without the coffee, if it flows nicely then the grind or tamp is incorrect.

There is a tiny plastic one-way valve in the brass tube on the pump under the top cover that get calcified and stuck when not in use. I used a toothpick to get it out after disassembling the pump and its hoses. Slowly and carefully lay out your parts to reassemble the springs and washers correctly.

Try using without the portafilter, if it works then the problem is in the grind or the pressure used to tamp the coffee.

Need a decent grinder or a deft hand with a blade frinder, fresh espresso coffee beans and not too much water. Espresso grind is closer to turkish than drip. Much like Melitta grind. If needed a good coffee shop will grind it for you. A week suppply is preferable. If quantity of water can be adjusted, one shot is about 1&3/4 oz. a double shot, well x2=3.5 oz. You cannot get a six ounces espresso and still call it that; its dilluted or "allonge". A latte w/o milk. Let me know

You will have to adjust your shot timing, and possibly your grind. To program the shot timing, hold the Brew Stop button until all of the brew lights come on; That means all of the buttons are ready to program. Next, pull some grind for your portafilter and push the button you want to program. For a single, you want to pull a 1 oz shot in about 15-20 seconds; longer for a double. When you push the button, the shot will start to pull; when the shot is complete, push the button again to set it. Then do the same for the next button. Each group needs to be programed separately. Holding the the Brew Stop button again will turn out the remaining lights and save your programming to that point. As to the grind, you want to have the grind fine enough to give you a quality shot in the right amount of time. Good Luck!