E6
Westinghouse Communication Failure Between Indoor and Outdoor Units

Indoor unit displays E6 and will not run in cooling or heating; sometimes occurs after installation or service.

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Safety Warning

This repair may involve working with high voltage components or water connections. Always unplug the appliance before removing any panels.

If you are not confident in your ability to perform this repair safely, we strongly recommend contacting a professional technician.

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Possible Causes

Reversed or loose communication wiring, broken interconnect cable, incorrect voltage supply to outdoor unit, failed indoor or outdoor control PCB

How to Fix / Troubleshooting

Safety: Turn off all power supplies to both indoor and outdoor units at the breaker before working on wiring.

Steps:

  • Verify power: Confirm that the outdoor unit is receiving the correct supply voltage (per nameplate) and that breakers are not tripped.
  • Check interconnect cable: Open the indoor and outdoor terminal covers and verify that the communication and power terminals (often labeled 1-2-3 or L-N-S) are wired identically at both ends.
  • Tighten terminals: Ensure all screws are tight and that no copper is exposed outside the terminals. Look for signs of overheating or melted insulation.
  • Inspect cable: Follow the cable run and check for physical damage, rodent chewing, or water ingress at junction boxes.
  • Polarity and grounding: Make sure line and neutral are not reversed and that the system is properly grounded as per Westinghouse installation instructions.
  • Reset system: After correcting any wiring issues, power both units off for 5–10 minutes, then restore power and attempt to start the system.
  • PCB diagnosis: If wiring and power are correct but E6 persists, either the indoor or outdoor PCB communication circuit may be defective. Swapping boards or advanced diagnostics should be done by a professional.

Warning: Miswiring can damage control boards. If you are unsure about electrical wiring, hire a licensed electrician or HVAC technician.

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Repair Difficulty

Hard 4/5

Required Part

Indoor-Outdoor Communication Cable
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