Whirlpool split or portable air conditioner shows E6 and may not respond to commands or may not communicate between indoor and outdoor sections.

Safety: Turn off the circuit breaker or unplug the unit before opening any covers. Split systems may have separate disconnects for indoor and outdoor units.

Steps to troubleshoot E6:

• Power cycle: Turn off power at the breaker for 5–10 minutes, then restore power to both indoor and outdoor units to reset communication.
• Inspect communication wiring: For split systems, remove the indoor unit front cover and the outdoor unit service panel. Verify that the low-voltage communication wires are connected firmly to the correct terminals as per the wiring diagram.
• Check for damage: Look for rodent damage, pinched cables, or insulation rubbed off where the cable passes through walls or metal knockouts.
• Tighten terminals: Gently tighten terminal screws on both indoor and outdoor PCBs. Loose connections can cause intermittent E6 errors.
• Check polarity and wiring order: Ensure the wires are connected in the same order on both ends (e.g., 1-2-3 indoor to 1-2-3 outdoor) as specified by Whirlpool.

When to call a technician: If wiring is intact and secure but E6 persists, either the indoor or outdoor control board may be defective. Board-level diagnosis and replacement should be performed by a qualified technician.