Safety first: Turn OFF power at the breaker before inspecting wiring. Do not disassemble the sealed motor housing.

Step 1 – Check for overloading: Confirm you are not feeding large quantities of hard or fibrous waste. Test the unit with only a small amount of soft food waste and cold water.
Step 2 – Inspect wiring and cord: Verify the power cord and plug are in good condition and fully seated. For hardwired units, check the junction box for tight wire connections.
Step 3 – Verify circuit capacity: Ensure the disposal is on a dedicated 15A or 20A circuit as recommended by Waste King. Avoid running high-draw appliances on the same circuit.
Step 4 – Observe operation: If the disposal continues to surge, slow, or stall with light loads, the internal motor components (brushes, windings, or capacitor) are likely failing. These parts are not typically user-serviceable.
Step 5 – Replace unit if needed: Due to the sealed design of Waste King motors, replacement of the entire disposal is usually required when E6 persists.

Smart controller shows E6; disposal runs but makes intermittent grinding speed changes or stalls briefly under light load.

Possible Causes