E3 error appears during preheat or pressure build; cooker stops heating and may beep continuously.

Safety first: Unplug the cooker and allow it to cool fully. Do not add water to a hot dry pot; this can warp the pot and cause steam burns.

• 1. Check inner pot seating: Remove the pot, clean the bottom, and inspect the heating plate for debris or dents. Reseat the pot, ensuring it sits flat and rotates freely on the central sensor post (if present).
• 2. Clean burned-on residue: If there is scorched food on the bottom of the pot or heating plate, clean both thoroughly. Use a non-abrasive cleaner on the pot and a soft cloth on the plate. Do not scratch the plate surface.
• 3. Avoid dry cooking: Verify you are using enough liquid per the PowerXL manual. Running the cooker with insufficient liquid can trigger E3 due to rapid overheating.
• 4. Inspect thermal fuse/thermostat (advanced): From the underside, locate the thermal fuse or bimetal thermostat attached to the heating plate assembly. Check for discoloration or signs of overheating. A blown thermal fuse will show open circuit on a multimeter and must be replaced with the same temperature and current rating.
• 5. Replace warped inner pot: If the inner pot rocks, wobbles, or has a visibly bulged bottom, replace it. Poor contact can cause hot spots and E3 errors.
• 6. Test with water only: After cleaning and any part replacement, test the cooker with 2–3 cups of water on a standard pressure or sauté setting to confirm normal operation.