DIY HVAC Tools

Goodman mini split error code E5

Compressor motor lock or overload.

  • TypeProtection
  • SystemCompressor / inverter
  • Can I fix it?Technician job

What E5 means on a Goodman

The compressor could not turn, or its overload protector opened.

On this platform, E5 is a protection: the system stopped or throttled itself to prevent damage; many clear on their own once conditions return to normal.

Common causes

  • A seized or failing compressor.
  • A blocked outdoor coil or failed fan overheating it.
  • Liquid refrigerant flooding after sitting cold.
  • Low supply voltage.

How to fix it yourself

Do the reset and the visual checks, but the underlying repair needs a technician with a meter and the service manual.

  1. Reset the system: switch the breaker (or the outdoor disconnect) off, wait a full five minutes so the boards fully discharge, then switch it back on and restart from the remote.
  2. Look at the outdoor unit: clear leaves, cottonwood fluff, snow or ice from the coil and make sure the fan can spin freely and nothing is stacked against the cabinet.
  3. If you own a multimeter and are comfortable using it, measure the supply voltage at the outdoor unit's L1 and L2 terminals with the unit running. A 230 V system should read roughly 208 to 253 VAC.
  4. Do not keep retrying after two failed starts.

Switch off power at the breaker before opening either unit. Capacitors in the outdoor unit hold a charge for several minutes after power is cut.

When to call a technician

Technician diagnosis of the compressor and drive.

Which Goodman units show E5

This page applies to Goodman e-Series wall-mount (FTXNG indoor / RXNG outdoor) units. Goodman's own documentation lists E5 as "Compressor motor lock or overload", the same definition used across the Daikin it is built on. If your unit shows a code with a different shape (for example a four-character code, or a plain number), it is from a different table; use the lookup with your exact code.

Where Goodman shows this code

Most Daikin wall units do not show the code on the unit; the operation lamp blinks. To read the code, point the remote at the unit, hold CANCEL (or Timer Cancel) for about 5 seconds until 00 shows, then press CANCEL repeatedly. Each press shows a code; when the unit gives a long continuous beep instead of two short beeps, the code on the remote is the stored fault. Units with a wired controller show the code directly. A and C codes are indoor-unit faults, E, F, H, J, L and P codes are outdoor-unit faults and protections, and U codes are system-level problems such as communication, power supply and refrigerant shortage.

Other Goodman codes

Same part of the system as E5:

E6Compressor start failureF3Discharge pipe temperature too highH6Compressor position detection fault (start-up failure)L4Inverter heat sink (radiation fin) overheatingL5Inverter instantaneous over-current (DC output)L8Electronic thermal overload (compressor over-current)L9Stall prevention (compressor start-up failure)
00No fault stored (normal)A1Indoor unit control board (PCB) failureA3Drain water level abnormal (float switch)A5Freeze-up protection (cooling) or high-pressure control (heating)A6Indoor fan motor fault (locked or abnormal)A9Indoor electronic expansion valve (EEV) faultC4Indoor heat exchanger (liquid pipe) temperature sensor fault (open or short circuit)C5Indoor heat exchanger (gas pipe) temperature sensor fault (open or short circuit)

All Goodman error codes

E5 on other brands

The same characters do not always mean the same thing. Check the brand on your unit.

  • Pioneer E5 Evaporator coil temperature sensor (T2) open or short circuit / Over-voltage or under-voltage protection (outdoor display)
  • Blueridge E5 Over-current protection / Evaporator coil temperature sensor (T2) open or short circuit
  • Gree E5 Over-current protection
  • Zone Air E5 Model configuration or mismatch error
  • Daikin E5 Compressor motor lock or overload
  • Mitsubishi Electric E5 Indoor unit signal transmitting error (to remote controller)
  • Carrier E5 Evaporator coil temperature sensor (T2) open or short circuit
  • Trane E5 Model configuration or mismatch error / Indoor unit signal transmitting error (to remote controller)
  • Heil E5 Evaporator coil temperature sensor (T2) open or short circuit / Over-current protection
  • ACiQ E5 Evaporator coil temperature sensor (T2) open or short circuit / Model configuration or mismatch error

Questions people ask

Can I reset a Goodman E5 code myself?

Yes. Turn the system off at the breaker for five minutes, then restart it. If E5 comes back, the fault is real and needs the checks above.

Is it safe to keep running a Goodman showing E5?

Not repeatedly. A protection code means the unit stopped itself to prevent damage, and resetting it over and over can turn a cheap repair into a compressor failure. Reset once, check the basics, and stop if it returns.

What will a technician check for E5?

Technician diagnosis of the compressor and drive. Ask for the measurements, not just a parts quote.

Sources

  • Goodman e-Series product documentation (FTXNG / RXNG models)
  • Daikin residential (RA) service manuals (error code tables)

Updated September 2026. Codes and definitions vary by model year. If your manual disagrees with this page, your manual wins. Send a correction.