Goodman GMVC960803BN Error Code EE6: Low Flame Signal

What Does Code EE6 Mean?

The integrated control module on this GMVC96 furnace proves the burner flame by reading a small rectified current — measured in micro-amps — through the flame sensor rod. EE6 is posted when that signal, though still strong enough to keep the furnace operating, has fallen below the level the board considers healthy. Because heat is still being delivered, the control leaves the furnace running and simply flags EE6 on the 7-segment display as a heads-up.

On this model a low flame signal is most commonly caused by a flame sensor that has become coated or oxidized, which insulates the rod and chokes the micro-amp current. It can also come from a sensor that is mispositioned in the burner flame, or from a "lazy" burner flame caused by improper gas pressure or restricted combustion air, so the rod simply isn't sitting in enough clean flame.

EE6 matters mostly because of where it leads. The same downward-drifting signal that triggers EE6 is the precursor to EE0, the safety lockout the board declares after three failed ignition retries. In other words, EE6 is the early-warning stage and EE0 is the failure stage of the same problem: while EE6 is showing, the furnace still runs, but if the signal keeps degrading the control will eventually be unable to prove flame and lock out. Cleaning or repositioning the flame sensor and correcting gas pressure or combustion air is routine work a technician performs; this code is marked non-DIY because that service happens at the live burner and gas train.

What You'll Notice

• The 7-segment diagnostic display shows EE6 while the furnace continues to heat the home normally
• Heat is still delivered, so you may not notice any performance change at first
• Occasional short-cycling or brief flame dropouts may begin to appear over time
• The code may come and go between heating cycles
• In some cases the furnace later escalates to an EE0 lockout if the weak signal is left unaddressed

Common Causes

How This Is Diagnosed

Because the furnace is still operating, a technician can watch a live heat cycle and measure the actual flame-sense micro-amp current to confirm it is below the healthy range. The first thing checked is the flame sensor itself — whether the rod is coated or oxidized and whether it is correctly positioned so it sits in the burner flame.

If the sensor is clean and well-placed but the signal is still low, the technician looks upstream at the flame quality: comparing manifold gas pressure to the furnace rating plate and inspecting the inlet-air/combustion-air piping for blockage or improper length, since a lazy or starved flame produces a weak rectification signal.

When to Call a Professional

This code involves components that are not homeowner-serviceable, so have a licensed HVAC technician diagnose and repair it. Keep in mind:

• EE6 keeps reappearing across heating cycles
• The furnace begins short-cycling or the flame appears to drop out briefly during a cycle
• EE6 progresses to an EE0 lockout, meaning the furnace failed to prove flame three times
• You notice the burner flame looks weak, yellow, or lazy rather than crisp and blue
• The code appears alongside signs of restricted intake or exhaust venting

✓ Verified against manufacturer service manual — March 2026