Rheem R802VA07542117MSA Error Code A011_F: Failed Ignition

What Does Code A011_F Mean?

Every time your two-stage, variable-speed R802VA07542117MSA calls for heat, the Bluetooth Communicating IFC (Integrated Furnace Control) runs the same fixed startup sequence: the inducer proves draft on the pressure switches, the hot surface igniter glows, the gas valve opens, and the flame sensor rod watches for a flame signal within the trial-for-ignition window. If the sensor never confirms a flame, the control shuts the gas valve and repeats the whole sequence. Code A011_F is logged after this cycle has failed four consecutive times without a stable flame ever being detected at the burners.

The most common reason is a dirty or oxidized flame sensor rod. The sensor proves flame by passing a very small electrical current through the flame to ground, so even a thin layer of oxide or soot can block that current and read as "no flame" even when the burner actually lit. A closed or restricted gas supply valve is the other cause a homeowner can safely check, because the igniter and inducer will run through their normal motions with no gas reaching the burners at all. A cracked or worn-out hot surface igniter, or a gas valve that isn't opening, are harder to rule out and call for a technician's meter and combustion tools.

A011_F is fundamentally different from codes T013_F and A013_F on this same board. Those two are only logged after a flame was successfully established and then dropped out during the burn. A011_F means a flame was never confirmed in the first place, not that an existing flame was lost.

When A011_F fires, the IFC does not simply wait for the next thermostat call. It immediately imposes a one-hour safety lockout, reported as code A113_F, during which the furnace refuses to relight regardless of what the thermostat asks for. That lockout is a safety timer stacked on top of the same event, not a separate failure. If the flame-sensing or gas-supply problem behind A011_F is left uncorrected, the furnace will keep dropping back into A113_F lockouts each time four trials are used up.

What You'll Notice

• The inducer motor and igniter cycle repeatedly but no burners ever light
• The alphanumeric LED blinks "A011_F" one digit at a time with a roughly three-second pause between digits
• The thermostat calls for heat and the blower may run briefly, but no warm air is ever delivered
• You may hear the gas valve click open and shut across several attempts with no whoosh of ignition
• After the failed attempts the furnace goes quiet and ignores the thermostat for about an hour

Common Causes

How This Is Diagnosed

Because A011_F only tells you flame was never confirmed, the quickest homeowner check is to make sure the manual gas shutoff valve is fully open, then look at the flame sensor rod for a dull gray or blackened coating, since a coated rod is the most common reason flame goes undetected even when the burner briefly lit. If the sensor is already clean and the gas is definitely on, the cause is more likely a failing igniter or a gas valve that is not opening, both of which need a technician's meter and combustion instruments to confirm.

How to Fix It: Clean the Flame Sensor and Confirm Gas Supply

What You'll Need

• Scotch-Brite pad
• 1/4-inch nut driver or screwdriver
• Flashlight
• Clean, dry cloth

Steps

1. Shut off power and gas before opening the furnace Turn off electrical power to the furnace at the breaker or the switch on or near the unit, and turn the manual gas shutoff valve to the OFF position. If you smell gas, leave immediately and call your gas company.
2. Open the burner compartment and find the flame sensor Remove the furnace's lower access panel to reach the burner compartment. The flame sensor is the thin metal rod with a white porcelain base mounted near the burner farthest from the igniter, secured with a single screw.
3. Clean the flame sensor rod Gently clean the flame sensor rod with a Scotch-Brite pad until the metal is dull-bright. Rheem's guide lists fine steel wool as the cleaning material, but many HVAC technicians prefer a Scotch-Brite pad because it leaves no abrasive residue on the rod. Do not clean or scratch the white porcelain base, and take care not to bend the rod.
4. Confirm the gas supply is on Check that the manual gas shutoff valve near the furnace is turned fully to the ON position (handle in line with the pipe) and that no upstream valve in the gas line has been closed.
5. Restore power and test a heat cycle Reinstall the flame sensor and access panel, turn the gas valve back on, and restore electrical power. Set the thermostat to call for heat and watch the LED, which should stop reporting A011_F while the burner ignites and stays lit through a full cycle.

When to Call a Professional

Contact a licensed HVAC technician if:

• The furnace still runs all four ignition trials and fails after the flame sensor has been cleaned
• The igniter never glows visibly during an ignition attempt
• You hear the gas valve click but never see or hear a flame at the burners
• The A113_F one-hour lockout keeps returning even after confirming the gas supply is on
• You smell gas at any point near the furnace or gas piping

✓ Verified against manufacturer service manual — March 2026