Rheem R802VA07542117MSA Error Code A117_F: Detect RPM Motor Failure

What Does Code A117_F Mean?

Your Rheem R802VA07542117MSA uses a variable-speed, constant-CFM/PWM blower — an ECM (electronically commutated motor) that receives a target speed from the Bluetooth Communicating IFC and continuously reports its actual RPM back. Code A117_F is set when the motor is persistently unable to reach or hold that commanded speed. It is the alarm-level counterpart of the troubleshooting-level code T117_F: where T117_F flags an RPM mismatch the board observed, A117_F means the mismatch has been confirmed as an ongoing condition rather than a passing glitch.

Because this is a constant-CFM design, a motor that will not hold its commanded RPM cannot deliver the airflow the furnace was engineered for, whether it is heating, cooling, or running continuous fan. A persistent RPM failure therefore compromises the blower's ability to circulate air reliably, and the alarm classification reflects that the control no longer expects the condition to correct itself.

When the RPM feedback is continuously wrong, the ECM motor control module — the electronics bolted to the motor body — is the most common point of failure, though a failing motor winding or worn bearings can produce the same persistent symptom. Because the module is integral to the motor, separating a bad module from a bad winding requires a technician's testing. A117_F is distinct from code A061_F, where the motor cannot run at all: A117_F means the motor is spinning but not at the correct speed. If it is left unaddressed, a persistent RPM fault can progress toward a complete motor failure and, because the blower may not move adequate air, contribute to overheating conditions in the main-limit family (codes A022_F and A111_F).

What You'll Notice

• Persistently weak, excessive, or unstable airflow at the registers across multiple cycles
• The blower audibly surges or hunts for speed instead of running steadily
• Heating and cooling both underperform because the same blower serves both
• The alphanumeric LED blinks out "A117_F" digit by digit with a pause between digits
• Bearing noise, rumbling, or vibration from the blower that does not go away

Common Causes

How This Is Diagnosed

Because A117_F points at the ECM blower motor, this is a technician diagnosis and the details here are informational. A technician confirms the control is commanding a valid speed and reading RPM feedback, then tests the motor winding and the attached ECM control module separately to identify the failed component before ordering parts, since the electronics are integral to the motor. They also check the wiring harness and connectors between the control board and the motor for a marginal connection, and inspect the blower wheel and bearings for mechanical drag that could keep the motor off its commanded speed. Because the fault is already at the persistent alarm level, the expectation is a component replacement rather than a self-correcting glitch.

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:

• Airflow is persistently weak, excessive, or surging across multiple cycles
• The blower makes ongoing bearing noise, rumbling, or vibration
• A117_F remains active or keeps returning rather than clearing on its own
• Heating or cooling underperforms even though the burners or compressor work
• Any blower motor, ECM module, or motor-wiring replacement is required

✓ Verified against manufacturer service manual — March 2026