Rheem R802VA07542117MSA Error Code T117_F: Detect RPM Motor Failure

What Does Code T117_F Mean?

Your Rheem R802VA07542117MSA uses a variable-speed, constant-CFM/PWM blower. The Bluetooth Communicating IFC sends the ECM (electronically commutated motor) a target speed and continuously reads back the RPM the motor actually reports. Code T117_F is set when that feedback RPM does not match the commanded value closely enough — the motor is running, but at the wrong speed. This is different from a motor that cannot run at all.

The "T" prefix marks this as a troubleshooting-level fault, meaning the board observed the RPM mismatch but has not latched a lockout. It still matters, because on a constant-CFM design the whole point of the variable-speed motor is to deliver the exact airflow the furnace was engineered for. When the motor drifts off its commanded RPM, the furnace can move too little or too much air, which affects comfort, efficiency, and the thermal load on the heat exchanger during a burn.

The most common causes are motor bearing wear that makes the speed unstable, a failing ECM control module that cannot hold the commanded RPM, or a dirty or unbalanced blower wheel that loads the motor unevenly; a marginal wiring connection between the control board and the motor can also produce it. Because the ECM's control electronics are bolted to the motor body, telling whether the winding or the module is at fault takes a technician's testing. T117_F is the troubleshooting-level counterpart of code A117_F, which is the persistent, alarm-level version of the same RPM mismatch. It should not be confused with code A061_F, where the motor cannot run at all rather than merely running at the wrong speed.

What You'll Notice

• Airflow at the registers feels weaker or stronger than normal, or noticeably uneven from cycle to cycle
• The blower may surge, hunt, or change speed audibly during a run
• Heating or cooling feels less effective even though the burners or compressor are working
• The alphanumeric LED blinks out "T117_F" digit by digit with a pause between digits
• You may hear bearing noise, rumbling, or vibration from the blower

Common Causes

How This Is Diagnosed

Because T117_F involves the ECM blower motor, this is a technician diagnosis and the details here are informational. A technician confirms the board is commanding a valid speed and reading the RPM feedback, then works through the mechanical and electrical causes: they check whether the blower wheel is dirty or unbalanced enough to load the motor, feel and listen for worn bearings, inspect the harness and connectors between the control board and the motor for a marginal connection, and test the motor winding and the attached ECM control module separately. Because the electronics are integral to the ECM motor, isolating the winding from the module determines which part is replaced. Catching it at the troubleshooting stage matters because ongoing RPM instability can escalate to the alarm-level A117_F or a complete no-run failure.

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 clearly weak, excessive, or surging during a run
• The blower makes bearing noise, rumbling, or unusual vibration
• T117_F keeps reappearing across multiple cycles
• The fault escalates to the alarm-level A117_F or the no-run lockout A061_F
• Any blower motor, ECM module, blower-wheel, or motor-wiring service is needed

✓ Verified against manufacturer service manual — March 2026