How House Works

Daikin E6: compressor start-up error or lock

By How House Works EditorialBased on Daikin manualsChecked against sources Updated

Daikin remote controller display

E6

“FAULTY COMPRESSOR START UP”

FTXM-WVJU9, FTXQ-ASBU9, FTX/FTXN-NMVJU, FTXS30/36 · FTXM-WVJU9 Operation Manual, p. 50; FTXQ-ASBU9 Operation Manual, p. 28; FTX/FTXN-NMVJU Operation Manual, p. 30; FTXS30/36 Operation Manual, p. 36
Technician

The FTXM-W/V service manual calls E6 “Compressor lock” and marks it “Displayed only when system-down occurs” (FTXM-W/V Service Manual SiUS042113EA, p. 96).

What it means

The owner’s tables describe E6 as a compressor start-up fault; the service manuals call it compressor lock FTXM-WVJU9 Operation Manual, p. 50; FTXM-W/V Service Manual SiUS042113EA, p. 96. In the FTXM-W/V manual the lock is detected from the current waveform when high-frequency voltage is applied to the motor. If E6 repeats, the system shuts down, and it resets after about 11 minutes of continuous running without any other error FTXM-W/V Service Manual SiUS042113EA, p. 116. The service table marks E6 “Displayed only when system-down occurs” FTXM-W/V Service Manual SiUS042113EA, p. 96.

Other manuals detect it differently. The FTK-B/FTX-B manual checks the compressor’s running condition through the position detection circuit FTK-B/FTX-B Service Manual DAMA-SM-23-006, p. 74. The FTXS-L manual stops the 09/12 class on overcurrent, with a reset after about 11 minutes of running, and uses the current waveform on the 15/18/24/30/36 class, with a reset after about 5 minutes FTXS-L Service Manual SiUS091133, p. 116.

E6 is not the only start-up code. H6 (“OPERATION HALT DUE TO FAULTY POSITION DETECTION SENSOR” in the owner’s tables) is a compressor start-up failure found through the position detection circuit FTXM-WVJU9 Operation Manual, p. 50; FTXM-W/V Service Manual SiUS042113EA, p. 128. The FTK-B/FTX-B manual sets H6 when the compressor fails to start in about 15 seconds after the run command FTK-B/FTX-B Service Manual DAMA-SM-23-006, p. 81.

A short wait is not E6. When the unit is turned on again soon after being turned off, or the mode is changed, it waits about 3 minutes to protect itself FTXM-WVJU9 Operation Manual, p. 45. The FTX/FTK-BXVJU poster calls this protection against frequent starting and says to wait 3 to 4 minutes FTX/FTK-BXVJU Operation Manual, p. 1, section 10.

Check these first

The owner’s manuals have no step written for E6 itself:

  1. Check that the OPERATION lamp blinks at about 0.5-second intervals and read the code, as described in the Daikin code guide FTXM-WVJU9 Operation Manual, p. 49; FTXQ-ASBU9 Operation Manual, p. 27.
  2. Turn off the power with the circuit breaker, then restart with the remote controller FTXM-WVJU9 Operation Manual, p. 46; FTXQ-ASBU9 Operation Manual, p. 24; FTX/FTXN-NMVJU Operation Manual, p. 27. If you stopped the unit yourself, the manual’s caution is to wait at least 5 minutes after stopping before turning off the power, or water may leak FTXM-WVJU9 Operation Manual, p. 4. After the breaker goes on, allow about 3 to 10 minutes before the unit runs FTXM-WVJU9 Operation Manual, p. 47.
  3. Watch the lamp. E6 is one of the “Other error codes” in the FTXM-WVJU9 and FTXQ-ASBU9 charts: if the lamp stays lit after the unit has run for a while, keep using it; if it blinks again, turn off the circuit breaker and call your dealer FTXM-WVJU9 Operation Manual, pp. 49–50; FTXQ-ASBU9 Operation Manual, pp. 27–28.

FTXS30/36 owners have the general steps for a flashing lamp, ending with a call to the service shop FTXS30/36 Operation Manual, p. 34. The FTX/FTK-BXVJU poster says to call your local dealer or serviceman if the fault persists FTX/FTK-BXVJU Operation Manual, p. 1, section 10.

When to call a licensed technician

The FTXM-W/V service manual names three causes for E6: a closed stop valve, a locked compressor, and a disconnected compressor harness FTXM-W/V Service Manual SiUS042113EA, p. 116. The FTK-B/FTX-B and FTX-W manuals list the same three FTK-B/FTX-B Service Manual DAMA-SM-23-006, p. 74; FTX-W Service Manual SiUS042228E, p. 87; the AXVJU and FTXS-L manuals list the locked compressor and the disconnected harness AXVJU Service Manual SM-5WM-Y-NA-B1, p. 42; FTXS-L Service Manual SiUS091133, p. 116.

E6 sits in the OUTDOOR UNIT group of the owner’s tables FTXM-WVJU9 Operation Manual, p. 50. The service manual warns that working on equipment connected to power may cause an electric shock and that the outdoor unit’s step-up capacitor must be discharged before repair work FTXM-W/V Service Manual SiUS042113EA, pp. 2–3. Any work on the refrigerant circuit is for a technician certified under EPA Section 608.

Notes for different models

  • FTX/FTK-BXVJU and the remote manuals call E6 “Compressor start-up error”; the FTK-B/FTX-B service table calls it “Compressor lock” FTX/FTK-BXVJU Operation Manual, p. 1, section 9; BRC52B Remote Controller Manual, p. 1-3; FTK-B/FTX-B Service Manual DAMA-SM-23-006, p. 57. On FTX/FTK-BXVJU units the poster’s E5 line also mentions compressor motor lock; see E5.
  • The AXVJU service manual calls it “COMPRESSOR LOCK/START-UP ABNORMALITY” AXVJU Service Manual SM-5WM-Y-NA-B1, p. 34.

Related Daikin codes

  • H6 “OPERATION HALT DUE TO FAULTY POSITION DETECTION SENSOR”
  • E5 “OL (COMPRESSOR OVERLOAD) STARTED”
  • L5 “OUTPUT OVERCURRENT”

See also

Other ductless mini-splits: Fujitsu, Mitsubishi Electric, MrCool

All Daikin codes

Daikin is a trademark of its owner. How House Works is not affiliated with or endorsed by Daikin.

Sources

  1. Daikin Comfort Technologies North America (document library). FTXM-WVJU9 Operation Manual. 3P686871-1A, page stamp 2022/05/30; covers FTXM09/12/18/24WVJU9. Listed under ATMOSPHERA in Daikin's document library.. Accessed Oct 13, 2026.
  2. Daikin Comfort Technologies North America (document library). FTXQ-ASBU9 Operation Manual. 3P741457-13J, English; page stamp 2024/11/19; covers FTXQ09ASBU9 and FTXQ12ASBU9. Listed under OTERRA 115V. The library list shows only the French and Spanish files of this manual; the English file is served at this address.. Accessed Oct 13, 2026.
  3. Daikin Comfort Technologies North America (document library). FTX/FTXN-NMVJU Operation Manual. 3P379751-4C, page stamp 11/6/2015; covers FTX09/12/15/18/24NMVJU and FTXN09/12/18/24NMVJU. Not in Daikin's current library list; the file is still served from daikincomfort.com.. Accessed Oct 13, 2026.
  4. Daikin Comfort Technologies North America (document library). FTXS30/36 Operation Manual. 3P228444-4K, page stamp 3/28/2013; covers FTXS30HVJU, FTXS36HVJU, FTXS30LVJU and FTXS36LVJU. Not in Daikin's current library list; the file is still served from daikincomfort.com.. Accessed Oct 13, 2026.
  5. Daikin Comfort Technologies North America (document library). FTX/FTK-BXVJU Operation Manual. 3P601789-2 E (cover label); no printed date; covers FTX, FTXB and FTK09/12/18/24BXVJU; R410A. A poster with one page per language (English, Spanish, French) and no page numbers: citations give PDF page 1 and the poster section. The same file is also listed under ENTRA.. Accessed Oct 13, 2026.
  6. Daikin Comfort Technologies North America (document library). BRC52B Remote Controller Manual. OM-BRC52B-0617(2)-DAIKIN USA, Part No. R08019046595B; print stamp 10/30/2017; covers remote controllers BRC52B61/62/63/64/65. Does not name the indoor units. The library lists it under ENTRA.. Accessed Oct 13, 2026.
  7. Daikin Comfort Technologies North America (document library). FTXM-W/V Service Manual SiUS042113EA. SiUS042113EA, revision of 01/2023; covers FTXM09/12/18/24WVJU9 and FTXM-VVJU with RXM outdoor units. Accessed Oct 13, 2026.
  8. Daikin Comfort Technologies North America (document library). FTK-B/FTX-B Service Manual DAMA-SM-23-006. DAMA-SM-23-006, first edition 04/2023; covers FTK09/12/18/24BXVJU and FTX09/12/18/24BXVJU with RK/RX-BXVJU outdoor units. Accessed Oct 13, 2026.
  9. Daikin Comfort Technologies North America (document library). AXVJU Service Manual SM-5WM-Y-NA-B1. SM-5WM-Y-NA-B1; no printed date (PDF created 2021-09-29); covers FTKB/FTKN/FTXB/FTXN09/12/18/24AXVJU. Listed under ENTRA.. Accessed Oct 13, 2026.
  10. Daikin Comfort Technologies North America (document library). FTX-W Service Manual SiUS042228E. SiUS042228E, first edition 10/2022; covers FTX30/36WVJU9 with RK30/36WMVJU9 or RX30/36WMVJU9. Listed under POLARA.. Accessed Oct 13, 2026.
  11. Daikin Comfort Technologies North America (document library). FTXS-L Service Manual SiUS091133. SiUS091133; no printed date (PDF created 2013-01-11); covers FTXS09–36LVJU and FDXS09/12LVJU. Not in Daikin's current library list; the file is still served from daikincomfort.com.. Accessed Oct 13, 2026.