Lennox furnace error code 201 (E201): blower motor communication failure

Furnace control display or LED

E201

“Indoor blower communication failure - Unable to communicate with blower motor.”

SL280*V, SL280*NV, SL297*NV, SLP98*V, SLP99*V, EL296*V, EL297*V, G71MPP · 508559-01 p. 29; 508561-01 p. 36; 508585-02 p. 49; 506610-01 p. 62; 508589-02 p. 45; 1126-L5 p. 16; 508583-01 p. 52; 506509-01 p. 65
Technician

What it means

E201 is a code on the furnace’s seven-segment display: the integrated control has lost communication with the indoor blower motor. In the SL297UHNVK table the action column calls it an indoor blower communication failure, including power outage. It names two possible causes, a motor that is not powered and loose wiring, says the problem may be on the control side or the motor side, and says the code clears after the fault recovers 508585-02, p. 49. The SLP99DFVK table’s action column says only “Indoor blower communication failure including power outage.” 508589-02, p. 45.

E201 is printed only in the tables of the series listed above. The E-code tables of the ML180, ML193, ML196, ML296 and ML297, and of the EL180, EL195, EL196, EL280 and EL296*E, have no E201 for example 508569-01, pp. 44–46; 508907-01, pp. 45–48.

Lennox’s thermostat alert table also has a 201: “ID Blower Motor Fault”, priority Service Soon / Service Urgent. Its description reads close to E201: lost communication with the indoor blower motor; possible causes include power outage, brown-out, motor not powered and loose wiring; the problem may be on the control side or the motor side. It clears automatically after communication is restored 100017, p. 19. Lennox’s documents do not say that thermostat alert 201 and display code E201 report the same event. How the two kinds of code differ: reading a Lennox code.

Check these first

Lennox’s owner’s manuals have no code table and give no steps for E201 or for alert 201. What they give is a general list for a unit that will not operate, to work through before calling a Lennox service technician. In the SLP99DFVK manual the order is:

Check that the electrical disconnect switches are ON 508590-01, p. 5.
Check the room thermostat for proper setting 508590-01, p. 5.
Replace any blown fuses or reset circuit breakers 508590-01, p. 5.
Check that the gas valve is ON 508590-01, p. 5. Its switch is behind the outer access panel; the manual’s gas valve steps set the thermostat to the lowest setting and turn off all electrical power to the unit before that panel comes off, and the switch is moved by hand only, never with tools 508590-01, p. 4.
Check that the air filter is not plugged, which would limit air flow 508590-01, p. 5. The SLP99DFVK manual says its filters are installed external to the unit, should be inspected monthly, and that a filter must be in place when the unit is operating 508590-01, p. 4. Before any service or maintenance, it says to turn the electrical power to the unit OFF at the disconnect switch 508590-01, p. 2.
Check that gas is turned on at the meter 508590-01, p. 5.
Check that the manual main shut-off valve is open 508590-01, p. 5.

Then record the model and serial number from the nameplate and call 508590-01, p. 5. The list is not tied to any code. More on it, and on how other Lennox manuals word it: owner checks before a service call.

The manual’s Maintenance section says the maintenance procedures should only be conducted by a licensed professional service technician, and not to attempt to service the unit in any way 508590-01, p. 5.

When to call a licensed technician

Finding why the control cannot communicate with the motor: power to the motor, the wiring between the control and the motor, and whether the fault is on the control side or the motor side 508585-02, p. 49; 1126-L5, p. 16.
Any work inside the furnace 508590-01, p. 5.
The furnace still will not run after the checklist 508590-01, p. 5.
E201 or alert 201 keeps coming back after it clears. The owner’s manuals give no step for that; these pages send it to the technician.

Notes for different models

Series or document	Code	Wording	Source
SL280V, SL280NV, SL297NV, EL296V, EL297*V	E201	“Indoor blower communication failure - Unable to communicate with blower motor.” The action names a motor not powered and loose wiring.	508585-02, p. 49; 1126-L5, p. 16; 508583-01, p. 52
SLP98V, SLP99V, G71MPP	E201	Same wording. The action is only “Indoor blower communication failure including power outage.”	506610-01, p. 62; 508589-02, p. 45; 506509-01, p. 65
SL280UHVK and EL297UHVK, compact tables	E201	“UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH CIRCULAR MOTOR” (as printed), in the group “SOFT LOCKOUT FAULTS (60 MINUTES)”	508553-01, p. 37; 508581-01, p. 52
Lennox thermostat alert table	201	“ID Blower Motor Fault”, Service Soon / Service Urgent	100017, p. 19

The detailed tables say E201 clears after the fault recovers 508585-02, p. 49. The SL280UHVK and EL297UHVK installation instructions have only the compact table, with no action column, and list E201 among the 60-minute soft lockout faults 508553-01, pp. 36–37; 508581-01, pp. 51–52.