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Goodman gas furnace code E3: Overheat

Gas furnace, Canada and United States

This code means one of two things, depending on your model. Find your model family below, then read the section for it. The model number is on the rating label on the side of the unit.

Find your model family

If you haveIt means
GMVC8 / GCVC8 / AMVC8 / ACVC8, GMVC96 / GCVC96 / AMVC96 / ACVC96 Limit circuit open (primary, auxiliary or rollout limit)
GMVM96 / GCVM96 / AMVM96 / ACVM96, GMVM97 / GCVM97 / AMVM97 / ACVM97 Primary limit switch open

Limit circuit open (primary, auxiliary or rollout limit)

On GMVC8 / GCVC8 / AMVC8 / ACVC8, GMVC96 / GCVC96 / AMVC96 / ACVC96.

A limit circuit is open, either the primary or auxiliary limit, or the rollout limit. The circulator blower runs continuously and the furnace does not heat.

This needs a licensed gas technician. There are a few safe checks you can do first, marked below. Anything inside the unit is a job for a professional.

This involves the flue or exhaust. A blocked or leaking flue can let carbon monoxide into the home.

What causes it

  1. Not enough air across the heat exchanger because of blocked filters, restrictive ductwork, the wrong blower speed or a failed blower motor.

    Check and replace the furnace air filterYou can do this

    1. Turn off the electrical power to the furnace before you take the filter out.
      Never run the furnace without a filter in place.
    2. Find the filter. It sits outside the furnace cabinet, in a return air grille, a filter rack on the side of the furnace, or the duct next to it. If you cannot find or reach it, ask your installer.
    3. Replace a dirty disposable filter with one of the same size that meets UL900 or CAN/ULC-S111. Wash and dry a permanent filter the way its maker describes.
    4. Fit the filter so the air flows through it in the same direction as before, then turn the power back on.
    5. Check the filter at least once a month and clean or replace it when it is dirty. A dirty filter is the most common cause of a furnace not working properly.

    Clear blocked supply and return grillesYou can do this

    1. Go round the house and look at every supply register and return air grille.
    2. Move furniture, curtains, clothes, rugs or anything else that covers or blocks them.

    Book a licensed gas technician

  2. Flame rollout from misaligned burners, a blocked flue or air inlet pipe, or a failed inducer.

    Book a licensed gas technician

  3. Loose or wrongly connected wiring.

    Book a licensed gas technician

How to read this code on your unit

The code shows on the two-character display on the furnace control board, which you can see through the sight glass on the blower compartment. On means normal operation. A blank display means the board has no power or has failed. A ComfortNet thermostat, if fitted, shows the same codes with a short message and uses EE for an internal fault.

Booking a licensed gas technician

Book a licensed gas technicianlicensed gas technician

  1. Turn the unit off and leave the covers on. Gas components must only be serviced by a licensed technician.
  2. Note the code, how often it appears, and the model and serial numbers from the rating label.
  3. Book a licensed gas technician and give them those details.

Models that show this code

52 models in 2 ranges
RangeModels
GMVC8 / GCVC8 / AMVC8 / ACVC8GMVC80603BN, GMVC80603BX, GMVC80604BN, GMVC80604BX, GMVC80803BN, GMVC80803BX, GMVC80804CN, GMVC80804CX, GMVC80805CN, GMVC80805CX, GMVC80805DN, GMVC80805DX, GMVC81005CN, GMVC81005CX, AMVC80603BN, AMVC80603BX, AMVC80604BN, AMVC80604BX, AMVC80803BN, AMVC80803BX, AMVC80804CN, AMVC80804CX, AMVC80805CN, AMVC80805CX, AMVC80805DN, AMVC80805DX, AMVC81005CN, AMVC81005CX
GMVC96 / GCVC96 / AMVC96 / ACVC96GMVC960403BN, GMVC960603BN, GMVC960803BN, GMVC960804CN, GMVC961005CN, GMVC961005DN, GMVC961205DN, GCVC960403BN, GCVC960603BN, GCVC960804CN, GCVC961005CN, GCVC961205DN, AMVC960403BN, AMVC960603BN, AMVC960803BN, AMVC960804CN, AMVC961005CN, AMVC961005DN, AMVC961205DN, ACVC960403BN, ACVC960603BN, ACVC960804CN, ACVC961005CN, ACVC961205DN

Where this comes from

Checked against the manufacturer's manual on 13 October 2026.

Primary limit switch open

On GMVM96 / GCVM96 / AMVM96 / ACVM96, GMVM97 / GCVM97 / AMVM97 / ACVM97.

The primary limit switch circuit is open, for example because too little air is moving across the heat exchanger. The circulator blower runs continuously and the furnace does not heat.

This needs a licensed gas technician. There are a few safe checks you can do first, marked below. Anything inside the unit is a job for a professional.

What causes it

  1. Not enough air across the heat exchanger because of blocked filters, restrictive ductwork, the wrong blower speed or a failed blower motor.

    Check and replace the furnace air filterYou can do this

    1. Turn off the electrical power to the furnace before you take the filter out.
      Never run the furnace without a filter in place.
    2. Find the filter. It sits outside the furnace cabinet, in a return air grille, a filter rack on the side of the furnace, or the duct next to it. If you cannot find or reach it, ask your installer.
    3. Replace a dirty disposable filter with one of the same size that meets UL900 or CAN/ULC-S111. Wash and dry a permanent filter the way its maker describes.
    4. Fit the filter so the air flows through it in the same direction as before, then turn the power back on.
    5. Check the filter at least once a month and clean or replace it when it is dirty. A dirty filter is the most common cause of a furnace not working properly.

    Clear blocked supply and return grillesYou can do this

    1. Go round the house and look at every supply register and return air grille.
    2. Move furniture, curtains, clothes, rugs or anything else that covers or blocks them.

    Book a licensed gas technician

  2. Loose or wrongly connected wiring.

    Book a licensed gas technician

How to read this code on your unit

The code shows on the two-character display on the furnace control board, which you can see through the sight glass on the blower compartment. On means normal operation and a blank display means the board has no power. A ComfortNet thermostat, if fitted, shows the same codes with a short message and uses EE for an internal fault.

Booking a licensed gas technician

Book a licensed gas technicianlicensed gas technician

  1. Turn the unit off and leave the covers on. Gas components must only be serviced by a licensed technician.
  2. Note the code, how often it appears, and the model and serial numbers from the rating label.
  3. Book a licensed gas technician and give them those details.

Models that show this code

14 models in 2 ranges
RangeModels
GMVM96 / GCVM96 / AMVM96 / ACVM96GMVM960603BX, GMVM960805CX, GMVM961005DX, GMVM961155DX
GMVM97 / GCVM97 / AMVM97 / ACVM97GMVM970603BN, GMVM970803BN, GMVM970804CN, GMVM971005CN, GMVM971205DN, AMVM970603BN, AMVM970803BN, AMVM970804CN, AMVM971005CN, AMVM971205DN

Where this comes from

Checked against the manufacturer's manual on 13 October 2026.

Other Goodman gas furnace codes

Code Meaning What you can do
E1A Onboard return air sensor shorted Call a pro
E2 Low-stage pressure switch not closing Safe checks first, then a pro
E4 Flame sensed with no call for heat Safe checks first, then a pro
E5 Open fuse on the control board Call a pro
E11 Rollout switch open Call a pro
Ed Manual-reset rollout switch open Call a pro
EE3 Primary limit switch open Safe checks first, then a pro
EEd Auxiliary limit switch open (blower compartment) Safe checks first, then a pro
4 red flashes Overheat (depends on model) Safe checks first, then a pro
5 red flashes Sensor fault or overheat (depends on model) Safe checks first, then a pro
6 red flashes Overheat / flue or venting fault (depends on model) Depends on your model
11 red flashes Ignition failure or overheat (depends on model) Call a pro

See all overheat codes on gas furnaces across brands.

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