Goodman Furnace EE5: 5 Consecutive Ignition Lockouts

Quick Answer

Goodman EE5 is the end of the ignition failure lockout chain: F01 then EE3 and now EE5 after five consecutive failed ignition attempts. At this point the control board has determined the ignition system has a persistent fault and stops all further attempts. The root cause is identical to F01 and EE3 - failed ignitor, fouled flame sensor, or gas supply problem.

When I see an EE5 on a Goodman board, it usually means the homeowner has been fighting an intermittent ignition issue for a few days before this thing finally gave up. This code is the furnace throwing in the towel after five straight failed attempts to light. Unlike earlier codes in the sequence, this is a hard lockout, and you can't just flip the breaker to make it go away. You have to do a specific 3-second manual reset, and honestly, if you don't fix the root cause first, it'll be back in EE5 before the night's over.

GoodmanFurnaceSeverity: highDifficulty: intermediate72% DIY Success

Time to Fix

30–90 min

Difficulty

intermediate

Parts Cost

$10 – $50

Tools Needed

Phillips #2 screwdriver, Flathead screwdriver

What Does the EE5 Code Mean?

Think of EE5 as the furnace saying enough is enough. By the time a unit hits this stage, the ignitor is often physically cracked or the flame sensor is so coated in carbon it can't see the fire anymore. I replaced three ignitors last week alone, all during the cold snap, all the same story. Before you touch that reset button, you need to figure out exactly where the ignition sequence is breaking down, because just resetting it without fixing anything is just buying yourself another hour of cold house.

Most Likely Causes

Based on aggregated repair data, here is the probability breakdown for this error code:

Cracked or open-circuit hot surface ignitor40%

Severely fouled flame sensor not passing microamps24%

Gas valve not opening on demand22%

Gas supply interruption or pressure problem14%

Symptoms You May Notice

The display is sitting there with EE5 lit up and the furnace is completely dead, no blower noise, no clicking, zero attempt at ignition.
You cranked the thermostat up an hour ago and the house is still getting colder, no air coming from any vents anywhere in the house.
Think back a few days. The furnace has probably been acting strange, starting and then shutting down after a minute or so, before it finally gave up entirely and locked out.
Look through the sight glass during a startup attempt and the ignitor is just sitting there cold and dark when it should be glowing bright orange within 15 seconds of the call for heat.
You might catch a faint gas smell near the cabinet on those failed attempts, which tells you the valve was at least trying to open before the board killed the sequence.

Can you reset a Goodman furnace to clear the EE5 code?

EE5 on a Goodman won't clear with just a breaker flip. You need to hold the furnace power switch in the off position for a full 3 seconds, then flip it back on. The board has to see that deliberate hold to wipe the lockout memory. Don't attempt the reset until you've physically inspected the ignitor and cleaned or replaced the flame sensor. If the underlying problem isn't fixed, the board will land right back on EE5 on the very next ignition attempt.

Tools Required for Diagnosis

Phillips #2 screwdriverFlathead screwdriverDigital multimeterFine steel wool (0000 grade)Flashlight or headlamp1/4-inch nut driver (for flame sensor screw)

Diagnostic Checklist

Follow these steps in order. We start with the easiest external fixes before opening up the machine.

ComponentComponent Under Test

Expected Range40–90 ohms

ConditionIf Open (OL) or infinite, replace component.

Replacement Parts

If your diagnostic testing proves the component has failed, you will need a replacement. We recommend OEM parts over aftermarket for water-handling components.

Part Name	OEM Number	Estimated Price
Hot Surface IgnitorB1401015S · $25–$50	B1401015S	$25 – $50
Flame Sensor RodB11726-06 · $10–$20	B11726-06	$10 – $20

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does a regular breaker reset not clear EE5 on a Goodman furnace?

Goodman designed these boards to be intentionally stubborn, and honestly it makes sense. If a simple power cut cleared the code, a homeowner could just keep resetting a dangerous situation indefinitely without ever fixing the actual problem. The 3-second hold is a deliberate acknowledgment. Think of it as the board asking you to confirm that a human actually looked at something before it agrees to try again. It's a safety feature, not a quirk.

How many times can I reset EE5 before I damage the furnace?

You won't blow anything up, but you're shortening the life of your ignitor every single time. Every time that element glows without a flame to dissipate the heat, it takes more abuse. And here's a thing a lot of people don't think about, unburned gas can accumulate in the heat exchanger on those failed attempts, and when it finally does ignite you get a loud bang. Not ideal for a heat exchanger that might already have small stress cracks. Fix the root cause. Don't play the reset game.

Is EE5 worse than EE3 on a Goodman furnace?

It's just the final step of the same problem sequence. EE3 fires after three consecutive failures, EE5 after five. The diagnostic process for the ignitor and gas system is identical for both codes. The main difference is that EE5 requires the specific 3-second manual reset to clear, whereas EE3 might clear itself eventually. By the time you're at EE5, the board has decided it's done trying until a human physically intervenes.

How do I know if my hot surface ignitor is cracked without a multimeter?

Honestly, just get a multimeter. They're like $20 at any hardware store and you'll use it constantly once you have one. But if you really can't, pull the ignitor out and hold it up to a flashlight or bright light source. Look at that grayish-white rectangular element. A crack often shows up as a thin dark line across the surface. Sometimes it's obvious. Sometimes it's a hairline that's nearly invisible. The multimeter is way more reliable because a cracked ignitor will show OL or over 100 ohms even if you can't see the crack at all.

What does a Goodman EE5 repair usually cost if I call a tech?

If it's a bad ignitor, you're probably looking at $150 to $250 parts and labor depending on your market. The ignitor itself is usually $20 to $40. If it's just a dirty flame sensor, an honest tech should charge you one service call hour for the cleaning, call it $100 to $150 total. Gas valve replacement is where it gets expensive, $300 to $500 because the part alone runs $100 to $200 and the labor is more involved. If someone's quoting you over $600 for an EE5 diagnosis before they've even looked at it, get a second opinion.

Related Goodman Furnace Error Codes

Code: HUBGoodman Furnace Error Codes: LED Flash Code Guide for GMVC and GMSS Series Code: F01Goodman Furnace F01 Error Code: Ignition Failure After 3 Attempts Code: EE3Goodman Furnace EE3 Error Code: 3 Consecutive Ignition Lockouts Code: RESETHow to Reset a Goodman Furnace and Clear Error Codes

Models Known to Experience EE5 Errors

This repair applies to most Goodman furnaces with this error code. Common model numbers include:

GMVC96, GMSS92, GCVC96, AMVC96, ASST96, GMEC96, GMSS80, GCSS96, AMSS96

Written by

Raj Patel

HVAC & Water Systems Specialist · 15 years experience

Last verified for technical accuracy on March 14, 2026