Goodman Furnace Code EE3
Warning
High limit (primary limit) circuit is open - the furnace overheated. The blower keeps running to cool it down. Nearly always an airflow restriction.
Manual wording: “Primary limit circuit open.”
Documented for: Goodman GMVC96, GCVC96, GMVM97, GCVM97, GM9S80, GC9S80, GR9S80, GD9S80, GR9T96, GD9T96 (seven-segment display controls)
Likely causes, most common first
- Insufficient conditioned air over the heat exchanger
- Blocked filters, restrictive ductwork
- Improper circulator blower speed or failed circulator blower motor
- Loose or improperly connected wiring in high limit circuit
What you can safely check yourself
- Check the air filter and replace it if dirty
- Open all supply registers and clear anything blocking them
- Make sure the return air grille is not blocked
When to call a technician
If the code comes back with a clean filter, a technician needs to find why the furnace is overheating. Never jumper a limit switch.
A Goodman furnace throwing this code repeatedly has a reason — clearing the code without fixing the cause just hides it.
Sources
- *R9T96 & *D9T96 Two-Stage Gas Furnaces (Type FSP Category IV) - IOG-2038E (Daikin Comfort Technologies (Goodman brand), Goodman GR9T96, GD9T96 two-stage 96% AFUE gas furnaces (current R-32 era production)) · checked 2026-08-25
- Installation Instructions for *CVC96* & *MVC96* Two-Stage Gas Furnace - IOG-2015L (Daikin Comfort Technologies (Goodman brand), Goodman GMVC96, GCVC96 two-stage variable-speed 96% AFUE gas furnaces) · checked 2026-08-25
- Installation Instructions for *R9S80 & *D9S80* Gas Furnace, Category I - IOG-2035C (Daikin Comfort Technologies (Goodman brand), Goodman GR9S80, GD9S80 single-stage 80% AFUE gas furnaces (current production)) · checked 2026-08-25