Anesthesia vaporizers

Datex-Ohmeda Tec 6 Plus: troubleshooting and error codes

The ServiceForge knowledge base holds 13 documented symptoms for the Datex-Ohmeda Tec 6 Plus, with 21 ranked causes, 23 diagnostic checks with test points and expected values, and 10 error codes. Each symptom below shows its causes and the first check; the rest is one connection away. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

Symptoms

No output alarm patient safety

Vaporizer has shut down and is no longer delivering vapor. Amber light illuminates.

Ranked causes

1. Agent level below 20 ml (common)
2. Vaporizer tilted for more than 10 seconds (occasional)
3. Power failure longer than 10 seconds (occasional)
4. Internal malfunction detected (rare)

First check

Verify agent level

Test point: Agent reservoir
Expected: Above 20 ml

2 more checks with pass and fail actions, 4 corrective actions, and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

Alarm and display test incomplete or non-functional patient safety

During power-on self-test, one or more of the five indicator lights, LCD agent level bars, or the auditory alarm does not flash or sound for approximately four seconds

Ranked causes

1. Defective indicator light or LED (unknown)
2. Defective LCD agent level indicator bars (unknown)
3. Defective auditory alarm (unknown)

First check

Verify all five indicator lights flash

Test point: Front display panel lights (DESFLURANE, NO OUTPUT, LOW AGENT, ALARM, BATTERY LOW, WARM-UP, OPERATIONAL)
Expected: All five lights flash simultaneously for approximately four seconds
Tools: Visual inspection

2 more checks with pass and fail actions, 3 corrective actions, and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

Low agent level in sump patient safety

LOW AGENT alarm occurs. Agent level in sump reservoir below 60 ml. If below 20 ml, NO OUTPUT alarm activated.

Ranked causes

1. Agent level below 60 ml in sump (common)
2. Critical agent depletion below 20 ml (occasional)

First check

Observe agent level in sump reservoir

Test point: sump viewing window
Expected: above 60 ml minimum; ideally full

2 corrective actions and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

Power failure or internal malfunction patient safety

Vaporizer goes to red alarm or does not reach operational status. Power failure detected or internal system malfunction.

Ranked causes

1. External power loss (common)
2. Internal power failure or malfunction (rare)

First check

Check for power supply status and alarm tone

Test point: power indicator and audio alarm
Expected: normal operational tone (not higher pitched failure tone)

1 more check with pass and fail actions, 3 corrective actions, and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

Vaporizer dial cannot turn despite clicking mechanism patient safety

Dial release depresses but dial will not rotate. Clicking heard on mechanism when pressure applied. Dial remains locked.

Ranked causes

1. Vaporizer in warm-up mode, interlock prevents use (common)
2. Another vaporizer interlock mechanism is active (occasional)

First check

Verify green OPERATIONAL light status

Test point: front panel indicator light
Expected: green OPERATIONAL light illuminated

2 corrective actions and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

Alarm battery low

ALARM BATTERY LOW indicator activates; green OPERATIONAL light remains illuminated during normal operation

Ranked causes

1. Alarm battery voltage low (common)

First check

Verify alarm battery voltage is low

Test point: Alarm battery
Expected: Low voltage condition

1 corrective action and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

Battery low alarm indication

BATTERY LOW alarm appears on display. Battery voltage insufficient for backup power.

Ranked causes

1. Battery voltage depleted (common)

1 corrective action and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

Calibration: Tec 6 Plus vaporizer output concentrations patient safety

Verify vaporizer delivers correct anesthetic agent concentrations across calibrated range

Ranked causes

1. Factory calibration verification (common)

First check

Verify calibration conditions

Test point: Atmospheric pressure
Expected: 760 torr

3 more checks with pass and fail actions, 1 corrective action, and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

Electrical supply verification high voltage

Confirm AC power supply meets vaporizer requirements

Ranked causes

1. Incorrect AC supply voltage or frequency (rare)

First check

Measure AC supply voltage

Test point: Facility wall outlet or disconnect
Expected: 100–120V AC or 220–240V AC, 100–120 or 220–240
Tools: Multimeter

3 more checks with pass and fail actions, 1 corrective action, and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

LOW AGENT light remains illuminated after test

The LOW AGENT indicator light remains illuminated after the alarm and display test is completed

Ranked causes

1. Agent (desflurane) level low or empty (common)

1 corrective action and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

NO OUTPUT light flashes during operation patient safety

Vaporizer tilted for 10 seconds while dial is on in operational mode; flashing NO OUTPUT light and auditory alarm indicate vapor delivery stopped

Ranked causes

1. Vaporizer tilted during operation (common)

First check

Verify vaporizer position

Test point: Vaporizer body
Expected: Level, not tilted

1 corrective action and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

Operational light does not illuminate within 10 minutes

After warm-up period of up to 10 minutes, the amber WARM-UP light does not extinguish and the green OPERATIONAL light does not illuminate

Ranked causes

1. Warm-up cycle failure (unknown)

First check

Verify sufficient agent in sump

Test point: Sump level
Expected: Sufficient agent present

2 more checks with pass and fail actions are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

Recalibration authorization requirement patient safety

Technician must be aware that only authorized service centers perform recalibration

Ranked causes

1. Recalibration required after service or suspected drift (occasional)

1 corrective action and part numbers are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

Error codes

Code	Meaning	Trigger	Severity
`ALARM BATTERY LOW`	Alarm battery voltage is insufficient	Alarm battery voltage drops below threshold	warning
`BATTERY LOW`	Backup battery voltage insufficient	Battery voltage drops below acceptable threshold during operation	warning
`Internal malfunction`	Internal system fault detected, vaporizer not safe for use	WARM-UP light remains illuminated beyond 10 minutes after power restoration	critical
`LOW AGENT`	Anesthetic agent level below 60 ml threshold	Sump reservoir level drops below 60 ml during operation	warning
`NO OUTPUT`	Anesthetic agent delivery halted, sump nearly empty	Agent level drops below 20 ml in sump reservoir	critical
`NO OUTPUT`	Vapor delivery stopped	Vaporizer tilted for 10 seconds while dial is on in operational mode	error
`NO OUTPUT`	Vaporizer has shut down and is no longer delivering vapor	Dial in ON position with agent below 20 ml, vaporizer tilted >10 seconds, power failure >10 seconds, or internal malfunction detected	critical
`OPERATIONAL`	Vaporizer ready for use	Warm-up complete after power application	info
`Power failure alarm`	External AC power loss or restoration detected	Power supply interruption or recovery	error
`WARM-UP`	Vaporizer in warm-up mode, not yet operational	Power applied to vaporizer or system reset	info

Likely causes and actions for each code are in ServiceForge. Connect ServiceForge to your AI

Community

0 fixes logged by technicians through their AI, with outcomes, for this model.

ServiceForge knowledge base record. Field-unverified unless technicians confirmed it. A teaching summary of the record, not a service manual. Export 2026-10-14.