Six flashes: the pan is not right for induction. Try the magnet test and check size and base.
Model compatibility: Viking reuses codes across series and model years, so 6 FLASHES may mean something different on another appliance or generation. Confirm this against your model’s documentation and record your full model number before acting.
Plain language
What this code means
Six consecutive flashes mean the cookware is incompatible with induction; if flashing continues after adjusting cookware, call service.
Six flashes in a row from the element LED indicate incompatible cookware. Of the six internal flash counts that Viking lists for induction, just this one is decided by what is placed on the glass, and the use and care manuals send you to their cookware section first.
Requirements for a pan
Viking’s rules are plain. The base has to be magnetic and flat, and the diameter should run from 5 inches on the small burners to 12 inches on the larger ones. The quick test uses a magnet; a magnet that holds to the underside tells you the pan works with induction.
Materials by name
Accepted by the manuals: porcelain-coated steel, cast iron, and stainless with a magnetic base. Rejected: pottery, aluminum pans, and stainless with an aluminum base. The cooktop manual adds glass and bronze to the rejected pans. Cast iron suits the induction elements, yet the manuals advise against it on the radiant elements of a combination cooktop, since it holds heat there and may damage the surface.
Flashing for ordinary reasons
The same LED also flashes when the surface is bare, when the pan is smaller than the element, or when the pan has the right size but the wrong material. In those cases the material compatibility detector keeps the element from cycling on while the indicator flashes. The manual suggests using suitable cookware, a larger pan or a smaller element, and reading the cookware pages. If the surface sits with no pan or an unsuitable one for over 60 seconds, the unit turns itself off.
If the pan is fine
Put a pan that passes the magnet test in the middle of a matching element. If six flashes still appear after the cookware has been adjusted as described, Viking says to call a service technician.
Related
4 flashes: a coil sensor problem, which a different pan does not touch.
A pan that passes the magnet test and still gives six flashes is worth a call to (310) 692-1112 for Viking induction repair in Los Angeles. Name the pan you tried. See the cooktop repair page.
Important safety warning. Do not attempt repairs involving electrical components, gas, water lines, refrigerant or sealed systems. Unplug the appliance if it is safe to reach the outlet, and leave internal diagnostics to a qualified technician.
Seeing this code on your Viking appliance?
Book a specialist visit for a clear estimate and approval before any repair.
