Goodman furnace A: Airflow display, followed by the CFM value

A is not a fault. It introduces an airflow reading — the furnace is telling you the CFM it is currently delivering, with the value following on the display.

Applies to: Goodman GMVM97 and GCVM97 modulating gas furnaces with a two-character alphanumeric display.

What it means

Goodman's modulating furnaces can display live operating data as well as faults, and A introduces airflow. The display shows A and then the cubic feet per minute the blower is delivering, given as the left two digits of the value. This is genuinely useful information rather than a problem report: it lets a technician confirm the furnace is achieving its designed airflow without instruments, and it lets a curious owner see how the blower varies between heating, cooling, and continuous fan. Mistaking it for a fault code is the main risk, which is why it is worth documenting.

Most common causes

Not applicable — this is an operating data display rather than a fault.

How to diagnose it

Recognise that this is data rather than a fault. The furnace is reporting, not complaining.
Note the value that follows the A, since that is the actual information.
Compare the airflow against what the furnace should deliver for the mode it is in, which is in the specification for the model.
Note that a value well below expected accompanies the low airflow fault code, which is the fault version of the same observation.

How to fix it

Nothing to fix. This is the furnace displaying its own operating data.
If the airflow value looks low, check the air filter and registers — that is the usual cause and it is homeowner work.
If airflow is consistently below specification with a clean filter and open registers, the duct system is worth assessing.
Use this reading rather than guessing when discussing airflow with a technician.

Notes

A furnace that will tell you its own airflow is unusual and worth taking advantage of. Most airflow problems are diagnosed by inference; here the equipment simply reports the number.

Sources

Goodman Manufacturing — Diagnostic Code Identification System (model-specific fault code lookup)

This site is a reference, not a substitute for a licensed HVAC technician. Gas appliances can leak carbon monoxide and cause fire. Anything involving gas lines, the heat exchanger, or the flame sensing circuit should be handled by a licensed professional. Pages are written with AI assistance from the sources listed on each page and checked against them before publishing.