96 on a Viessmann Vitotronic 200: Precharge relay open
Short answer
On a Viessmann heat pump, 96 means: Precharge relay open. The heat pump stops until the fault clears or is reset. An engineer is needed to fix the cause.
Reviewed 23 September 2026 · 2 sources
What it means
The manuals for this range word it in different ways:
- Precharge relay open.
- Ice store absorber circ: No heating of the ice store.
Part involved: Precharge relay open; Ice store absorber circ.
When it shows: Type "Note" (H) - triggers "07 Refrigerant circuit" on the heat pump control unit. Heat pump characteristics: Compressor OFF No heating of the ice store.
Likely causes:
- Precharge relay open.
- Insufficient or no heat transfer into the ice store.
Is it safe?
| Does the heat pump stop? | Yes |
|---|---|
| Severity | Warning |
| Engineer needed? | Yes |
The heat pump stops until the fault clears or is reset.
Resetting itself: Not stated in 6150133.
Manual reset: Refrigerant circuit messages cannot be acknowledged in the message history (6150133 p.155); acknowledge the resulting 05/07/A9 message on the control unit.
What you can check
- This code is only visible to engineers in the service menu (Diagnosis > Refrigerant circuit > Message history); homeowners see message 05, 07 or A9 - note that code and call your contractor.
- Note the 2-character message code and message text shown on the Vitotronic 200 display (press OK for details) and give them to your heating contractor (operating instructions 5817913 p.56).
- You may acknowledge the message once with OK as described in the Vitotronic 200 operating instructions; if it reappears, do not keep acknowledging it - call your contractor.
- Check the heat pump breaker/isolator in the consumer unit is ON (do not repeatedly reset a breaker or RCD that keeps tripping).
What the engineer will check
- Replace inverter.
- Check absorber circuit hydraulics. Charge and vent the absorber circuit if required.
- Check connection of the absorber circuit pump to the ice store extension. Replace absorber circuit pump if required (see "Ice store extension" installation and service ….
Who to ask for: Viessmann-trained heat pump engineer with F-gas refrigeration certification; Viessmann-trained heat pump installer/service engineer.
Certification: F-gas certificate (UK F-gas Regulations; Viessmann: refrigerant work by authorised refrigeration engineers only).
What you might notice
Sources
- Service instructions Vitotronic 200 type WO1C heat pump control unit (air/water split & monobloc, brine/water) (6150133, 2023-07) ↗ · 6150133 VSA00004 · page 165 · Reviewed 23 September 2026
- Service instructions Vitotronic 200 WO1C (5790974 GB, 2023-09) – brine/water & split variants ↗ · 5790974 VSA00002 · page 78-79 · Reviewed 23 September 2026
A code explains what the controller detected, not a confirmed root cause.
Reviewed: 23 September 2026