Manitowoc Ice Machine Error Code E33: Keyboard Not Detected
E33 is a log entry on a Manitowoc Indigo ice machine saying the keyboard is not plugged in or has a problem. The machine usually keeps making ice, but buttons may not respond and menu changes are not possible. Press a button to see if the display reacts, leave the control box closed, and call us.
Medium: ice making continues, but the controls may be unusable.
- Code
- E33
- Maker
- Manitowoc
- Equipment
- Ice machines
- Applies to
- Indigo series (non-NXT) control board, Event Log (Service menu > Event Log > View ELog)
What does Manitowoc error code E33 mean?
E33 is a log entry on Manitowoc Indigo ice machines without the NXT display that tells you the keyboard is not plugged in or has a problem. The keypad is the way staff and technicians move through menus and the Event Log. When the board no longer sees the keypad on its connection, it writes the entry. The machine usually keeps making ice, but buttons may not respond, and menu changes are not possible until it is corrected. So the entry affects control rather than production. A kitchen may first notice it when someone tries to start a cleaning cycle or check the log and nothing happens. The display text for the entry is E33. The areas the manual points to are the keypad ribbon or cable connection, the condition and wear of the keypad, the connector on the control board, and moisture around the control box. A technician starts with the connection and the keypad itself.
Affected models and control systems
Manitowoc Indigo series cubers with the non-NXT control board (Service menu > Event Log > View ELog). E33 concerns the keyboard; E34 reports the keyboard and display together.
Code numbers and their meaning can change between control generations. We match the full model and control before acting on a code.
What you may notice
- Buttons that do not respond
- Menus that cannot be opened
- Ice making continues as usual
- The E33 line in the Event Log
Possible causes
Listed in Manitowoc's documentation
- Keypad ribbon or cable connection
- Keypad condition and wear
- Control board connector
- Moisture around the control box
Other likely causes — what usually sits behind error code E33 on this control. A technician confirms which one it is before any part is replaced.
- Keypad membrane worn through by years of daily presses
- A ribbon connector loosened by door vibration
- Wash-down water that wicked into the keypad edge
Safe checks before calling for service
- Press a button on the keypad and see if the display reacts.
- Make sure ice production is normal.
- Do not open the control box.
- Call us if buttons are unresponsive, and tell us whether any button works at all.
How a technician diagnoses error code E33
- Read the Event Log for E33 and see whether the display still responds.
- Inspect the keypad surface for wear, cracks or moisture.
- Check the ribbon connection at the keypad and board with power off.
- Look for corrosion or dampness in the control box.
- Replace the keypad or ribbon after the connection is ruled out.
- Opening the control box exposes live line-voltage parts.
- A ribbon cable that is reseated wrongly can damage the board connector.
- Water in the control box needs to be dried and traced to its source.
How error code E33 differs from similar codes
E33 is a keyboard-only entry, while E34 covers the keyboard and display together.
Technical reference
- Document
- Indigo Series Technician's Handbook 000014794 5/17, "Event Log" p.87-91
- Maker documentation
- Manitowoc owner support
- Edition
- Part Number 000014794 5/17
- Models / control
- Indigo series (non-NXT) control board, Event Log (Service menu > Event Log > View ELog)
- Section
- Event Log: code list p. 87, Event Log Detail table pp. 88-91 (Service menu > Event Log)
- Checked
- October 2026
We use the maker's document to read the code and do not reproduce it. Always confirm the complete model and control before applying these steps.
Related Manitowoc ice machine error codes
Can I keep using the machine with E33?
Yes, it will usually keep making ice, but you may not be able to change settings or start a cleaning cycle.
Will E33 clear by itself?
A loose connection might settle, but a worn keypad will not.
Is E33 the same as E34?
No. E33 is the keyboard alone, and E34 says the keyboard and display are not plugged in or have a problem.
Need help with Manitowoc error code E33?
A technician confirms the cause on site and gives you the price in writing before any work starts.