This refers to a condition where the ion source does not heat up at all or heats up but does not reach its setpoint. It normally takes about 10 - 20 minutes for the ion source to reach its setpoint*. If, after that time, the ion source is not heating up or has not reached its setpoint, check the following:
The ion source and mass filter (quad) heaters will not heat up until the high vacuum pump is on and has reached its normal operating temperature (diffusion pump) or 80% of its normal operating speed (turbomolecular pump). If this is the case, the data system should display a message such as The system is in VENT state or The high vacuum pump is not ready
Make sure the setpoint for the ion source temperature is what you expect it to be. Unless you override it, the setpoint is determined by the setpoint in the tune file associated with the current method.
Contact your Agilent Technologies service representative.
Other possible causes are an ion source heater or sensor that is disconnected, shorted, or has failed. All of these should generate the following error message:
Note: It takes at least 2 hours after all heated zones have reached their setpoints for the MSD to reach thermal equilibrium. Data acquired before the MSD is at thermal equilibrium may not be reproducible.