What Does This Error Mean?

NordicTrack treadmill heart rate showing dashes or 0 is usually caused by dry hands on the grip sensors — the sensors require skin moisture to detect pulse. Wet your palms slightly and hold the sensors firmly. For a Bluetooth chest strap, ensure pairing mode is active on the strap before connecting in iFit settings.

Affected Models

NordicTrack Commercial 1750
NordicTrack T 6.5 S
NordicTrack EXP 7i
NordicTrack Commercial 2950
All NordicTrack treadmills with EKG grip sensors

Common Causes

Dry palms — EKG grip sensors require skin contact and moisture
Grip sensors dirty or corroded — reduced conductivity
Bluetooth chest strap not paired to the console
iFit app not configured to display heart rate from the strap
Chest strap battery flat

How to Fix It

Wet your palms before holding the sensors.

The EKG grip sensors on the handlebars use electrical conductivity through your skin. Dry palms break the circuit and return 0 or dashes. Lightly dampen your palms with water before gripping the sensors. Hold firmly with full palm contact — fingertips only will not work reliably.
Clean the grip sensor pads.

Over time, the stainless steel EKG pads on the handlebars collect oils and oxidation that reduce conductivity. Wipe each sensor pad firmly with a slightly damp cloth or an isopropyl alcohol wipe. Allow them to dry, then test with damp palms.
Pair a Bluetooth chest strap.

For more accurate, continuous heart rate tracking, use a Bluetooth ANT+ chest strap (such as the NordicTrack compatible strap or a Polar strap). Activate pairing mode on the strap, then go to iFit > Heart Rate > Pair Device on the console. The strap reads pulse consistently, unlike grip sensors.
Check the chest strap battery.

Bluetooth heart rate straps use a CR2032 coin cell battery. If the strap connects but drops signal frequently, or cannot pair, replace the battery. Most strap batteries last 6–18 months depending on usage frequency.
Confirm iFit is set to display heart rate.

On the iFit console, check that the heart rate display is not hidden or minimised on the workout screen. During a workout, tap the heart rate field to ensure it is visible and not overlaid by another metric. In some iFit workout classes, the heart rate zone display only appears when a compatible sensor is active.

When to Call a Professional

If grip sensors are clean and give no reading even with wet hands after trying on multiple users, the sensor pads or their wire connection to the console may be damaged.