KitchenAid Refrigerator PC1 Code: Causes & Fix

What is the KitchenAid Refrigerator PC1 error?#

PC1 on a KitchenAid refrigerator is a compressor-circuit fault: the board is trying to start the compressor and not getting the result it expects, so the fridge stops cooling and you hear a click from the rear every few minutes as it retries. This is the one refrigerator code I treat as a call-a-technician job from the start, because the most common cause in the table above — a failed compressor start relay — sits in a high-current circuit that is not safe to poke at live.

PC1 on a KitchenAid Refrigerator: likely causes and repair cost#

On a KitchenAid Refrigerator, the PC1 code signals: compressor circuit fault.

Typical professional repair: $150–$600 · Difficulty: professional only · usually a technician job

Symptoms that often accompany PC1: Refrigerator not cooling at all; Clicking sound from rear every few minutes; Compressor hums briefly then shuts off; Both compartment temperatures rising

Technician diagnostic sequence for PC1:

1. Listen at the rear — clicking every few minutes means the relay is trying to start a locked rotor
2. Check the compressor start relay/overload: remove from pins and shake — rattling means failure
3. Test compressor windings: run-to-start, run-to-common, start-to-common should all show resistance
4. On inverter models, check the inverter board for burn marks or swollen components

Parts a technician may check or replace: Compressor Start Relay/Overload; Inverter Board

How to troubleshoot the PC1 error yourself#

The only safe homeowner step here is a controlled reset and a listen. Unplug the fridge for five minutes, restore power, and listen at the rear: a click every few minutes means the relay is repeatedly trying to start a locked-rotor compressor. That is useful information for the technician, but the actual diagnosis — pulling the start relay and overload to check for a rattle, testing the compressor windings run-to-start and run-to-common, and inspecting an inverter board for burn marks — involves the high-voltage compressor circuit and must be done by a professional with the right meter and safety practices. Do not attempt to bypass the relay or jump the compressor. Meanwhile, move perishable food to another cooler, because a fridge on PC1 is not maintaining temperature.

Is the KitchenAid Refrigerator PC1 error worth fixing?#

PC1 covers a wide cost range. If it is only the start relay, the repair is inexpensive and the fridge comes right back — a clear yes. If the compressor windings have failed, you are at the top of the range in the table above, and on an older refrigerator a failed compressor is often the line where a new box makes more sense. My advice: have the relay and windings tested first. A relay fix on a good KitchenAid is well worth it; a dead compressor on a tired unit is the case to weigh replacement.

KitchenAid Refrigerator PC1: frequently asked questions#

What does the PC1 error mean on a KitchenAid Refrigerator?#

It is a compressor-circuit fault — the board cannot start or run the compressor as expected, so the refrigerator stops cooling.

Is it safe to keep using a KitchenAid Refrigerator that shows the PC1 error?#

It will not hold temperature, so move food elsewhere. The compressor circuit is high-current, so leave the diagnosis to a professional rather than probing it.

Can I clear the PC1 error myself, or do I need a technician?#

You can try one power reset and note the clicking pattern, but PC1 involves the high-voltage compressor circuit and needs a technician to diagnose and repair.

How much does it cost to repair the PC1 error on a KitchenAid Refrigerator?#

A start relay is at the low end; a compressor winding failure is at the top of the professional repair range shown in the table above.

Which parts usually fail when a refrigerator throws the PC1 code?#

The compressor start relay leads, followed by compressor winding failure and, on inverter models, a faulty inverter board.

Is a KitchenAid Refrigerator with the PC1 error worth repairing?#

A relay repair is well worth it. A failed compressor on an older unit is the case where a new refrigerator may be the better value.

Why does compressor relay failure trigger the PC1 error?#

The relay energizes the compressor start winding. If it fails, the compressor cannot spin up, the board never sees it run, and it posts PC1.