Carrier mini split error code PC 00
Inverter module (IPM) malfunction. Also shown as PC00.
- TypeProtection
- SystemCompressor / inverter
- Can I fix it?Technician job
- Applies toindoor display, four-character codes (newer units)
What PC 00 means on a Carrier
The inverter power module that drives the compressor reported over-current, over-temperature or an internal fault. The outdoor unit shuts down to protect itself.
On this platform, PC 00 is a protection: the system stopped or throttled itself to prevent damage; many clear on their own once conditions return to normal.
Common causes
- A blocked outdoor coil or failed fan overheating the module.
- Low or unstable supply voltage.
- A failing compressor drawing excess current.
- A failed IPM or outdoor board.
- Loose compressor terminals.
How to fix it yourself
Do the reset and the visual checks, but the underlying repair needs a technician with a meter and the service manual.
- Reset the system: switch the breaker (or the outdoor disconnect) off, wait a full five minutes so the boards fully discharge, then switch it back on and restart from the remote.
- Look at the outdoor unit: clear leaves, cottonwood fluff, snow or ice from the coil and make sure the fan can spin freely and nothing is stacked against the cabinet.
- If you own a multimeter and are comfortable using it, measure the supply voltage at the outdoor unit's L1 and L2 terminals with the unit running. A 230 V system should read roughly 208 to 253 VAC.
- If it trips only on the hottest afternoons, clean the outdoor coil thoroughly.
- Do not keep resetting; repeated trips can damage the compressor.
Switch off power at the breaker before opening either unit. Capacitors in the outdoor unit hold a charge for several minutes after power is cut.
When to call a technician
Technician diagnosis: compressor windings, module output, DC bus voltage.
Which Carrier units show PC 00
This page applies to Carrier Comfort 38MHRB / 40MHHQ, Comfort 38MGR / 40MGQ, Performance 40MAQ / 38MAQ, Infinity 40MPHA / 38MPRA and Carrier multi-zone units on the indoor display, four-character codes (newer units). Carrier's own documentation lists PC 00 as "Inverter module (IPM) malfunction", the same definition used across the Midea platform (four-character codes) it is built on. If your unit shows a code with a different shape (for example a four-character code, or a plain number), it is from a different table; use the lookup with your exact code.
Where Carrier shows this code
indoor display, four-character codes (newer units): The display shows a two-letter prefix and a two-character suffix, either together (EH60) or alternating (EH, then 60). Write both parts down; the suffix is what identifies the fault. EH and EL are indoor-side faults, EC is an outdoor-side fault, and PC is an outdoor protection: the unit stopped itself to prevent damage.
Other Carrier codes
Same part of the system as PC 00:
PC 00 on other brands
The same characters do not always mean the same thing. Check the brand on your unit.
- Pioneer PC 00 Inverter module (IPM) malfunction
Questions people ask
Can I reset a Carrier PC 00 code myself?
Yes. Turn the system off at the breaker for five minutes, then restart it. If PC 00 comes back, the fault is real and needs the checks above.
Is it safe to keep running a Carrier showing PC 00?
Not repeatedly. A protection code means the unit stopped itself to prevent damage, and resetting it over and over can turn a cheap repair into a compressor failure. Reset once, check the basics, and stop if it returns.
What will a technician check for PC 00?
Technician diagnosis: compressor windings, module output, DC bus voltage. Ask for the measurements, not just a parts quote.
Sources
- Carrier 38MHRB Single Zone Ductless Service Manual SG-38MHRB-01 (Diagnosis and Solution section)
- Carrier 40MAQ / 38MAQ High-Wall Ductless Service Manual 40MAQ-01SM (Diagnosis and Solution section)
- Carrier 40MPHA / 38MPRA Infinity High Wall Ductless Service Manual (error code table)
Updated September 2026. Codes and definitions vary by model year. If your manual disagrees with this page, your manual wins. Send a correction.