Samsung Dishwasher PC Error Code: Meaning, Causes & Fix
Zone Wash / dividing-valve check — Samsung reports PC when the Zone Wash function is not operating correctly; in Samsung's other documentation the same code is the dividing (distribution) valve check, displayed when the dividing valve that controls water distribution is defective. (Corrected 2026-10-28 against Samsung US + Samsung AU/Gulf support and the DW80B-series and DW50R4040BB manuals: the earlier entry's PC1/PC2 display variants, position-switch narrative and DIY distributor-motor replacement procedure appear in no Samsung source and have been removed. Samsung's documented owner remedy is a functional check — turn the dishwasher off and on again — then service if PC continues.)
Samsung documents this one code under two names for the same water-distribution system. Samsung US and the DW80B-series manual call PC the 'Zone Wash operation check': the Zone Wash function is not operating correctly. Samsung's AU and Gulf pages group 'PC, PE' as a 'Dividing valve check — displayed when the dividing valve is defective', adding that this component controls water distribution within the dishwasher. The DW50-series manual names the hardware directly: 'Distribution motor check — abnormal working with distribution motor assembly, or main PCB.' So PC is the dishwasher reporting that the motorised valve that distributes wash water between zones is not working as it should — and every Samsung source ends the same way: functional check first, Samsung service centre if the code continues. PC is the clearest example on the Samsung dishwasher list of one code wearing three labels, and the labels matter because owners searching the wrong one land on the wrong fault. 'Zone Wash error' (Samsung US) names the user-facing function. 'Dividing valve check' (Samsung AU/Gulf) names the component's job: controlling water distribution within the dishwasher. 'Distribution motor check' (DW50 manual) names the hardware and its alternate suspect, the main PCB. None of Samsung's sources defines PC as a control-panel or communication error — that reading circulates on non-Samsung sites, apparently by confusion with Samsung's separate CA/AC communication codes, and acting on it (panel parts, harness reseats) does not touch the system Samsung actually names.
What causes the PC code on a Samsung dishwasher?
Dividing valve defective
Samsung AU/Gulf's stated cause for PC/PE: the dividing valve that controls water distribution within the dishwasher is defective.
Distribution motor assembly working abnormally
The DW50-series manual's wording: abnormal working with the distribution motor assembly — the motor that drives the distribution valve.
Main PCB fault
The DW50 manual's second named suspect: 'or main PCB' — the board that drives the distribution motor.
The dividing valve, in Samsung AU/Gulf's words
Samsung's Australian and Gulf support pages state the cause without decoration: PC (grouped there with PE) is a 'dividing valve check — displayed when the dividing valve is defective', and the Gulf page adds the function: 'this component controls water distribution within the dishwasher.' A defective dividing valve is therefore Samsung's own headline cause for PC — not a worn spray arm, not a loading problem, and not a communication error, whatever non-Samsung code lists claim. The same pages give Samsung's remedy in one line: contact a Samsung service technician for diagnosis and repair.
The distribution motor assembly, in the DW50 manual's words
The DW50-series manual describes the same system from the hardware side: 'PC — Distribution motor check: abnormal working with distribution motor assembly, or main PCB.' 'Distribution motor' and 'dividing valve' are two names for one assembly — the motor-driven valve that distributes wash water between the dishwasher's zones — which is why the US documentation can call the identical code a 'Zone Wash operation check' while the European manual calls it a motor check. All three wordings converge on the same two suspects: the assembly itself, or the main PCB that drives it.
Checks to run before you replace anything
- Note the presentation Samsung UK describes for PC/PE: the dishwasher powers on but won't start a cycle, or stops shortly after starting, often when options like Zone Wash or Half Load have been selected, and cleaning results are poor because the program won't run while the fault is active.
- Run Samsung's functional check: turn the dishwasher off and then try to start the cycle again — Samsung US and the DW80B manual give exactly this step for PC.
- If PC appeared with Zone Wash selected, power off at the wall/breaker for at least 30 seconds, deselect Zone Wash (and Half Load), and start a Normal cycle with normal loading — Samsung UK's published test for this code.
- Use Samsung UK's presentation check before touching anything: PC on its page is a dishwasher that powers on but won't start a cycle, or stops shortly after starting — often when options like Zone Wash or Half Load have been selected. If your PC only appears when Zone Wash is selected, you have already localised the fault to the distribution system Samsung names.
- Do the functional check exactly as Samsung US and the DW80B manual prescribe it — turn the dishwasher off and then try to start the cycle again — and treat the result as the diagnosis, not a formality: a PC that clears and stays away on a full Normal cycle was a transient; a PC that returns immediately has confirmed itself against Samsung's own test.
- Run Samsung UK's deselect test as the second stage: power off at the wall or breaker for at least 30 seconds, deselect Zone Wash and Half Load, and start a Normal cycle with normal loading. A machine that runs Normal cleanly but sets PC under Zone Wash has separated the distribution fault from everything else the dishwasher does.
How to fix samsung dishwasher pc error code?
- Functional check first: turn the dishwasher off and restart it, as Samsung US and both manuals instruct.
- If the Normal-cycle test without Zone Wash runs clean, the fault sits in the Zone Wash/distribution path — run Normal cycles and book service for the distribution system rather than repeatedly selecting the option that trips it.
- If PC continues after the functional check, Samsung's instruction in every source is to contact a Samsung service centre; the DW50 manual scopes the service diagnosis to the distribution motor assembly or the main PCB. Samsung publishes no owner-level part replacement for PC.
- Samsung's documented fix path for PC has exactly two stages, and this page follows it deliberately: the functional check (off, then restart), and — in the words repeated by Samsung US, both manuals and the AU/Gulf pages — if the issue continues, contact a Samsung service centre. There is no Samsung-published owner repair for the dividing valve or distribution motor.
- While service is pending, use the working configuration Samsung UK's test identifies: Normal cycles without Zone Wash selected. That is not a workaround that stresses the machine — it is simply not calling the one function the control has reported as defective.
- Do not order a distribution motor on the strength of the code alone: the DW50 manual names two suspects (the motor assembly, or the main PCB), and replacing the assembly when the board is not driving it reproduces PC with a new part fitted. The service diagnosis Samsung prescribes exists to separate those two before money is spent.
The part that usually fails: Distribution motor assembly / dividing valve (or main PCB)
The two hardware suspects Samsung's DW50 manual names for PC. Samsung routes their diagnosis and replacement to its service centre.
Samsung dishwasher pc error code reset
There is no separate reset procedure for PC: Samsung's functional check (turn the dishwasher off and on again) is both the test and the clear. A PC that returns after it is, per Samsung, a service-centre case.
Samsung dishwashers clear most codes when you cancel the cycle (hold Start/Cancel for about 3 seconds so the machine drains), then cut power at the breaker for 5 minutes. Restore power and run a short cycle. Leak-related codes (LC) will return immediately if water is still sitting in the base pan — the reset cannot clear water that is physically still there.
Why does the PC code keep coming back?
PC returning specifically when Zone Wash is selected, while Normal cycles run clean, confirms the distribution branch — quote that pattern when booking service. PC on every cycle including Normal points at the same assembly or its PCB drive, the manual's two suspects. PC's return pattern is unusually informative, so record it before the service visit. PC that returns only when Zone Wash is selected, with Normal cycles completing, is the distribution branch isolated by Samsung UK's own test — the valve/motor system fails when it is called, and rests when it is not. PC that returns on every cycle regardless of options points at the same assembly failing its start-up movement, or at the main PCB the DW50 manual names as the second suspect. Either way the next step Samsung prescribes is the same service diagnosis; the pattern you report decides whether the technician arrives expecting to test a motor or a board first.
How to stop PC coming back
- Dividing valve defective: Samsung AU/Gulf's stated cause for PC/PE: the dividing valve that controls water distribution within the dishwasher is defective.
- Distribution motor assembly working abnormally: The DW50-series manual's wording: abnormal working with the distribution motor assembly — the motor that drives the distribution valve.
- Main PCB fault: The DW50 manual's second named suspect: 'or main PCB' — the board that drives the distribution motor.
Retrieving stored fault codes on Samsung dishwashers
Samsung dishwashers have a service/test mode on many models (entered with a button combination such as holding Normal + Power or a Delicate/Heavy pairing, model-dependent) that runs each component — fill, wash motor, drain, heater, dispenser — and displays stored codes. The combination for your model is in the service manual; the user manual does not document it.
Other Samsung dishwasher error codes
| Code | Meaning | First fix |
|---|---|---|
| 1C | Low-water level check (fold 'C1' is this code transposed) | Check the filter is not clogged, use dishwasher detergent, load dishes evenly, and turn the dishwasher off and on again |
| 1E | Clogged filter error on WaterWall models; low water level error in DW80 manuals (fold 'E1' is this code transposed) | Clean the fine filter at the bottom of the dishwasher and remove excessive soils from the tub, then run a cycle with detergent |
| 3C | Wash motor (circulation pump) error — the main wash pump is not running correctly. | Clear debris from the sump/pump inlet area. |
| 3E | High temperature water supply error on Samsung support pages; communication error (3E1 to 3E5, grouped with AE and bE3) in DW80 WaterWall manuals | Verify the hot water supply is not set above 176°F (80°C); if the temperature is correct and the code returns, request Samsung service |
| 4C | Water supply error — the dishwasher is not filling (or filling too slowly). | Restore full supply: tap open, hose unkinked, screen cleaned. |
| 4E | Water supply error (older display of the 4C water supply check) | Check the water supply valve is open and the inlet valve and line are not frozen or clogged; if it continues, close the supply valve and contact a Samsung service center |
| 4E5 | Water supply error variant; the dishwasher attempts to fill, then stops early with a dry tub (also shown as 4C5) | Make sure the water supply exists with proper pressure, the tap is open, and the hose is not kinked |
| 5C | Drain error — the dishwasher did not drain in the allowed time. | Clean filter and air gap; clear hose/sink path. |
| 5E | Drain error (older display of the 5C drain check; 5E1 to 5E5 in DW80 manuals) | After closing the water supply valve, check whether the drain hose is clogged or folded and whether the drain hole inside the sump is clogged |
| 7C | Water-level / wash-system error on WaterWall models — the WaterWall reflector (vane) movement is not being confirmed. | Clear the obstruction and reseat the vane on its track. |
| 7E | WaterWall reflector error; the water reflector is not able to move correctly | Remove anything interfering with the reflector and any tape fixing it; if it happens without interference, close the water supply valve and contact an authorized Samsung service center |
| 9E | Low water level error; there is not enough water in the dishwasher | Empty the dishwasher, add detergent, and run a normal cycle; if the error still occurs, switch off power at the circuit breaker and request Samsung service |
| AC | PCB communication check; abnormal communication between the main PCB and the sub PCB | Power-cycle the dishwasher once and retry; if the problem continues, contact an authorised Samsung service centre |
| AE | Communication error listed with the 3E communication group in DW80 WaterWall manuals | Turn the dishwasher off and try to start it again; if the problem continues, contact an authorized Samsung service center |
See the full list on the Samsung Dishwasher error codes hub.
Codes PC gets confused with
3C — Wash motor (circulation pump) error — the main wash pump is not running correctly. Samsung's owner-facing wording for 3C is deliberately plain: 'Pump operation error — the pump has failed' (Samsung US), or 'Pump operation check' (Samsung AU and the DW80B-series manual).
OC — Overflow error — the dishwasher has detected too much water entering / an overfill condition. OC means the water level rose beyond what the control expects.
SC — Drain check error — the dishwasher is not draining properly (display variant of the 5C drain fault family). SC on Samsung dishwashers is the drain fault in letter form: the pump ran but the water level did not fall as expected.
4C — Water supply error — the dishwasher is not filling (or filling too slowly). 4C on a Samsung dishwasher is the same supply fault the washer line uses: the control opened the inlet valve, watched the level/flow, and did not see the machine fill in time.
Frequently asked questions
Does every Samsung dishwasher have a PC code?
No — PC belongs to models with a Zone Wash / dividing-valve distribution system. Samsung's code lists for models without that system never include it.
How to Fix Samsung Dishwasher PC Error Code?
Follow Samsung's own two-stage path. First, the functional check: turn the dishwasher off and then try to start the cycle again (Samsung US and the DW80B manual). If PC appeared with Zone Wash selected, add Samsung UK's test — power off for at least 30 seconds, deselect Zone Wash and Half Load, and start a Normal cycle. If PC continues after that, every Samsung source for this code gives the same instruction: contact a Samsung service centre, because the suspects Samsung names — the dividing valve / distribution motor assembly, or the main PCB — are service diagnoses, not owner repairs.
How Do I Reset the Samsung Dishwasher PC Error Code?
There is no separate PC reset procedure in Samsung's documentation. The functional check is the reset: turn the dishwasher off and on again and start a cycle. Samsung UK's version allows at least 30 seconds powered off at the wall or breaker before retrying, ideally with Zone Wash deselected so the retry tests the machine and not the faulty function. A PC that survives that sequence is not waiting for a better reset — Samsung directs persistent PC to its service centre.
What Does the Manual Say About a Samsung Dishwasher PC Error Code?
It depends which manual generation you open, and the two wordings describe one system. The US DW80B-series manual says: 'PC — Zone Wash operation check. Functional check: turn off the dishwasher and restart; if the issue continues, contact an authorised Samsung service centre.' The DW50-series manual says: 'PC — Distribution motor check: abnormal working with distribution motor assembly, or main PCB.' The Zone Wash function is what the distribution motor does — distributing wash water between zones — so the manuals agree on the fault and on the remedy even where their labels differ.
Is PC the Same as PE on a Samsung Dishwasher?
Not on US models, and grouped together elsewhere — which is why owners find contradictory lists. Samsung US separates them: PC is the Zone Wash error, while PE is the half load function error, each with its own entry. Samsung's AU and Gulf pages, and Samsung UK's symptom table, group 'PC, PE' as one dividing-valve check, since both functions depend on the valve that distributes water. Your model's own manual governs which convention your dishwasher uses; in both conventions, Samsung's owner remedy is identical — functional check, then service if the code continues.
Related guides
Facts on this page were checked against manufacturer documentation: www.samsung.com · www.samsung.com · www.samsung.com · www.samsung.com · www.samsung.com · www.samsung.com · mans.io · www.notice-facile.com · www.notice-facile.com · manuals.plus · downloadcenter.samsung.com