York Air Conditioner Error Codes — Meanings, Causes & Repair in Greater Vancouver

Seeing a fault code on your York air conditioner? This guide explains what the most common York air conditioner error codes mean, what’s safe to check yourself, and when to call HeatLand’s licensed HVAC technicians for York air conditioner repair across Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.

The codes below apply across common York models (Affinity, LX, Simplicity / Simplicity SE (Smart Equipment) controls). Meanings follow York’s documented fault codes — always confirm against your unit’s own manual, because exact wording can vary by model, control board and firmware.

How to read York air conditioner error codes

Most basic single-stage York central air conditioner condensers have NO onboard code display. On York equipment that uses a Simplicity or Simplicity SE (Smart Equipment) control board (premium/communicating systems and many packaged/rooftop units), the board signals 'FC' (Flash Code) numbers via a status LED and stores recent codes; codes are shown as FC 2 through FC 14. On communicating Affinity systems paired with an Hx3/communicating thermostat, faults are typically reported as text/alerts on the thermostat rather than as a number on the condenser. The AC-related diagnostics for a split system are usually read at the indoor furnace/air-handler control board, not at the outdoor unit.

York air conditioner error codes & what they mean

These are the York air conditioner codes our Greater Vancouver technicians see most. Anything marked pro repair involves electrical, refrigerant, sensor or control-board work that must be done by a licensed HVAC technician — never open the indoor/outdoor unit or refrigerant lines yourself.

Code	What it usually means	Common causes	Safe to check yourself
FC 2	Anti-short-cycle delay (ASCD) active for stage 1 or stage 2. This is a normal protective delay, NOT an alarm — the control is waiting for the compressor anti-short-cycle timer to expire before restarting DIY-checkable	Normal restart timer running after a recent shutdown or power interruption; Rapid cycling at the thermostat; Recent power loss/brownout that restarted the timer	Wait several minutes — the unit usually restarts on its own once the delay expires; Set the thermostat to Cool and avoid repeatedly switching it on/off; Confirm the thermostat call before assuming a fault
FC 3	High-pressure switch trip / lockout — stage 1 pro repair	Dirty/blocked outdoor condenser coil restricting airflow; Outdoor fan motor not running; Overcharge or non-condensables in the system	Turn off at the thermostat, then check the outdoor condenser coil is clear of leaves, grass, lint and debris; Make sure nothing is blocking airflow around the outdoor unit; Reset once by switching the thermostat off and the disconnect/breaker off, then back on after a few minutes
FC 4	High-pressure switch trip / lockout — stage 2 pro repair	Dirty/blocked outdoor condenser coil; Outdoor fan failure; Refrigerant overcharge or system restriction	Set the thermostat to off and clear any debris from around the outdoor condenser; Confirm the outdoor coil is not caked with dirt or cottonwood/lint; Allow the unit to cool down, then attempt a single restart at the breaker/disconnect
FC 5	Low-pressure switch trip / lockout — stage 1 pro repair	Low refrigerant charge / refrigerant leak; Dirty indoor air filter or restricted indoor airflow; Frozen indoor (evaporator) coil	Replace or clean the indoor air filter; Make sure indoor supply/return vents are open and unobstructed; If the indoor coil is iced, set the system to off/fan-only and let it thaw, then attempt one restart
FC 6	Low-pressure switch trip / lockout — stage 2 pro repair	Low refrigerant charge / leak; Restricted indoor airflow (dirty filter, closed vents); Frozen evaporator coil	Check and replace a dirty air filter; Open all supply and return registers and clear any blockages; Allow a frozen indoor coil to fully thaw before a single restart
FC 7	Freeze-stat trip — stage 1 (low coil temperature protection) pro repair	Restricted indoor airflow (dirty filter, blocked coil); Low refrigerant charge; Indoor blower running too slow or not at all	Replace the air filter and confirm vents are open; Turn the system to fan-only to help any ice on the coil thaw; Attempt a single restart after the coil has thawed
FC 8	Freeze-stat trip — stage 2 (low coil temperature protection) pro repair	Restricted indoor airflow; Low refrigerant charge; Blower problem reducing airflow across the coil	Check/replace the air filter and open all registers; Let any visible ice on the indoor coil thaw with the cooling off; Try one restart once the coil is clear of ice
FC 9	Ignition control lockout or heating failure (heat-mode fault; appears on heat-pump/dual-fuel or packaged units with heat) pro repair	Ignition/heating sequence failure on a packaged or dual-fuel unit; Flame-sense or gas-supply issue (gas-heat packaged units); Heating control or sensor fault	Set the thermostat to Cool to confirm the cooling side still operates; Reset once by cycling the disconnect/breaker off and back on; Note: this is a heating-side fault — do not attempt internal repairs
FC 10	Compressor lockout — low-ambient switch closed (cooling locked out due to low outdoor temperature) pro repair	Outdoor temperature too low for safe cooling operation; Low-ambient lockout (low-temperature) switch wiring or sensor issue; Cooling call during cold weather	Confirm whether outdoor temperatures are unusually low — cooling lockout in cold weather can be normal protection; Set the thermostat appropriately for the season; If conditions are normal and the lockout persists, a technician is needed
FC 11	Compressor lockout — economizer in free cooling (compressor disabled while the economizer provides outdoor-air cooling) pro repair	Economizer is actively providing free cooling, so the compressor is intentionally locked out; Economizer changeover/control setting; Normal economizer operation in mild outdoor conditions	Typically applies to commercial packaged/rooftop units — usually normal economizer behavior; No homeowner action; have a technician confirm economizer operation if cooling seems insufficient
FC 12	Fan overload lockout (indoor or supply fan overload protection tripped) pro repair	Blower/fan motor drawing excessive current; Seized or failing fan motor or bearings; Obstruction binding the fan / restricted airflow	Turn the system off and confirm nothing is obviously blocking airflow at the indoor unit; Replace a clogged air filter; Do not open the unit — fan/motor faults need a technician
FC 13	Low-voltage indication / lockout (supply voltage out of acceptable range) pro repair	Utility brownout or low incoming line voltage; Loose or corroded power/control connections; Tripped or weak breaker / failing contactor or transformer	Check the breaker and outdoor disconnect; reset a tripped breaker once; Confirm whether other appliances show signs of low voltage (brownout) in the home; If voltage problems persist, stop and call a technician — do not open electrical compartments
FC 14	EPROM failure / internal control fault (control board memory or internal error) pro repair	Corrupted control-board memory (EPROM); Power surge or electrical disturbance; Failing control board	Cycle the disconnect/breaker off and back on once to attempt a control reset; If the code returns, the control board likely needs service; Do not open the control compartment
Steady-on LED (or LED off at power-up)	On a York Simplicity / Simplicity SE board, a steady-on status LED — or an LED that does not light at all when power is applied — indicates a possibly defective control board pro repair	Control board fault; Loss of control power to the board; Failed board after a power surge	Confirm the breaker and disconnect are on; Cycle power off and back on once at the breaker/disconnect; If the LED stays solid or stays off, the board likely needs replacement — call a technician
Communication fault / 'lost communication' (communicating Affinity + Hx3)	On a communicating York Affinity system using an Hx3/communicating thermostat, a loss-of-communication or comm fault is reported as a text alert on the thermostat (not as a number on the condenser). It means the thermostat and the indoor/outdoor controls are not exchanging data over the communicating bus pro repair	Loose, miswired or damaged communicating-bus (low-voltage) wiring; Power loss to the indoor or outdoor control; Failed control module on the thermostat, air handler/furnace, or outdoor unit	Check the breaker and outdoor disconnect are on for both indoor and outdoor units; Try a single power-cycle (breaker off/on) and let the system re-establish communication; Do not open control panels or touch low-voltage wiring — persistent comm faults need a technician

York air conditioner codes we get called for most

FC 10 — Compressor lockout — low-ambient switch closed (cooling locked out due to low outdoor temperature)

Typical causes include outdoor temperature too low for safe cooling operation; low-ambient lockout (low-temperature) switch wiring or sensor issue; cooling call during cold weather. A few things are safe to check yourself (Confirm whether outdoor temperatures are unusually low — cooling lockout in cold weather can be normal protection; Set the thermostat appropriately for the season), but the repair is a licensed HVAC technician job. HeatLand diagnoses and fixes FC 10 on York air conditioners throughout Greater Vancouver.

FC 2 — Anti-short-cycle delay (ASCD) active for stage 1 or stage 2. This is a normal protective delay, NOT an alarm — the control is waiting for the compressor anti-short-cycle timer to expire before restarting

Typical causes include normal restart timer running after a recent shutdown or power interruption; rapid cycling at the thermostat; recent power loss/brownout that restarted the timer. A few things are safe to check yourself (Wait several minutes — the unit usually restarts on its own once the delay expires; Set the thermostat to Cool and avoid repeatedly switching it on/off), but the repair is a licensed HVAC technician job. HeatLand diagnoses and fixes FC 2 on York air conditioners throughout Greater Vancouver.

FC 3 — High-pressure switch trip / lockout — stage 1

Typical causes include dirty/blocked outdoor condenser coil restricting airflow; outdoor fan motor not running; overcharge or non-condensables in the system. A few things are safe to check yourself (Turn off at the thermostat, then check the outdoor condenser coil is clear of leaves, grass, lint and debris; Make sure nothing is blocking airflow around the outdoor unit), but the repair is a licensed HVAC technician job. HeatLand diagnoses and fixes FC 3 on York air conditioners throughout Greater Vancouver.

FC 12 — Fan overload lockout (indoor or supply fan overload protection tripped)

Typical causes include blower/fan motor drawing excessive current; seized or failing fan motor or bearings; obstruction binding the fan / restricted airflow. A few things are safe to check yourself (Turn the system off and confirm nothing is obviously blocking airflow at the indoor unit; Replace a clogged air filter), but the repair is a licensed HVAC technician job. HeatLand diagnoses and fixes FC 12 on York air conditioners throughout Greater Vancouver.

Is it safe to keep running a York air conditioner with a fault code?

Most York fault codes put the air conditioner into a safe lockout for a reason. You can safely check the basics — the power and breaker on, the air filter clean, the outdoor condenser clear of debris, and the thermostat set to cool — and restart it once. If the code returns, stop and book a technician. Air-conditioner faults are electrical and refrigerant issues — never open the unit or touch the wiring or refrigerant lines yourself.

York air conditioner repair across Greater Vancouver

HeatLand has kept Metro Vancouver homes comfortable since 1999. Our licensed, insured technicians diagnose and repair York air conditioners — sensor and thermistor errors, communication faults, fan and compressor problems, refrigerant and pressure faults, and control-board issues — including units we didn’t install. We’re brand-agnostic, carry common parts, and give you an honest repair-or-replace assessment with upfront pricing and a free estimate. If your air conditioner is beyond economical repair, we’ll show you right-sized, high-efficiency replacement options and the rebates available.

Need it sorted fast? We offer priority emergency air conditioner repair. Explore Air Conditioner services, browse all air conditioner error codes by brand, or request a free estimate.

York air conditioner service areas

We repair York air conditioners across Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, including:

York air conditioner error code FAQs

Can I reset my York air conditioner myself?

Yes — power-cycling the unit at the breaker once is generally safe after you’ve checked the basics (the power and breaker on, the air filter clean, the outdoor condenser clear of debris, and the thermostat set to cool). If the air conditioner faults again right away, stop and note the code — repeatedly resetting a air conditioner that keeps locking out can mask a real problem. Call a licensed HVAC technician to diagnose it.

What does the York FC 2 code mean?

On York air conditioners, FC 2 commonly indicates anti-short-cycle delay (ascd) active for stage 1 or stage 2. this is a normal protective delay, not an alarm — the control is waiting for the compressor anti-short-cycle timer to expire before restarting. Confirm the exact meaning against your unit’s manual — codes can vary by model and series — and have the repair done by a licensed HVAC technician. HeatLand fixes this across Greater Vancouver.

Do you repair York air conditioners you didn’t install?

Yes. HeatLand is brand-agnostic and services York air conditioners throughout Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, whether or not we installed the unit. We carry common parts and give you an honest repair-or-replace assessment.

Is a York air conditioner fault code an emergency?

No heat in cold weather or no cooling in a heat wave is worth treating urgently. For priority air conditioner repair across Greater Vancouver, call (604) 330-3812.

How much does York air conditioner repair cost in Vancouver?

It depends on the fault. Many York codes point to sensors, thermistors, capacitors or control parts — usually far cheaper than replacement. We give upfront pricing and a free estimate before any work.

More Air Conditioner error-code guides

HeatLand repairs every major air conditioner brand across Greater Vancouver. More brand guides: