LG Refrigerator CO Error
LG's digital and analog list illustrates this code with a segment-display photo reading C0 — the same code in seven-segment form.
What to check first
- Read the code exactly: CO / Er CO (segment form C0) = main board ↔ display communication error.
- Do the Er family's one reset: unplug, wait about 5 minutes, plug back in, check the display.
- Cleared and stays cleared → LG allows a temporary glitch; returned → stop using the refrigerator and contact LG.
- No disassembly: LG's warning — internal parts are fire/shock/injury territory.
A CO code (listed by LG's Er guide as Er CO) is a communication error between the main board and the display — the two boards that run the refrigerator have stopped talking to each other. LG's Er guide gives the family framing for all of its codes: the refrigerator displays the code when it detects an issue with its internal system, such as a faulty component, control circuit, or disconnected wire. Cooling hardware is not named by this code; the conversation between the boards is.
Safety first
- Communication faults live on the boards and their wiring. LG's Er guide warning applies in full: do not disassemble the refrigerator or replace internal parts yourself — fire, electric shock, serious injury, or death.
- Stop condition: stop using the machine and unplug it — and do not run it again until it has been checked — if you smell burning, see smoke, find damaged electrics (a scorched plug, a melted or cut cable), or water is leaking in quantity.
Common causes
A disconnected wire
One of the three causes LG's Er guide names for its whole family. The display's link to the main board runs through connectors and a harness that can work loose.
A faulty control circuit or component
The other causes LG names. If the code returns after LG's reset, the guide's own conclusion is a faulty internal circuit or wire — service territory, stated by LG, not guessed here.
A temporary power or communication glitch
LG's Er FAQ concedes this case: a code that disappears after the reset and does not return "may have been caused by a temporary power or communication issue". That is the only benign reading LG publishes, and it is proven by the code staying away.
Step-by-step checks
- Note the exact codeCO and Er CO are the same code in different display clothing; on a segment display it can read C0 (LG's list illustrates it that way). Record which form you saw.
- Do the Er family's one resetLG's Er guide procedure: unplug the refrigerator from the wall outlet, wait about 5 minutes, plug it back in, and check whether the error code has cleared.
- Decide by LG's ruleCleared and staying cleared → LG allows that it may have been temporary. Still showing, or returning → the guide's instruction is explicit: stop using the refrigerator and contact LG Support for service, because it may indicate a faulty internal circuit or wire.
When to call a technician
Beyond the one reset, this code is LG service work — both of LG's lists agree (the analog list puts CO under "please request service"; the Er guide sends a persistent code to LG Support). Quote the exact display form (CO / Er CO / C0) and whether the reset cleared it.
Model differences
| What you have | What changes |
|---|---|
| Er / segment forms | Er CO in the Er guide; C0 on the segment display in LG's analog list photo. |
| CO vs C1 | CO is main board ↔ display. C1 is dispenser ↔ display — a different conversation, covered on its own page. |
One-page checklist — CO
- Code read exactly (CO / Er CO / C0)
- One Er reset done (unplug, about 5 minutes, plug back)
- Code cleared and stayed cleared → monitor; returned → stop using, LG service
Official LG references
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep using the refrigerator with CO showing?
LG's Er FAQ: some features may continue to work, but the refrigerator may not be able to control its internal systems correctly — minimize use, and if the code persists, stop using it and contact LG Customer Support.
The code disappeared after I reset. Can I continue using it?
LG's answer is yes, with a condition: the error may have been a temporary power or communication issue — but if the same code returns, stop using the refrigerator and contact LG, as it may indicate a faulty internal circuit or wire.
Is CO the same as C1?
No — LG defines them separately: CO is communication between the main board and the display; C1 is communication between the dispenser and the display.