Sub-Zero Classic BI Code 60-1-38: Fresh-food compressor drive not talking

What 60-1-38 means

On Sub-Zero Classic Built-In refrigerators with the electronic control, such as the BI-36U/S and BI-36UFD/S, 60-1-38 belongs to the refrigerator side of the cooling system. The main board drives the variable-speed compressor through a power output, and this code means that output reported an error and the board lost communication with the refrigerator compressor. The fresh-food section usually starts to warm while the freezer may keep holding temperature for a while, and the code returns after it is cleared.

Common causes of 60-1-38

Loose or damaged harness between the main board and the refrigerator compressor drive
Refrigerator variable-speed compressor drive that has stopped answering the board
Failed power output stage on the main control board

✓ One safe check you can try

1. Write down the full code and the time it appeared. 2. Switch the refrigerator off at the breaker for two minutes, then back on. 3. Keep the doors shut and watch the fresh-food temperature over the next few hours. 4. Move perishable food to the freezer or a cooler if the fresh-food side climbs above 40°F. 5. Call us if the code comes back.

! Why to stop there

The compressor drive and its wiring sit behind the lower grille next to live line voltage.
Telling a bad drive from a bad board output takes meter readings under power.
Compressor and drive work on a Classic BI is model-specific, and a wrong part is expensive.

Opening a panel yourself does not automatically cancel a manufacturer warranty, but it can cause accidental damage, and some manufacturers set their own service conditions. Check your warranty terms, or ask us, before deciding.

→Same appliance

Other Refrigerator codes

23Sub-Zero 600, 700 and 648PRO Code 23: Defrost overheat with no feedback 50Sub-Zero 600 and 700 Series Code 50: Refrigerator compressor running too long 41Sub-Zero 648PRO Code 41: Zone compressor or wiring problem 81Sub-Zero 700-2 Code 81: Variable-Speed compressor fails to start 82Sub-Zero 700-2 Code 82: VS compressor controller needs replacement 88Sub-Zero 700TF Code 88: Board and compressor controller not talking 80Sub-Zero 700TF Code 80: No inverter feedback after a board change ddSub-Zero 600 and 700 Series Display dd: Diagnostics switched off

60-1-3860-1-38 questions

Is the freezer affected by 60-1-38?

The code names the refrigerator compressor, so the fresh-food section is the one that warms first. On a BI-36UFD/S the freezer has its own compressor and often keeps running, which gives you somewhere to move food until we arrive.

Will turning the breaker off and on fix it?

A power reset clears the display and sometimes restores communication for a while. If the drive or the board output is failing, the code tends to come back within hours, which is the point to book a visit.

What does the repair usually involve?

We test the harness, the compressor drive and the board output under power, then quote the exact part in writing before any work. Repairs we complete carry our 30-day workmanship warranty.