Air conditioning noise

[ToyotaTrk]

When cooling , in auto mode, noise coming and going frequently. I think maybe when compressor cycles. Sounds like a sort of metallic droaning sound.

Freon related??

Asked about any TSB’s on last visit. Said none issued.

Finally, what’s the next level down from a tsb when manufacturer issues mechanical notice? Can’t think of the term they use…. Don’t have a good Indy shop and dealer doesn’t go the extra mile so I want to ask specifically re: Toyota notices.

 

[OregonLC]

Do you have it in auto? Is maybe the noise from one of the damper doors trying to cycle? Try putting temp to Low and output to upper vents. AC on and recirc off.

 

[bloc]

It is really easy to look down at the AC clutch and tell when it is engaged spinning the compressor. There is a metal plate on the front that spins with the belt when engaged, and it sits still when not. Maybe consider sitting in the cab and listen for the sound and have someone give you a hand signal when it engages.

Our compressors do cycle, unlike many new cars that have variable displacement pumps. So it is normal to expect that. Can’t really say mine groans though.. could be a sign of an issue.. probably need gauges to truly diagnose though. Is everything cooking correctly otherwise?

 

[ToyotaTrk]

Do you have it in auto? Is maybe the noise from one of the damper doors trying to cycle? Try putting temp to Low and output to upper vents. AC on and recirc off.

Auto - yes. Happens during any stage cooling, recirc or not.

 

[ToyotaTrk]

It is really easy to look down at the AC clutch and tell when it is engaged spinning the compressor. There is a metal plate on the front that spins with the belt when engaged, and it sits still when not. Maybe consider sitting in the cab and listen for the sound and have someone give you a hand signal when it engages.

Our compressors do cycle, unlike many new cars that have variable displacement pumps. So it is normal to expect that. Can’t really say mine groans though.. could be a sign of an issue.. probably need gauges to truly diagnose though. Is everything cooking correctly otherwise?

Hard to describe sound - hollowish, droaning metallic. Definitely cycling - repetitive.

Sorry, can you point me in the direction as to where the compressor would be? Good idea on having some help when looking. Tks!

 

[ToyotaTrk]

It is really easy to look down at the AC clutch and tell when it is engaged spinning the compressor. There is a metal plate on the front that spins with the belt when engaged, and it sits still when not. Maybe consider sitting in the cab and listen for the sound and have someone give you a hand signal when it engages.

Our compressors do cycle, unlike many new cars that have variable displacement pumps. So it is normal to expect that. Can’t really say mine groans though.. could be a sign of an issue.. probably need gauges to truly diagnose though. Is everything cooking correctly otherwise?

so i did pop the hood while the ac was on and there is the same noise i hear in the cabin also in engine area. i was not sure exactly as to the location of the compressor, but kept an eye and ear out around the engine fan area.... who knows??

 

[bloc]

so i did pop the hood while the ac was on and there is the same noise i hear in the cabin also in engine area. i was not sure exactly as to the location of the compressor, but kept an eye and ear out around the engine fan area.... who knows??

The compressor is on the driver's side bottom front of the engine, at the front of a silver cylinder shaped object about six inches in diameter. It is the lower left most pulley that the belt runs around. If you look closely with a flashlight you'll see that pulley has what I described.. something of a round metal plate parallel to the pulley out the front that alternates between spinning with the belt, or sitting still. That is your compressor clutch.

If the noise aligns with that... I'd get it checked out. Some vehicles make noise under normal operation. The engine swap I did in my 80-series is one of these. But our 200s are pretty quiet when working correctly.. either you have very sensitive ears or something isn't happy.. but an honest tech with a set of gauges and some knowledge can tell whether anything is wrong.

 

[ToyotaTrk]

an honest tech with a set of gauges and some knowledge can tell whether anything is wrong.

Gonna keep on investigating…. I haven’t found a tech yet with any kind of knowledge on how to work on these and the honest part is even harder. Dealers tech don’t seem to have the know how and I’m still looking for a decent Indy! Tks!!

 

[SteelRain]

Any solution to this yet found? I have a very similar issue. About every 30 seconds or so when the A/C is on, about 45+ seconds with the system on front/rear, probably because the duty cycle of the compressor is longer. It does sound like the expansion valve under pressure loading/unloading, but I cannot be sure. It's faint, but noticeable with the radio playing, in the background. I can evac/recharge the system as this is sometimes a sign of the refrigerant level being on the lower side of the acceptable value the pressures sensors need to see to cycle the compressor.

 

[ToyotaTrk]

Nope. Nothing new except my wife now notices it so at least I know it’s not me!! Seems to be happening more often now - getting warmer here in LA. Problem here is that the shops are terrible and I know nothing on AC stuff…. Please post back if you check it out and I’ll do the same if I learn anything new. I might run it to a new dealer. Tks!!

 

[thefourthdoctor]

May be the blower motor assembly. The sound you describe sounds similar to mine, when I turn off the HVAC the noise goes away. I have a new part being delivered, hope that fixes the noise.

 

[ToyotaTrk]

May be the blower motor assembly. The sound you describe sounds similar to mine, when I turn off the HVAC the noise goes away. I have a new part being delivered, hope that fixes the noise.

So I don’t know about AC. But if AC - compressor is off - doesn’t the blower, fan , stay running if it’s left on? So noise goes away if compressor is off and fan still on and running? Sorry for more questions. Just want to make sure I’m getting it. What part did you order? Tks!

 

[thefourthdoctor]

I'll have to check by turning off AC (so that compressor is off) and running fan only (so that the blower is still on). But I ordered the blower motor, part number 87103-60481.

 

[Karbon]

If it sounds like an "air whooshing sound" that lasts for a few seconds, it may be low refrigerant level. Mine was leaking last summer and I noticed it getting more and more frequent. It sounded most pronounced from the driver's seat, behind the instrument cluster. Last week with it warming up I recharged it after replacing the low and high service port valves. My low pressure valve was leaking a bit, with a weaker spring and aged O-rings. Both the low and high pressure ports use JRA-type valve cores, which can be purchased from a local parts store or found OE from Toyota. Haven't driven enough to provide a definitive conclusion, but it seems fixed for now.

 

[baggar11]

Just FYI, I had a strange rattling sound that was cycling on/off over the course of a month or two. Much like you all are describing. Then one day the wife came home and said the AC wasn't working. I just got done swapping out the clutch assembly and can report she's back on the road with cool air again. You might remove the drive belt from the compressor pulley and see if there is any play with it.

AC Compressor Replacement - Climate Control System Error

Getting a "Climate Control System Error" message on the Display. Pulled Techstream codes and got a B1422 for the "Compressor Lock Sensor Circuit." Sure enough, clutch is almost locked up. VIDEO From what I gather, looks like a pretty straight forward compressor and condenser replacement(since...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[SteelRain]

I'm happy to report this cycling is gone with my rig after an EVAC/RECHARGE of the system. I vacuumed 675g and recharged about 990g. The system capacity (with the cool box) is about 1000g. The system still cycles (obviously), but the delay between duty cycles is much greater and I don't have that same wheezing noise from the expansion valve/evaporator area on the right side of the dash/outboard HVAC vent/glove box. This is an easy first step in fixing the issue if your affected.

I'm sure this system had the original refrigerant installed as OE. I detected no leaks from the system prior to completing the EVAC/RECHARGE.

It's been my experience that Toyota/Honda products seem to have more flexible parameters when it comes to A/C pressures then the European vehicles. For most of the Audi/VW/Porsche product, a loss of 100-200g+ would deactivate the compressor altogether, whereas I've seen Japanese systems be down 200-400g and still operating, albeit with an increase in the duty cycle to the compressor.

 

[baggar11]

@SteelRain Interesting. I fixed the clutch on my compressor but still have the noise when cycling. It sounds like a cross between pac man and chitty chitty bang bang. Otherwise the system is cooling again. Did you happen to check pressure before evacing your system?

 

[SteelRain]

I should have noted it but I didn't. I remember glancing at the high side gauge and it being in the 200ish PSI range. No idea on the low side. Are you 100% certain you recharged it with about 900-1000g?

 

[baggar11]

In my case, I replaced the compressor clutch on the vehicle so the system was never opened up.

 

[baggar11]

Just checked pressures on the LX. About 90F out and the r134a chart says I should be seeing around 45 psi on the low side and 250 on the high. I'll try adding some refrigerant to get pressures back into spec.

Oddly enough, during the 10-15 minutes I was out there blasting the AC to check pressures, I didn't hear any weird sounds.