I have gone through several threads about A/C noise some saying its the compressor - others saying it is normal but I don't remember my A/C having this kind of noise. It doesn't matter what the ambient temperature is but it makes this noise, every time. I uploaded a video to youtube so you can hear it clearly. Any time the A/C button is pressed, the noise is made. Fan can be set to high, turn the A/C off and noise instantly goes away. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks. Also - A/C still blows cold and my fuel mileage hasn't changed much if any.
they all make some noise you can hear from outside the car, or inside when the ice is off. that does sound bad though. don't some of those other threads describe it as a compressor on it's way out?
I have read stories of it being the compressor going bad/bad but they also said the air wasn't cold and their MPG dropped. I can hear this thing from 15 feet away if the ICE is off, heh. It is pretty dang loud. My MPG is the same, ~49MPG and it still blows cold. I'm still searching more on other forums as well trying to figure out of it is in fact the A/C compressor or not.
The sound that you filmed/recorded is the same sound that my 2010 Prius II made while the AC was in use for the 34000 miles I owned the lease. And it is the same sound that my 2013 Prius III has made in the 20000 miles that I have had it when I use the AC. The AC works magnificently under all conditions, and controls the climate perfectly. The sound is less obtrusive with the hood closed, windows closed, and the stereo turned up loud.
My Prius also make exatly the same sound, specially at hot sun weather and AC set to full and engine heated up. First i thought that it wasn't normal then after some research i found its normal. Christian
Thank you for the replies and based on both your experiences, I am just going to chalk this up to being a regular noise that everyone else is having. Thanks again.
Hey PlumbersCrack - My new 2015 Prius III makes the same noise (only when the AC is on), and its pretty loud! I took it into the dealership for its first service and asked about this. They said "Normal". So, I asked them to bring up a new Prius off the lot to compare and when they did, it did not make the noise at all, at first. After about 10 minutes, the new one started to make the same noise, but not as loud! So, I will keep an eye (ear) on it to see if it gets worse in time (only 2,000mi so far). By the way, if you don't mind me asking -- does your Prius have what I call a "back-lash" or "free-play" in the drivetrain? What I mean by this, and it might be hard to put into words, but here goes. When driving at any constant speed, when you take your foot off the gas a little to slow down, then accelerate again, do you feel this sensation of a "back-lash"? Another way to put it is by having your car on level ground (in park), then try to move your car forwards and backwards. When I do this to mine, I am able to move it back and forth about 3 inches before it stops! Does yours do this? I think this is why I feel this "back-lash". I HATE THAT IT DOES THIS!! If they can't fix it, I think I'm selling my new Prius! Thanks in advance for your response or any other comments from other owners. Kevin
are you saying, when you move it back and forth with your hand while it is in park? while you had the other new one at the dealer, did you take it for a test drive? btw, what are you getting for mpg's?
Good info about hearing other units do it. I have recently noticed that some times it makes the super loud noise, actually most of the time, but there are also times when it makes no noises at all. On your other issue - Yeah mine does that. When I am driving - especially if I take my foot completely off the pedal and the gas motor shuts down, it surges quit a bit. Hell, when I am just sitting at a light and it goes from electric to gas to charge the battery, or when ICE shuts down, the car always moves forward or backward.
Bisco - Yes-just moving it with your hands (at the drivers door), in park, move the car back and and forth (front to back). It moves quite a bit until it stops in either direction. This extra free-play is what I'm feeling when slowing down a little and then slowly accelerating again - there is a slight amount of time for the drive shaft to re-engage.
I understand and have got used to the ICE engaging, and will probably get used to the AC whine (normal), But, I don't think I can get used to the play in the drive shafts. Kevin
When the evaporator is hot or the car has been sitting in the sun for a while, the compressor will turn on at full speed, and it does get pretty loud, but its doing it job by trying to cool down the car. Problem arises if the compressor is that loud but with no cold air is blowing.
