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Air conditioning noise

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by EricC, Jul 3, 2009.

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  1. EricC

    EricC New Member

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    Has anyone else noticed a very loud hum when using your air conditioner? I am assuming it is the compressor running but it can easily be heard a good 5-10 feet from the car. It is coming from the far left side of the engine compartment when facing the car and even causes a slight but noticeable vibration in the car. It will start almost as soon as you turn on the A/C and then gets louder until it is just down right irritating. After 10-15 minutes of running then it will shut off, but starts right up again if you turn off the system.

    This is my first prius and I am not sure if this is normal or not. I took it in and a couple techs listened to it, but of course it was much better behaved around them. They set up an appointment for one of the prius techs to look it over but admitted they had yet to work on any 2010s. I'm just worried that they will come back and say it is nothing and then down the road I'll end up with a bigger problem.

    Thanks!
     
    #1 EricC, Jul 3, 2009
  2. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    Is it fan noise?
     
    #2 patsparks, Jul 3, 2009
  3. EricC

    EricC New Member

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    It could be, but when you open the hood I can't see anything that looks like a fan running in that section of the engine compartment. I did notice that it will start off high pitched and then after a few minutes will drop down a bit, but it seems to go up and down while running.
     
    #3 EricC, Jul 3, 2009
  4. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
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    That would be your electric AC compressor. It is variable speed depending on AC load.

    I consider it (and the radiator fans) my "noise maker" in the hotter season in AZ.
     
    #4 HTMLSpinnr, Jul 3, 2009
  5. Husker4theSpurs

    Husker4theSpurs Active Member

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    It's the ionizer or something like that ... coming from the driver's side vent, correct?
     
    #5 Husker4theSpurs, Jul 3, 2009
  6. EricC

    EricC New Member

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    I know it's hard to say without hearing it, but is your compressor loud enough to be heard over the gas engine and 10 feet from the car? My salesman, who sells tons of prius, listened to it and said he had never heard one make that loud a noise. I just want to make sure I'm not making a big deal over something that is normal.

    Thanks!
     
    #6 EricC, Jul 3, 2009
  7. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
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    The Gen III compressor (when not in eco mode) spins faster than the Gen II. I can hear it over the engine, but it's not extraordinarily louder. See if you can start another car @ the dealer to compare the two.
     
    #7 HTMLSpinnr, Jul 4, 2009
  8. DCRC

    DCRC Junior Member

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    Ours is real noisy as well. You can turn the A/C off and it goes away. Has kind of a metallic air plane sound.
     
    #8 DCRC, Jul 5, 2009
  9. 12parsecs

    12parsecs Junior Member

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    Its definitely the compressor, mine makes the loud metallic buzzing noise too when the AC is on. Didn't realize how loud it was from the outside when its on full blast until earlier today.

    The fan makes more of a "whooshing" sound.
     
    #9 12parsecs, Jul 5, 2009
  10. EricC

    EricC New Member

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    Just thought I would give an update. They looked it over and did confirm that the A/C compressor is bad. He said that it would probably have worked fine, but just been louder than normal. They had to order a new one and it should be all fixed by the middle of next week.
     
    #10 EricC, Jul 9, 2009
  11. clintbhs02

    clintbhs02 New Member

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    My prius is making a noise (kinda like baseball cards in the spokes of a bicycle) over by the glove box... i am fearing the ac is going out and im out of warranty :( maybe its the filer?
     
    #11 clintbhs02, Sep 2, 2009
  12. rwdorn

    rwdorn Junior Member

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    Buzzing sound when the AC is ON.

    I hear a loud buzzing sound when the AC is on. I have 8000 miles on my 2010 Prius III and didn't notice this until just recently. The dealer told me this is normal for all Prius and mine was actully not as loud as most others! This really bugs me and I plan to go to a different dealer and test drive one of their Prius to hear for myself....Do any of you hear this also?
     
    #12 rwdorn, Jun 19, 2010
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  13. josh2008

    josh2008 Active Member

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    Re: Buzzing sound when the AC is ON.

    Yep, mine does it too.
     
    #13 josh2008, Jun 19, 2010
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  14. Jolly Paul

    Jolly Paul Member

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    Re: Buzzing sound when the AC is ON.

    I've been using my AC heavily (this *is* Austin) and don't hear anything unusual. What do you mean by buzzing sound? Does it sound like something in the fan? I've had odd debris caught in the fan of many cars over the years. I doubt that is what you mean, but I'm having a hard time knowing exactly what you are referring to.
     
    #14 Jolly Paul, Jun 19, 2010
  15. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    Re: Buzzing sound when the AC is ON.

    The AC compressor motor on the Prius runs on a variable speed inverter. The buzzing you hear is probably the inverter modulating frequencies. It is probably going to be loudest when the AC and the fan are running at full speed.
     
    #15 jdcollins5, Jun 19, 2010
  16. Philosophe

    Philosophe 2010 Prius owner

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    Re: Buzzing sound when the AC is ON.

    The Prius A/C compressor is run with an electric motor, instead of being attached by a belt the gas engine, to allow it to run whether or not the gas engine is running.

    It does make a different noise than regular A/C compressors, and it is more noticeable when the gas engine is off.

    Usually, A/C compressors are either on or off. The Prius electric A/C compressor is of variable speed, to gain efficiency. The more cooling you require, the louder the sound will be.

    Conclusion: all is normal.
     
    #16 Philosophe, Jun 19, 2010
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  17. ozarkgolfer

    ozarkgolfer Junior Member

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    Re: Buzzing sound when the AC is ON.

    Don't wish to be a naysayer by mine is almost silent - I get a buzzing noise at startup which I put down to hybrid startup - but in usual operation, no noises I can put down to the A/C.
     
    #17 ozarkgolfer, Jun 19, 2010
  18. silverfog

    silverfog New Member

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    Re: Buzzing sound when the AC is ON.

    If you press the A/C remote (included on solar), you'll hear the buzzing. It's the A/C running without the ICE.
     
    #18 silverfog, Jun 19, 2010
  19. dandeman

    dandeman Junior Member

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    Re: Buzzing sound when the AC is ON.

    The Pruis AC compressor is a scroll compressor (reference page AC-12 in the factory service manual) which is the most efficient compressor technology currently available.

    Scroll compressors produce a characteristic buzzy noise at initial start up. They will quieten down after a bit of running...

    Scroll compressor concept [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scroll_compressor"]Scroll compressor - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]

    So chalk it up as one of the technologies used to improve car's efficiency..
     
    #19 dandeman, Jun 19, 2010
  20. rwdorn

    rwdorn Junior Member

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    Re: Buzzing sound when the AC is ON.

    Thanks all for the insight into Prius opperation. I just never noticed this w/ AC on before... but then again this is my first summer driving it in a Texas Summer.
     
    #20 rwdorn, Jun 19, 2010
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