Grinding noise from A/C compressor?

26544 Views 53 Replies 36 Participants Last post by Firepiko, Oct 29, 2010

gonesurfing

Discussion Starter · Dec 14, 2005 (Edited)

Had this noise since I first started the truck to drive home (after writing the check of course). Its been at the dealer 33 days out of 6 months for various things, but this noise has been the one problem that has added up to the most rack-time.

When the A/C compressor kicks on with a cold engine that has sat for 6 or more hours (sometimes it needs 12 hours), there will be a grinding noise that for the longest time myself and the dealer thought was the starter. LOOOONG story short, after the district service rep heard the noise that I recorded on my laptop he concluded it must be the compressor clutch. I've verified this by starting the truck cold and confirming the noise coincedes with the A/C system turning on. The clutch was changed last week and the noise has recurred twice since.

The district rep is thinking one of the belt tensioners may be off, but I am thinking there is either some problem with the compressor itself or that one of the high-side lines is making noise due to a bad fitting or a leak. I have been unable to see what is happening during startup. I guess I'll have to hire someone to start the truck every afternoon while I watch the AC system for any signs of malfuction.

I'm beginning to think I'll have to live with this noise as noone can seem to fix it, or even duplicate it while its at the dealer. The distric service manager was going on the sound recording alone to decide what to change.

ANY ideas would be helpful.

1 - 20 of 54 Posts

jhbhatia

· #2 · Dec 14, 2005

park at the dealership customer slots overnight. And in the AM tell the toyota tech to start the car with you in presence (mening you drop the key in the AM, and not the night before). If your saying the problem occures from truck sitting overnight, this would be your best scenario! if you can duplicate the problem in front of the tech, he would have better idea than going off something audio-visual recorded.

gonesurfing

Discussion Starter · #3 · Dec 17, 2005 (Edited)

It doesn't make the noise every time. I have left the truck overnight 4 or 5 times and twice it has been heard/observed by the dealership. Plus, when it's cold outside, it doesn't seem to do it as frequently or as loud as a month ago, or so.

They've ordered another belt tensioner pully to see if that will help.

gonesurfing

Discussion Starter · #4 · Dec 23, 2005 (Edited)

So the dealer changed all the belt tensioners and idler pullies. Of course the grinding noise happened again, as loud as ever when I started the truck this afternoon.

I think the only thing left to change is the compressor...

Tried2Live

· #5 · Dec 23, 2005

Mine's been doing it since I bought the thing back in June. It hasn't gotten any better or worse, so I've just been ignoring it. I figure I have a few years until the warranty's up, so I'll worry about it then if need be.

I'd love to have a perfect truck, but it's just one of those little things I'd just end up fighting the dealer about and walking away with nothing accomplished.

55reasons

· #6 · Dec 23, 2005

Kind of like my truck not firing over when I turn the key once every 40 days or so. Did it to me again today at lunch.

The odds on me replicating it at the dealership are like
1 : 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 because there's no way I'm spending that much time at the dealership.

57HotrodVW

· #7 · Dec 23, 2005

55reasons said:
Kind of like my truck not firing over when I turn the key once every 40 days or so. Did it to me again today at lunch.

The odds on me replicating it at the dealership are like
1 : 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 because there's no way I'm spending that much time at the dealership.

C'mon now - are the odds of a dealer repro really one in an octillion??

--Eric

Motogyro

· #8 · Dec 24, 2005

my truck made that noise once and never made it again....strange only issue i've had with my truck...oh well if it ain't broke........

toysareus

· #9 · Dec 24, 2005

Tried2Live said:
Mine's been doing it since I bought the thing back in June. It hasn't gotten any better or worse, so I've just been ignoring it. I figure I have a few years until the warranty's up, so I'll worry about it then if need be.

Me too. (purchased june 05) I mentioned it to the dealer, but of course it would not do it for them so I said as long as I'm on record for this, I'm not worried. I heard an 04 Camry do the same thing. It is the AC. My AC works great and since it has been cold, it doesn't do it anymore. I suspect it will be back in the spring. Whatever....this doesn't bother me. It's covered under warranty if it is a problem. The ONLY other problem I've had with my truck was the passenger seatbelt light not shutting off.

Tried2Live

· #10 · Dec 24, 2005

toysareus said:
Me too. (purchased june 05) I mentioned it to the dealer, but of course it would not do it for them so I said as long as I'm on record for this, I'm not worried. I heard an 04 Camry do the same thing. It is the AC. My AC works great and since it has been cold, it doesn't do it anymore. I suspect it will be back in the spring. Whatever....this doesn't bother me. It's covered under warranty if it is a problem. The ONLY other problem I've had with my truck was the passenger seatbelt light not shutting off.

Yeah, I still like this noise way more than the whining sound the AC compressor in my 03 V6 made at city cruising throttle. That thing was as annoying as could be. Of course they could never duplicate it at the dealer.

But yeah, another summer or two in the furnace and I guess we'll see how the 05 compressor holds up.

gonesurfing

Discussion Starter · #11 · Dec 24, 2005

OK, so I'm not the only one with this noise.

Like I said, mine will do it regularly when its warm and I fire up the truck with the AC on. It's fairly repeatable except when I leave it at the dealer overnight...

gonesurfing

Discussion Starter · #12 · Dec 26, 2005

Is it the compressor itself, or is it something on the belt system that makes noise under load? Like I said, the clutch was changed with no fix.

aamercado

· #13 · Feb 10, 2006

Was wondering if you found the root cause? I posted a similar problem
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t121127.html
but another poster point me to your post.

Thx

gonesurfing

Discussion Starter · #14 · Feb 15, 2006

No resolution as of now. I have watched the compressor kick on while someone else started the truck, and the noise coincides exactly with when the compressor clutch first engages. I didnt see any refreidgerant blow-off or smoke. Just noise. It has to be an internal compressor component.

d1live

· #15 · Feb 21, 2006

My AC/Defrost no longer works

Its been almost a year now since I purchased my truck, and for almost a year now Ive been hearing my compressor kick on with a loud clank and or grinding noise, usually only heard it when I first turned on the AC or defroster, on 2 separate occasions I also smelled rubber burning. Well now the compressor wont enguage, no clank or grind nor rise in rpm, air does still blow to were its supposed too, just no compressor. To make a long story short, Ive made an appointment to get it looked at by a local Toyota dealer, Ill know more Wed. the 22nd, Ill write back and fill everyone in on the details.. Anyone else having compressor problems, fill us in, thanks.

d1live

· #16 · Feb 22, 2006

Well the compresor started working again last night and today I took it in to have it looked at and of course they found nothing wrong, 4 hours I spent test driving vehicles. I can just picture 2 guys sitting around my truck BSing about nothing for 4 freaking hours, Ill be taking it back soon for the leafspring noises (AGAIN) and the cab mount noise, starting to wish Id waited to get an 2006 model, test drove 2 Access cabs both 6cyl. 6-speeds and no noises from either one of them. Maybe this time next year, interest rates have went up since last, I got 5.90 last and lowest now is 6.9 I think. Buy an 06 and goodluck to all.

d1live

· #17 · Mar 28, 2006

They wouldnt fix mine, said their was nothing wrong that they could see, I finally got rid of the Problem. I traded, no problems with the new one

Tacoma2005

· #18 · Apr 1, 2006

That's exactly how mine sounds on the rare occasion that it grinds. I also have an '05 2.7, 4x4.

doctordun

· #19 · May 21, 2006

I may have the same problem. I just got a 2006 4cyl auto and after sitting over night, I hear a grinding noise upon startup. Only lasts a second and won't do it again all day no matter how many starts I have. Since it's so hard to duplicate, I hesitate to take it to the dealer. We can't be the only ones having this problem. Anyone have any luck with the dealer believing you?

gonesurfing

Discussion Starter · #20 · May 22, 2006 (Edited)

I finally spoke with the service manager at my local dealership a few weeks ago since I couldn't get a straight answer from anyone. He said they were able to duplicate the noise and that it was loud enough to hear distinctly. The explanatoin the service manager gave me, is that the serpentine belt tensioner is hydraulic on these trucks and that on startup with low oil pressure it can chatter causing the noise. The condition is more noticable when the A/C kicks on, however unrelated.

This doesn't explain why I can still replicate the nosie 10 seconds or so after starting the engine. Oil pressure should be normal at this point.

On a hot day, mine will engage so roughly that the truck will rock side to side when the compressor kicks on. The grinding noise is extreemly loud. I've found that I can keep it from happening if i run the A/C for a few minutes in the morning, even if i don't need it. Somehow this reduces the compressor load on the next start, therefore prevening the noise.

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