3rd Gen Tacoma A/C Noise

worked on it with my friend who’s a Toyota tech.

interestingly the noise came back faintly a couple times. Not nearly as bad as before though. Curious when we get the real shim in and add that, vs the homemade one we made with a thin washer, if it’ll set it back to 100% good again.

 

Which noise does this fix? The whistling noise and or darth vader sighing?

 

this is the whistle.

I have heard the sigh noise in almost every vehicle I’ve had, and it’s just the normal compressor noise, as far as I can tell.

 

Let me know how this goes when you get the "real" shim in there. I'm thinking about taking my truck back if this really solves the issue to at least have them check the gap.

 

Have same issue. 2021 OR. Going to go to service department and see what they say. I think this forum has made it clear that it is 100% the A/C system given that the whistle goes away when the A/C is turned off. Don't want them ripping apart anything so I'll have them check levels on everything and if levels are good then I'm fine. Definitely a design "feature" though that I can certainly see being annoying.

 

Wanted to contribute my experience so far with these two sounds after reading the entire thread…

I’m quite OCD about abnormal sounds on the truck and I don’t recall my 2017 having any of these AC noises until about 45K miles (it’s currently at 54K).

I have both the “darth Vader breathing sound” that comes and goes every few seconds (but doesn’t happen EVERY DAY) as well as the whistling sound (mostly when accelerating but sometimes with my foot off the gas too).

I have a personal mechanic that does mobile work and had him look at it a few weeks ago after I noticed that the passenger side was taking a while to get cold. (Dual zone AC).

He hooked up his AC gauges and noticed I was low on refrigerant. He filled it back up with 1234YF. He also had this “Red angel leak sealant” that he said is the greatest thing he’s found in 30 years, though he wasn’t sure if it was compatible with 1234YF systems so he didn’t use it on my truck.

Initially both sounds went away about 80-90% but now after close to a month they are both coming back and I am about to head out on a 20 day cross country road trip… The last thing I want is to hear the AC hissing and whistling for 5,000 miles straight. I’ll probably have him recharge it again and use the Red Angel sealant now that I’ve confirmed it IS compatible with the 1234YF system.

I’m reluctant to go to the dealer to open a case about the noises because odds are they will just charge me a “diagnostic fee” and come back and tell me it’s normal or that they didn’t find anything wrong. (My truck only has powertrain warranty left at this point).

This god damn whistling is driving me nuts though!!!

 

Took mine to dealer today. He couldn't recreate the sound. I think it was too cool outside. It was only like 64 out. He wants me to bring it back when it gets hotter out so he can recreate the sound. He thinks it is either the expansion valve or the fan (which i don't think it is).

Others on here mentioned the compressor. He almost immediately dismissed the notion that it had anything to do with the compressor. My buddy however, is dead set on it being compressor related. He thinks it could be tight tolerances causing a whistling noise every now and then.

It's interesting that you mentioned yours got worse as you gained mileage. Someone earlier on the thread mentioned that theirs was more noticeable earlier (same as me) and then became less noticeable as time went on and the truck aged.

I think it is definitely the expansion valve or the compressor. Good news and bad news though. Good news is that it seems like neither are detrimental to the longevity of the Truck. Bad news is that since it doesn't really affect anything mechanically, Toyota is going to be reluctant to change something that is just a minor nuisance.

How often is your whistling? Mine isn't even every acceleration. And AMEN to the OCD aspect. I love mine so much so I guess I want everything to be perfect but truth is that it will never be perfect. Doesn't mean I'm not going to keep annoying the dealership with it though lol.

 

My 2018 TRD OR has made this exact sound since day 1. Took it into Toyota within the first couple months of ownership, and after a test drive two mechanics said they didn't hear any abnormal noises. I'm now at 30 K, use the AC frequently, and I feel like the sound has not gotten worse and still blows ice cold on super hot days. I have decided this is not the hill I want to die on.

 

I mean it's annoying and considering what we pay for these Trucks, I'm not going to just brush it off when clearly not every Truck has the issue.

 

My whistling is every single drive. Usually when accelerating from a red light at about 35mph it's most common. It seems like sometimes if I'm heavier on the throttle the whistling lasts a couple seconds longer than usual.

 

Anyone have an aftermarket clutch hub link/part # for the 3rd gen A/Cs - OR can confirm whether it's the same as the 2nd gens? They "look" the same, but I also know the 2nd gens had multiple belts vs. the single one on the 3rd gens.

 

My old Chevy Colorado did this. I summed it up as normal. I haven't heard it yet in the Tacoma though.

 

I noticed mine made the whistle noise since new too, 28k miles now and it still does it. I don’t think it has increased or decreased in frequency or intensity.

I did notice on my way home the other day that it seams to be when the compressor kicks in. I was driving with my hand on the door and in the path of the ac vent. Cruising at 75-80 mph I would hear the whistle and immediately after the ac would get slightly colder. Took me a couple times to put the two together as I wasn’t focused on it but stayed consistent for 20 or so miles.

I tried to get a video but can’t really hear it on my phone. I’m sure the dealer will say they cannot replicate the noise.

 

I just bought a 2020 trd sport with 17k miles. Ive had it for about a month and just noticed on LEFT turns only with the AC on I hear a swishing of water behind the dash followed by loud breathing noise.

 

I had the same issue with my 2021 and I took it to the dealership and they said it was normal it was “just a thing it does”

 

Ive only had my truck a month; I just now noticed the whistle noise while towing a Jon boat today. I guess the issue never got a TSB. I had a 2009 2.7 4x2 and i do not recall this noise in that truck.

 

No whistling but it my Darth Vader noise sounds like he ran 10 mi in full uniform.

 

I have a 2021 taco and have same noise at the dealer now. Took them for a ride. And they tell me it's normal?? Bullshit I've owned 6 Toyota's and never herd this. Pretty sad when u pay 42,000