3rd Gen Tacoma A/C Noise

Got the truck back from the dealership. Original compressor was low on oil and newly replaced compressor arrived low as well. Even with oil filled in the new compressor the noise still there. Looks like I will have to open a claim.

 

I'm also getting the darth vader sound on my new 2019 Tacoma SR 4cyl. It's loud and annoying. This can't be right for a modern vehicle, and probably wasn't purposely designed this way. No vehicle I've ever owned made such a loud sound inside the cabin. I think something is wrong. Anybody know what's causing it and if Toyota is aware of this particular darth vader sound issue? I took it to the dealership today and they apparently compared it to another vehicle of the same type and found that the other vehicle was doing the same thing, so concluded that it's normal. Yet if I understand some people here are claiming that they don't have this sound. If so then its not normal necessarily as the dealership concluded. Might be something that happens frequently, but not always. Like a very common problem, but a problem it seems to me nevertheless. I was told today it was probably the expansion valve opening and closing that is making the sound. Would like to get to the bottom of this and get it resolved.

 

Didn't read every page but this sounds like an expansion valve on the evaporator core. Has that been changed?

 

It wasn’t part of Toyota’s recommendation to resolve the AC noise problem. It was documented that the oil was far too low and needed replacement. I’ll see what they want to next to fix the problem.

I’m sure for most people the issue with AC is something they can live with, but my concern is when the truck gets older it get worse.

 

If you can’t get it resolved contact Toyota Corporation and open a claim. They will never fix it if people don’t bring the issue up to toyota.

 

Do you know what the fix is for the darth vader noise?

 

No, I don’t know the fix. I wonder if Toyota even knows. Toyota technical rep recommended the AC compressor to be replace because it’s low on oil. My dealership measured the oil and it was very low. Toyota requested the dealership to replace my AC compressor. I am still getting the noise just not as often but the noise is still there, mostly at lower AC operation speed. I was told by the dealership that Toyota is aware of the problem but not issued a fix. I only contacted Toyota Corp bc my dealership at first wouldn’t do anything.

 

Hard to imagine that Toyota wouldn't know the fix if they tried sufficiently to figure it out. Good to know that the noise has stopped a little at least. I'm also getting that noise at lower A/C speeds.

 

Looks like they will install a new expansion valve. I'm hoping this is the final part needed to fix my AC noise issue. Also noticed after new compressor, the AC wasn't getting cold like it use to so I hope this resolves that issue to.

 

What are they installing the new expansion valve for, the Darth vader noise?

 

Yes, first they replaced the compressor bc it was low on oil, they poured it out and it measured very low. After a new compressor the noise was now only happening at lower AC speeds. Now they are replacing the expansion valve. Hope this resolves the issue.

I know a lot of other owners don't mind the noise but honestly I want it working right so I don't have to replace or get the AC repaired when it fails completely many years from now.

 

Sounds good. Was this the dealeship or Toyota that decided they will replace the expansion valve? I think maybe the noise might be happening in different frequency and loudness for different people. In other words, for some it may be happening worse than for others. When is the repair scheduled for? letu Please let us know what happens.

 

I will keep you posted. Its at the dealership now awaiting parts.

 

I read that they put more oil into your system.

When you add more oil to the system, it starts to reduce its efficiency since the oil acts like an insulator in the heat exchangers. Its especially noticeable with the ultra thin tube parallel flow heat exhangers used today.

Alot of new vehicles use an absurdly low amount of compressor oil. Like 3-4 oz. This means that when removing a compressor from an already used system, you will only get a negligeable amount of oil out of the compressor even left inverted over a period of time. I can see why they said it was low. Alot of the already limited oil is in the lines and heat exchnagers.

Having gone through this in another car of mine,
You probably have 1.5-2x the required amount of oil in the system now if it has affected cooling to a noticeable degree.

Many older vehicles spec 7-8 oz of oil and removing the conpressor and draining it will net you a measurable amount. Alot new toyotas dont even spec the amount of oil to put into the compressor before assembly either, only individual components which should add to the total system amount.

I went through this with denso when rebuilding the ac system in my lexus and they wrote to me (2 months later) all their new compressors are shipped with total system amount of oil for the application. You still check it just in case, but what throws many people off is that its hard to get all the oil out of a compressor, which makes it appear low sometimes.

In my case, i got an ounce from my brand new denso unit and said shit it came low from the factory. I added the 3.5 oz total from components stated in the manual and let her rip. Cooling was less than before. I ended up removing 3.5 oz via a non epa friendly way, and cooling was restored to original levels. So the new compressor definitely had the system oil capacity pre charged as denso said. That system is still running great 50k miles later.

Il end my tangent here lol. Hopefull you guys get this resolved but when you said it doesnt cool as good, this immediately came to my mind. Modern a/c can be finicky, but you learn the little details if you play around with them alot as i do.

No dealer is touching my a/c. The noise is more of a whistle or line harnonic vs. A low oil groan from the compressor.

 

Wow. Good to know. Thanks.

 

I want to add my 2 cents as I am experiencing a slight whining noise under leisurely acceleration. I'm thinking these issues are related to the new refrigerant being used. I have to agree with the person who mentioned that none of his other cars over an extended period of time made these types of noises and not had some sort of problem.

My truck was at the dealer today and of course they couldn't duplicate the noise. They claimed they drove another truck and it behaved exactly the same as mine. What they didn't know is that I recorded the mileage...they drove my truck a Total of 0.2 mile...yes, 2/10 of a mile!
I picked it up after hours so I couldn't speak with anyone but I'm obviously not happy about receiving a "sunshine repair."
After reading these threads the dealer has to be aware there's a problem.

I wish I read this thread before I wasted my time at the dealer. Thankfully my whining noise is fairly muted but nonetheless there is definitely something not right. I will contact Corporate to let them know I'm having the AC noise issue on Monday. Ahhh...Toyota quality ain't nearly what it used to be...

I also agree with the person who had concerns about who was going to actually repair his vehicle. I'm inclined to live with the noise until there is a fix from Toyota.
My AC does get cold though not as cold as my 2005 Lexus..

 

Are you only getting the whining noise, or are you also getting the darth vader breathing noise? I'm getting both now.

 

I just bought my 2019 and it has the Darth Vader sound when I use the A/C. At first i was like WTF is that sound, I guess I just got use to it and really don't notice it now. But it's still there.

 

Lemon Law it, if a little AC noise makes unhappy no sense keeping the truck, next time u buy a new vehicle make sure you test the HVAC system to make sure the system is up to your highly scrutinized specifications on AC noise levels.