3rd Gen Tacoma A/C Noise

Was just going to post about this myself, you explained it as well as I could have so I've got to check this thread...haven't read the whole thing yet. Fwiw, my truck is also a new '18 DCLB 4x4 TRDOF and has done it from day 1. Also of note, mine is a premium with dual climate control. I have pretty severe hearing issues and can hear it quite easily. I do want to note that over the years I have been in and owned other vehicles that have done something very similar but it's typically been older A/C equipped cars that have done it.
Side Note: My previous '18 Tacoma DCSB 4x4 SR5 did NOT make these noises.

I can't say for sure if mine does this, but I think it does but not very loud(I can hear certain frequencies/noises easier then others).

 

Fellow Tacoma Owners,
I would like to gather a count of Tacoma owners who have taken their truck to the dealership and they acknowledged the noise. To meet our goals, it is going to take all of us to have our local dealers acknowledge the noise and give us each a record that they heard it.

 

After picking up my truck and looking at my repair orders, I only saw where I made the complaint but there was no dealership notes that they acknowledged it. Say, for instance, three years down the road, Toyota tells you that you are out of warranty; however you have no documentation that this noise has been occurring since day 1. It is their word against yours. And guess who wins.
I called the local dealership who replaced the expansion valve and I still have the noise. The Shop Foreman acknowledged it verbally. I asked the Service Manager for documentation that they worked with Toyota Technical, replaced the expansion valve but the noise is still evident. He agreed that I had received a poorly written service receipt and told me I needed to come in and sign a new service receipt with the correct documentation for my records. Besides, he told me unless he did this, he would not be reimbursed by Toyota for the work they performed. Shout Out.

 

I get both noises too. Glad I know the whistling is normal now. I was a little concerned. Lol

 

Yup - I have the same thing on a 2017 TRD. Not consistent - but every now and then.

 

I see alot of people on this thread who have the noise. How many have gone to their dealerships and asked for a fix? It is not a normal sound. We should not ignore it.

 

I have the noise since day 1.
That being said, the last thing I want is the dealer ripping my dash apart or opening my ac system. Having worked on a/c systems and being OCD. I dont want anyone in there unless its broken.

Im pretty sure that this is going to end up being a case of ringing pipes or whistling refrigerant as a result of design. Also, pretty sure most or all of these trucks make the sound to a degree. I havent seen any mufflers on the lines, but I barely look under the hood in this truck lol. (Shame on me)

Still though its an obvious oversight by toyota and I will be watching to see what it ends up being.

 

Burro09, I will keep you posted. I am going to make sure Toyota fixes this problem.

 

I just picked up a 2018 Tacoma TRD Sport two weeks ago and also have the Darth Vader noise. I think it sounds more like a person doing a pull from a vapebox, but Vader is probably easier to relate with. I will try to get a video for you all, so we have more evidence of this noise.

 

I could not get the noise to pick up in the audio recording. In addition I took my Tacoma into the dealer and they said it was normal and they test drove other tacomas and they had the same noise.

Furthermore the dealer said they will give me a number I can call Toyota and voice my concern, which I will do.

 

Give them hell. It is not normal.

 

Have the same issue!

 

No issue here...

 

@BSFord I would drive you around in my Tacoma if I could, just so you could experience the noise. Honestly, it is not that bad (especially with music on), but I do not want them to try and sweep this under the rug as it should not be considered normal. I been in multiple vehicles as I am sure many other users have and none have made the noise my tacoma makes.

 

Didn't mean anything by it, just posting for comparison sake. It must not be on all trucks. That said I wonder if this is something that could develop for those who don't have it

 

I too would not want my dash torn apart by the dealer.

I heard the whistle part of this noise since day one and the "sighing" part of about a week later. Funny thing is that my 1997 Dodge Ram made the same "sighing" sound but I never knew it was the AC making it.

In any event it truly doesn't bother me and I wouldn't bother with a fix if it meant the dash had to be dismantled.

 

@Buckmaster63 I agree. I would not want my dash removed for this problem. I feel that would create more rattling later on.

 

No rattling in my truck. The dealer's mechanics are professional and know what they are doing. The problem for many is troublesome. Letting Toyota off the hook for an expensive vehicle is not in anyone's best interest. For those that don't mind the noise, just turn the radio up. Toyota doesn't want to any great length to fix this problem as long as the complaints are few. In the end, they will just say it is a normal noise, which everyone knows is not true. Good luck to all.

 

One last note, ask yourself..... Should I put up with an annoying noise on a vehicle I paid alot of money for?

 

I took my truck into the dealership a year ago complaining about it and they said they "could not duplicate the concern" and therefore did nothing. Drove it home with the whistle and still hear it today