My Dash sounds like Darth Vader when I turn the AC on.

Hi guys,

Over the last few weeks my 15 tacoma has started to have this darth vader/whooshing sound happen on and off when the AC is on and its hot outside. Noise seems to be comming from somewhere inside the dash. The hotter it is the more often it does it. On a real hot day it will happen every 10-20 seconds. It sounds like darth vader taking a breath if that makes sense. Lasts 1-3 seconds. No other odd noise and the AC is still as cold as ice. I've seen a bunch of posts about 3rd gen guys having this issue but not much on the 2nd gen.

I've read the refrigerant could just be a hair low. Should I try adding a bit with one of those DIY cans? Anyone else have this issue?

 

Mine does it every once in a while along with the slight smell of refrigerant. Possible leak in the system. I did top off the AC with leak sealer since it was a little low and havent heard the noise. When I worked AC jobs for BMW, every car that came in with low refrigerant made that same noise.

 

I don't have any smells and the AC is still ice cold. Its been hot up here lately so the AC has been ran a lot and ive heard the hissing sounds for weeks. I feel like if it was leaking the AC wouldn't be ice cold anymore.

 

I wouldn't reccomend adding anything to it without checking pressures on both sides and please don't add anything with stop leak in it, it will only cause more grief down the road.

 

Have you solved this issue?

 

His post was 2 years ago and his profile says that truck was sold.

He's still active though, so maybe he'll pop in and report if it was remedied. @fourfourone

 

Sold the truck last year. The noise was for sure from being low on refrigerant. Ended up finding a pinhole leak in one of the lower AC lines. For a few months I would top off the system with the can refrigerant you can buy at any auto store. The noise would go away and then slowly come back as the system got low.