Weird Noise After Turning On A/C

I've got a 2011 Tacoma with 15,000 miles and I've noticed that sometimes when I turn on the A/C, I'll hear a noise coming from under the hood; Sounds like it's on the passenger side. It doesn't happen every time though.. It sounds like the noise you hear when you scrape the mud flap on a speed bump. It's definitely related to the A/C. Any ideas?

 

Mine does it too. It's an atrocious noise.

Other people have said the same, so I think it's common. Something about the way the a/c compressor's oil settles to the bottom so it's dry on initial startup.

 

ummm my buddies 08 did that when there was mud all over the radiator? probably not the same thing though

 

Lots of info here and here. Best of luck.

Frank

 

I know this thread is a couple months old, but mine does the same thing. Its right after I start it up and throw the A/C on.

Mine sounds like its coming from below me on the drivers side...

I have a 2012 Tacoma TRD with only 1500 miles on it

 

This happened to my 2010 with low miles I brought it to the dealer they changed my belt because it looked worn? 10k miles and a worn belt for no reason? I told them I sometimes smelt burning rubber and that a bearing or something was seizing, they didn't listen and couldn't replicate the noise. Putting the new belt on did keep it quiet for about 5k. Now it still happens every so often but I never smell burning rubber. I'm out of the 30k warranty but my truck came with a 7 yr 100k dealer warranty hopefully that covers this.

 

just the sound of the compressor engaging. lets see if i can replicate it with letters. . . waaarrrRRCK. when you start your truck and turn on a/c at high idle. im sure it is designed to handle this because it will handle turning on at highway speeds right?

i always wait till it idles down a bit. 88,000 miles and belt and a/c work fine

 

Same here on my '08.

Start the engine, then give it a few to idle down before engaging the AC.

I have noticed that I don't notice the noise if the AC is on when I start the engine.
It's only when I start it and then hit the button.

 

Don't kid yourself.

I had an 06 4 banger 2wd and had a brain fart going up a steep hill at 5000 RPM and turned on the a/c. Big mistake. Made the most god awful noise you have ever hear. That was at about 28,000 miles. Stopped by the dealer said the a/c had a funny sound to it. Actually sounded incredibly bad. They took a look at it and he told me it grenaded with metal shavings all inside the whole a/c system. They covered it under warranty no problem. All said and done the guy told me it was like a $4500 job. Only ended up lasting about a year and stopped working again after that.

 

Sometimes it's just crap in the fan. Open the fresh air filter door behind the glove box and check for pinestraw, etc. in the squirrel cage.