AC compressor tweet

[Mr.Corvus]

OH I have heard this before...I think. People have mentioned the engine/system/car itself chirping and I had no earthly clue what they were talking about. Today I downshifted in manual mode (A/T) and heard it. It was like a "beep" but it was so sudden I thought I'd imagined it...

[markitect]

I sprayed a ton of lithium grease on into every groove and hole the A/C pulley, and the the noise went away for about 3 months/5k miles.

[joelg]

I just got my car back from the dealer who was performing the fix from engine chirp TSB. It took them 6.5 hours to do because "It's the techs first time and he wants to get it right." I guess someones car has to be the guinea pig. . . Anyway, this DID NOT FIX the A/C tweet as suggested above. If anything it sounds louder, but maybe thats just because its not being deafened by the engine chirp

[frslee]

Anyone else found a way to fix this problem? I recently noticed same noise with A/C on.

[ill86]

Originally Posted by frslee

Anyone else found a way to fix this problem? I recently noticed same noise with A/C on.

Turn the radio up.

Kidding. Seriously, just take it to the dealer if you think it isn't normal. I believe it is the ac clutch / magnet.

[frslee]

Haha, I'll take it to the dealer, but just wanted to find a temporary fix since I don't have time to stop by the dealer yet. Probably in May or something..

[bAS1c]

I have this, along with crickets from my second hpfp.

[br_z1Lch]

So I just got back from the Santa Monica Subaru dealership. I had called them about this noise specifically and the *amazing* amount of A/C condensation that was dripping out of the bottom of my car.

Since the noise is easily re-producible, I hopped in the car and revved to about 3k RPM for a second, made sure the AC was on full blast, and slowly let the RPM drop. At about 2.5k RPM the chirp/tweet happened (it was really loud inside a shop with the hood up, too). Both technicians standing there smiled and nodded to each other.

As I turned the car off, they told me that this is a "normal" sound, and is the A/C clutch engaging. I told them how often it happens (every 15 seconds or so) and that it was annoying, and asked if there was anything I could do about it. They of course said there was nothing to be done.

This is in-line with all that has been posted, but I just wanted to add my $.02

I'm thinking about trying some sort of grease on the pulley wheel, but will need to look into it more.

The best part about this noise? My old car ('95 Civic EX) used to make the same exact noise. It drove me crazy enough to not run the A/C in that car (it barely worked anyway). I was excited to have a new car that didn't have such a silly little issue...and when I heard it the first time I knew exactly what it was and almost cried a little. 700 miles in and I had another chirping A/C!

(Oh, and the excessive amount of A/C condensation pouring out of the bottom of my car? Totally normal, too...apparently)

[Plasma]

Hello everyone,

I ran across this thread when I first experienced this problem and have news to report. As you all well know, the problem is confirmed to be the Magnetic Compressor Clutch engaging when the AC unit is engaging. I have taken it in to the dealer three times in the last week for this problem and on the last visit I went on a scheduled ride with a FTS Toyota Tech and he deduced the problem to be the above.

The bad news is that Toyota is currently listing this issue as operating within system parameters and so they are saying the car is technically running normally and nothing can be done, as the car is "suppose" to do this.

I am currently in contact with Toyota/Scion to resolve the issue, fix/return, and will update this thread when I hear back from corporate. Hopefully the resolution of my case will give everyone options to solve this problem.

Thankz for the info,
-Plasma

[Plasma]

I spoke with Toyota and Scion's corporate offices yesterday and they informed me that since all components of the car are technically running as intended there is nothing they can/will do. I am seeking help from the NCDS, National Center for Dispute Settlement, to try and get them to force Toyota to devise a fix or repurchase the car. I will update again when I have more info.

Note the whole process will take around 40 days. So don't anyone hold their breath, I know Im not.

[id338]

This little noise was the only thing that worried me about my car. Knowing its AC makes me feel quite a bit better

[BRZnut]

just noticed the chip every 30 seconds during out trip back from S.C with the AC on driving the interstate. Not sure why...but it drove me crazy! It sounds like the low battery sound of a smoke alarm. Anyone find a fix?

[PMPB]

I just noticed the tweeting for the first time yesterday. It's getting hot here in Ontario, I measured 37C (99 F) and my car was tweeting every time the AC compressor kicked in. Took me about 5 minutes to notice the correlation of the tweet with the slight power dip, and then shutting off/on the AC to confirm.

After that drive, I came right here, and found out that it's a common quirk

[Shep]

700 miles and I just noticed this. It drives me a little nuts because it's so predictable. I find myself counting down the seconds until it will tweet again.