AC compressor tweet - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

Hanzo · 07-30-2012, 08:38 AM

When the AC is on the AC compressor kicking on is normal but mine tend to kick on very often under load condition. When the engine is cold the compressor kicks on every 3 – 8 seconds, after the engine warmed up it kicks in every 15 to 30 seconds, finally when outside temperature is over 100 degrees and the engine is warmed up it kicks every once in a while (like how most cars are). When it does kick on under load condition it makes this tweet sound (like smoke alarm low on battery) and a slight hesitation in power delivery. Do you guys have this same noise under driving condition?

Subie · 07-30-2012, 10:40 PM

I'm getting this exact same noise! I thought at first it was the suspension but I heard the noise the moment I turned on the A/C earlier today and made the connection. I'm going to the dealer later in the week for the more serious drone/resonance issue I'm having but I'll also bring up the A/C noise to have it documented.

Jidonsu · 07-30-2012, 10:43 PM

Wait, does it sound like it's coming from the behind the gauges? I've been getting a similar sound and it drives me nuts!

Subie · 07-30-2012, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jidonsu

Wait, does it sound like it's coming from the behind the gauges? I've been getting a similar sound and it drives me nuts!

It sounds like it's coming from the front of the car/engine bay to me, but check and see if the noise is related to whether or not the A/C is on.

Jidonsu · 07-30-2012, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Subie

It sounds like it's coming from the front of the car/engine bay to me, but check and see if the noise is related to whether or not the A/C is on.

It's definitely coming from the front of the car somewhere. I'll try to see if it does away when the A/C off.

Hanzo · 07-31-2012, 09:12 AM

I've already found the source of the noise, it's the AC compressor. If you sit at idle, rev up your engine to around 2K and leave it steady, turn on and off your AC you will hear that noise (AC compressor clutch kicking in) it has to be under load to make the tweet noise otherwise it’s just a click (normal). I wonder if our AC is slowly leaking since it didn't start to do this until around 1000K miles.

Next time I take my car in I'll have to check the AC level.

Jesse · 07-31-2012, 08:49 PM

i get the same tweet, only with a/c on.
not to be confused with the crickets, definitely something different, and one single tweet.

NYC BRZ · 07-31-2012, 09:05 PM

Me too! I drive 1500 miles round trip and it drove me nuts when I didn't have the radio on lol. It's so low but still noticeable. It happens at cruising speeds too. I have 3500 miles on the car already.

jt · 07-31-2012, 09:48 PM

Yes.

And it drives me nuts. Between the crickets, tweets, jar of marbles in the clutch, and the license plate rattle I'm starting to wish I still had my Miata.

track_warrior · 07-31-2012, 09:57 PM

I have it as well and plan on taking it to the dealer next week, if anybody finds the cause let me know before hand it might be a simple fix.

ssmtsx · 07-31-2012, 10:29 PM

Yes!!! This has been driving me crazy. I could not figure out why/where that noise was coming from.

My A/C is also abysmal. It does not keep my car cool at all...I just hit 3600 miles.

Surakusa · 08-02-2012, 11:09 AM

Yep, I'm having the same issues... Mileage is at 2300. while driving I just turn the A/C on and off and you can hear that chirp, but if left on, it chirps every 14 seconds or so... Drives me nuts! Definitely an A/C issue, though to me it sounds like an cabin noise behind the dash. When I get a chance, I'll have a buddy of mine rev the engine up and turn on the A/C and see if I can locate the sound with a long screwdriver. If I can pinpoint it, I'll attempt to come up with a fix... I'm afraid if I take it to Toyota they are just going to tell me... "I don't hear it" same spiel all of the time...

Hanzo · 08-02-2012, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Surakusa

Yep, I'm having the same issues... Mileage is at 2300. while driving I just turn the A/C on and off and you can hear that chirp, but if left on, it chirps every 14 seconds or so... Drives me nuts! Definitely an A/C issue, though to me it sounds like an cabin noise behind the dash. When I get a chance, I'll have a buddy of mine rev the engine up and turn on the A/C and see if I can locate the sound with a long screwdriver. If I can pinpoint it, I'll attempt to come up with a fix... I'm afraid if I take it to Toyota they are just going to tell me... "I don't hear it" same spiel all of the time...

I did that already, you don't need a screwdriver. Have your friend rev up the engine around 2,500 rpm in neutral. Have your friend turn on an off the AC while you stand in front of the car with the hood open and you'll hear the tweet coming from the AC compressor clutch kicking in making the tweet.

Surakusa · 08-02-2012, 01:41 PM

Grrr! That's frustrating! We gotta get this fixed! haha. I can't imagine what would cause that chirp unless there just isn't enough refrigerant in the system due to a leak or what not since the refrigerant also acts as a lubricant. Hmmm... Interesting problem indeed! Regardless... A new car should not be making this noise... :P

07-30-2012, 08:38 AM	#1
Hanzo Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Drives: Waiting for the ND Miata Location: VA Posts: 963 Thanks: 182 Thanked 656 Times in 194 Posts Mentioned: 11 Post(s) Tagged: 12 Thread(s)	AC compressor tweet When the AC is on the AC compressor kicking on is normal but mine tend to kick on very often under load condition. When the engine is cold the compressor kicks on every 3 – 8 seconds, after the engine warmed up it kicks in every 15 to 30 seconds, finally when outside temperature is over 100 degrees and the engine is warmed up it kicks every once in a while (like how most cars are). When it does kick on under load condition it makes this tweet sound (like smoke alarm low on battery) and a slight hesitation in power delivery. Do you guys have this same noise under driving condition?

07-30-2012, 10:43 PM	#3
Jidonsu Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Drives: Scion FR-S \| 6MT \| Ultramarine Location: CT Posts: 410 Thanks: 36 Thanked 98 Times in 60 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	Wait, does it sound like it's coming from the behind the gauges? I've been getting a similar sound and it drives me nuts! __________________ FR-S \| 6MT \| Ultramarine

07-31-2012, 09:05 PM	#8
NYC BRZ AutoX Addict Join Date: Mar 2012 Drives: 08 Pontiac G8 GT,13 GBS BRZ Limited Location: Queens, NY Posts: 723 Thanks: 168 Thanked 118 Times in 83 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Me too! I drive 1500 miles round trip and it drove me nuts when I didn't have the radio on lol. It's so low but still noticeable. It happens at cruising speeds too. I have 3500 miles on the car already. __________________ 2013 BRZ Limited- GBS - 6MT -VIN #0937 ~~NYR SCCA # 18 C Street R (CSR)~~ "But there’s no mistaking the noise. This car is loud, and not in a particularly nice way. There’s no crisp exhaust note, no induction wheezing. It’s just the sound of petrol exploding in a metal box." - Jeremy Clarkson

07-31-2012, 09:57 PM	#10
track_warrior Track Junkie Join Date: Mar 2012 Drives: Faster than the Stig! Location: TX Posts: 1,338 Thanks: 530 Thanked 770 Times in 363 Posts Mentioned: 10 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I have it as well and plan on taking it to the dealer next week, if anybody finds the cause let me know before hand it might be a simple fix. __________________ Compensating a heavy car with horsepower is like giving an alcoholic cocaine to sober him up...

07-30-2012, 10:40 PM	#2
Subie Señor Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Drives: 2013 SSM DZE BRZ Location: SC Posts: 947 Thanks: 728 Thanked 405 Times in 196 Posts Mentioned: 4 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I'm getting this exact same noise! I thought at first it was the suspension but I heard the noise the moment I turned on the A/C earlier today and made the connection. I'm going to the dealer later in the week for the more serious drone/resonance issue I'm having but I'll also bring up the A/C noise to have it documented.

07-31-2012, 09:12 AM	#6
Hanzo Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Drives: Waiting for the ND Miata Location: VA Posts: 963 Thanks: 182 Thanked 656 Times in 194 Posts Mentioned: 11 Post(s) Tagged: 12 Thread(s)	I've already found the source of the noise, it's the AC compressor. If you sit at idle, rev up your engine to around 2K and leave it steady, turn on and off your AC you will hear that noise (AC compressor clutch kicking in) it has to be under load to make the tweet noise otherwise it’s just a click (normal). I wonder if our AC is slowly leaking since it didn't start to do this until around 1000K miles. Next time I take my car in I'll have to check the AC level.

07-31-2012, 08:49 PM	#7
Jesse wheel gap Join Date: Jun 2012 Drives: whiteout frs, 04 xrs Location: MA Posts: 555 Thanks: 460 Thanked 249 Times in 153 Posts Mentioned: 10 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	i get the same tweet, only with a/c on. not to be confused with the crickets, definitely something different, and one single tweet.

07-31-2012, 09:48 PM	#9
jt Chud Join Date: May 2012 Drives: 2013 FR-S Location: 608 Posts: 31 Thanks: 2 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Yes. And it drives me nuts. Between the crickets, tweets, jar of marbles in the clutch, and the license plate rattle I'm starting to wish I still had my Miata.

07-31-2012, 10:29 PM	#11
ssmtsx Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Drives: Ultramarine 6MT FR-S Location: Northern VA Posts: 43 Thanks: 9 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Yes!!! This has been driving me crazy. I could not figure out why/where that noise was coming from. My A/C is also abysmal. It does not keep my car cool at all...I just hit 3600 miles.

08-02-2012, 11:09 AM	#12
Surakusa Mechanical Guru Join Date: Jun 2012 Drives: 2013 Scion FR-S (Argento) M/T Location: USA Posts: 63 Thanks: 6 Thanked 27 Times in 14 Posts Mentioned: 3 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Yep, I'm having the same issues... Mileage is at 2300. while driving I just turn the A/C on and off and you can hear that chirp, but if left on, it chirps every 14 seconds or so... Drives me nuts! Definitely an A/C issue, though to me it sounds like an cabin noise behind the dash. When I get a chance, I'll have a buddy of mine rev the engine up and turn on the A/C and see if I can locate the sound with a long screwdriver. If I can pinpoint it, I'll attempt to come up with a fix... I'm afraid if I take it to Toyota they are just going to tell me... "I don't hear it" same spiel all of the time...

08-02-2012, 01:41 PM	#14
Surakusa Mechanical Guru Join Date: Jun 2012 Drives: 2013 Scion FR-S (Argento) M/T Location: USA Posts: 63 Thanks: 6 Thanked 27 Times in 14 Posts Mentioned: 3 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Grrr! That's frustrating! We gotta get this fixed! haha. I can't imagine what would cause that chirp unless there just isn't enough refrigerant in the system due to a leak or what not since the refrigerant also acts as a lubricant. Hmmm... Interesting problem indeed! Regardless... A new car should not be making this noise... :P

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