A/C Noise When Turning On

FreonJohn,

You got a good point.

My truck sat 2 days and before I started it up, I went underneath and turned the compressor pulley to see if it showed resistance. It was extremely hard to turn.I waited until I ran the truck and AC, later that day when the engine cooled.The compressor rotated easily by hand

 

Ok I’m throwing my truck in the ring. 2019 TRD Pro owned since new, currently has 9.2k miles. After the truck sits a day or more and is started and A/C engaged I too get a loud unhealthy clunk. Someone has to have had luck with a diagnosis

 

My 2014 just started doing this yesterday. To me, it sounds like it might be tensioner related. Only after it sits for awhile, and the sound goes away quickly. I wonder if it's related to humidity and the fact that lately my ac has been run to death cause it's SO miserable right now in central VA. Or, something is about to break. Guess I'll wait and see.

 

Same here 18 Platinum 25k miles. Getting a sound from the a/c. Thinking it might be the fan motor? It comes and goes, definitely annoying! Can't believe Toyota doesn't have a diagnosis with how common this issue seems to be.

 

I own a 2019 5.7 has about 33k on it and owner since brand new. I hope this comes to resolution soon as I am almost out of factory warranty. Has anyone heard anything? Mine does exactly what everyone else has explained, once while coasting it actually shuddered the gas pedal and motor and once while at idle after starting. It’s got to be the clutch or tensioner but it’s not very smooth whatever it is.

 

Mine does it. It sounds terrible. Only happens after leaving it parked over night, or when it is cold outside. When I push the AC, button "CLUNK".

Can't wait to replace the AC compressor, it is so conveniently located!

 

On mine it sounds like a large metallic mid range chirp.

 

Please let us know if you hear back.

 

I guess my 19' CrewMax with 1200 miles has same issue. To confirm, I took a short clip https://youtu.be/MM7pPGatitQ Since I lost my key (probably when working on the truck), now I always think I dropped the key under the hood and relate any suspicious noise to it.

 

YUP, that’s the noise!

 

Thanks for confirming that. I am surprised and disappointed that Toyota can't figure out what this noise is after so many people experience it.

 

We all feel the same way, sounds like shit and I’m embarrassed when it happens and others around me hear it.

 

Same here on my 2019 Crewmax with 10.7K miles. It's done it periodically since I got it in July of 2019. Happened again today for the first time in a while. Temp outside was 63°. Low last night was 35°. It was not humid. Luckily I had my dash cam on and pressed the AC button after it was recording. I'll use that at my dealer the next time I take it in.

 

Having issues myself. Compressor is loud when activating and regardless of settings - compressor is always engaged. Turns out my AC amplifier is being replaced.

 

Hi all I have a 2014 tundra 5.7 40k Noisy a/c compressor, noise is available al the time when on. At idle sound as though it rattles at speed or when accelerating it sounds like a super charger. I have never heard of an a/c amplifier! has anyone fixed their problem. I am pricing a/c compressors as we speak.

 

Let it sit for a few days. Then video outside while someone turns it on. Try the catch the clutch and the belt. Mine does this too. I believe it is the refrigerant and oil has settled in the compressor and shocks the belt when engaging the compressor. I have experienced this in other vehicles. I have worked with other refrigerants but not the R1234YF yet.

 

same issue here on a 2020 1794 with 2k miles. This sucks

 

Mine does the same thing, probably another normal noise the truck makes along with the others

 

My 2019 does it too with 13,000 miles on it. Anyone heard of a fix? The sound is pretty intense to ignore.

 

This noise is a bad compressor just replaced the one on my 2014. I did not notice the noise till just after the warranty was out. If you are under warranty get it taken care of and get a rental on the house.

 

@lev Typical new gen toyota junk

 

I have this same noise on my 2019.

 

Anyone found a fix for this AC noise yet

I think FreonJohn was spot on

 

Add another. 2020 SR5 w/1200 miles. Done it since I brought it home.

I think the worst part is trying to explain to the wife how it appears to be "normal". And yes, Toyota, the noise is bad enough our wives are even noticing it!

 

Add one more. I have a 2020 with 3,000 miles. I've noticed the noise twice but after two times I searched this site and of course I found others had documented it. Once yesterday afternoon (95 degrees and sunny) and once two afternoons ago (90 degrees and sunny). Both times it happened, the AC was already on and the noise happened during start-up. Both times, the truck had sat for 24 hours. Today I'm going to start it with the AC off and then turn it on after it's running. The noise that @mi4 has in the video is the exact noise I hear.

 

If I had to take a guess I think it’s because a Suction accumulator is no longer used but instead has been replaced with a liquid to suction heat exchanger.
The accumulator is to prevent liquid refrigerant from making its way to compressor
the heat exchanger won’t, its there for efficiency purposes

Just my opinion as a 29 year commercial refrigeration technician

 

Isn't liquid to a compressor a very bad thing? How do you keep it from tearing itself apart without a suction accumulator?

 

Mine has that very strong "clunk" sound too when turning the AC on for the first time each day......on a fairly new truck. There's no
way to know how common this is among Tundra owners though....I hope it's considered "normal".

 

I've not had the AC noise since my last post. Not sure why it came and went. No noise now when starting truck up with AC already on or starting truck up and then turning AC on. It'll probably come back, but for now it's gone.