Out of warranty AC issues

Hey all,

Just wondering if anyone has experience getting Toyota to cover a repair that was documented prior to the warranty expiring?

The tl;dr version is I bought the truck brand new (2020, 4 cyl, access cab, approx 31k miles) and within a month of owning it, I experienced all the fun AC noises (whistling, the wind blowing over a beer bottle, etc) that would instantly stop as soon as I switched the AC off. I documented it at the dealership I purchased it from but they could never replicate the issue.

I brought it up periodically throughout the years at various dealerships as I had moved away from the original dealer. I was told it was a quirk, etc, even though there's now a TSB for the higher pitched noise I'd hear.

I thought maybe I was going insane until my husband drove it this weekend and we got stuck in traffic on the freeway, he heard every noise I'd been describing. I'm trying to convince Toyota to cover any repairs related to this because I have it documented, but I am a year out of warranty. So I'm wondering if anyone has ever had this type of experience with any documented issue, and were you able to get Toyota to cover it and if so, how did you go about doing it?

I'm guessing it'll end up with me paying out of pocket, but I figured I'd ask around anyways lol...

Any advice would be great!

 

I would contact Toyota corporate since multiple dealers could not address your concern while under warranty and see what Corporate says.

 

Seems like if you were working with dealers and documenting this issue BEFORE it went out of warranty
that Toyota would be liable to correct the issue.

 

Dealers covering things after the fact because visits were documented can be hit or miss. Probably depends on if they want to help.

However, all the funky noises are not a problem. If you are not actually having a cooling problem, there is nothing to be concerned about. I have all the same noises with mine and I’m at 52K with no AC issues. Makes the wine glass noise probably every few minutes when I’m driving.

 

Do you also have the lower pitched "oooo" noise when you're in stop and go traffic that also makes the steering wheel vibrate? That's the one I'm most concerned about, and it stops doing the noise/vibration as soon as I turn my AC off. It's similar to a noise another member recorded and his turned out to be a bad bearing or something in the AC compressor...

In hindsight, I maybe should have pushed harder to have this documented more than I did. I admittedly didn't drive it much over the last couple years because I worked out of town and used my company vehicle.

Edit: I want to quickly add that the steering wheel doesn't shake. It's more like you can feel the harmonics reverberate up through the steering wheel if that makes sense lol...

 

Fwiw, I'm pretty sure I hear the same noises you're describing and my AC works great. 2017 with 90k miles. It's pretty hot round here too. I dunno about the "ooo" noise but definitely the whistling stuff.

 

I don’t have any kind of noise at idle that I notice. When I’m outside the truck, I can definitely hear the compressor and sometimes it makes a grinding/rattling type noise. Done it since the day I bought the truck and others I’ve been around were the same.

The harmonics and feelings things in the wheel might be the engine bogging down when the compressor cycles. Is it only noticeable in Drive? I have a manual so I’m in neutral anytime I’m stopped. Other trucks (not Tacomas) have been pretty rough for me in D when stopped and the AC is cycling.

 

Only when drive as far as I know, but I feel dumb for not throwing it into neutral when I was stopped in traffic for what may have been a decade. I did notice the truck sings the song of its people when the compressor kicks on. If the compressor hasn't kicked on or if I turn the AC off completely, the harmonics stop immediately or aren't there to begin with (until the compressor kicks on, that is).

 

Your dealership is lacking……. Find a new dealer since you moved.

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2022/MC-10207964-9999.pdf

 

Does the system still work fine?

 

Just wanted to update this in case anyone else is dealing with this issue outside of warranty.

The dealership had my truck for over a week and couldn't reproduce the noise, but did find a leak elsewhere so that's since been fixed. I picked up the truck which promptly started making the noise. I took it back and did a test drive with a lead technician, who also heard the noise right away.

So here's where I'm at. I've been quoted roughly 2k to pay to have the evaporator replaced per the TSB in the post I'm quoting. I'm currently duking it out with Toyota as I truly believe it should be covered since I reported this ages ago back when the truck was well under warranty. Wish me luck!

Also quick disclosure, the current dealership I've been working with has been wonderful so far. I did put in a claim with Toyota's Brand Engagement Center per the dealership's recommendation, which has been forwarded to Toyota's Resolution Center. So that's where I'm at. I'll hopefully know more sometime next week.

 

As annoying as that noise is, my wife finds it endearing. I'm not a fan of it. However, as long as it's working properly I'll just leave it as it's intermittent and does it more in the warmer months. Not too keen to have my dash ripped apart either.

 

Let us know how this goes. I think most recently they have not been as gracious with after warranty coverage as they have been in the past.

 

I'm not to keen on having my dash ripped apart, either. But I'm in Arizona and where the seasons are hot, hotter, hottest, and then hell lol. So I get to hear that noise more often than not. I did notice that the air seemed cold next to the vents and then felt warmer by the time it got to me, but that could have been due to the leak. I admittedly didn't drive it much after getting it back the first time, basically just went right back to the dealership once I realized it wasn't fixed. So I couldn't really tell if fixing the leak fixed the warmer air coming out. But I will say, when I first bought the truck it was like an ice box. Even in Arizona, I rarely had to turn the AC on high due to how cold it was. So something changed and I am not mechanically inclined enough to know if it's due to the evap, the leak, or both.

I will certainly update with the final resolution. I'm definitely a bit nervous as 2k is pretty spendy and not something I can really afford right this minute due to life circumstances throwing high medical bills my direction. So fingers crossed they'll take pity on me and help me out lol.

 

I have the whistling on a 21. Noticed it on the test drive and even the tech drove it and they heard it too. Said it was perfectly normal, even though there's the TSB for it. AC seems to cool fine so far though.

 

I dropped off my car after taking 2 weeks to get the appointment and service manager said may not be able to do it because it has 38k miles instead of 36k miles. I infact have a photo of my mileage 2 weeks ago when i made the appointment with under 36k miles showing i could not bring it in because they did not have the appointment slots available.

They told me they will call me Monday (Today) because the manager will be in and they can make a decision.

So either i am getting this done or i am over miles on warranty.

 

So my truck is getting the TSB done under warranty.. but i just got a text saying that they noticed my O-Ring on the condenser is leaking and they recommend to replace it for $716.35. Does this seem accurate?

 

What is the cost breakdown? I'm curious if they're including the evacuation and refresh of the refrigerant? Because that should be included with the TSB... At least that's what they told me needs to be done with mine lol...

 

All I can add is that over the years whenever I had a problem that was initially covered by warranty, if it occurred again down the road it was covered. I had a car that the A/C went out (not a Toyota) and they diagnosed a failed compressor and covered it. A few months over the warranty, the A/C failed again and to make a long story short: it turned out to be the evaporator. It wasn't the compressor. They covered it.

To be fair, I think there is a fine line between initial failure and subsequent failures. I was lucky to be dealing with an honest dealer that realized they jumped the gun on the compressor diagnosis/replacement and did the right thing. I'd be willing to bet Corporate made them eat the cost for the evaporator. Times change though: I think it also depends on the time-line. If it took 12+ months for the issue to occur again, they probably would have denied it.

 

They did not give me a breakdown, the latest text says "I am going to try and send you a picture" and i assume that means of the leaking O-Ring