Wooshing noise from AC

Hey TW.

Anyone else notice a wooshing noise while driving with AC on? It’s like a fan clutch kicks on for 5 seconds or an ocean waive breaking. It starts quiet gets louder and then is gone. A few minutes later it happens again.

It’s kind of annoying and not something I’ve heard on other vehicles. Thanks.

 

Is it the engine fan cycling on/off?

 

You mean like the noise of the air coming out of the vents?

 

It could be that. I haven’t been able to check it while it’s parked. Just started hearing it a week ago. I’ll have to run it when I get home and see if I can track down where it comes from.

 

Yes sort of. It’s like the fan goes from low to high then back to low but the force of air coming out never changes and it lasts a few seconds.

 

Is it a whistle (pucker lips and blow), or a 'shhhhhh' sound? Both are common in these trucks.

The whistle noise happens when there is really hot air entering the evaporator and the engine speed is above 2k rpm. It usually lasts for 3-4 seconds whenever the compressor cycles on.

The shhhhhh sound is just a normal refrigerant expansion sound.

To reiterate... The shhhhh sound is completely normal. The whistle is more of a quirk with these Tacomas.

 

The first time I heard it I had to check my phone and see if the kids sound machine app came on by accident.

 

It’s more the shhhh sound.

 

You will also see it mentioned as the 'darth vader' sound on here. Nothing to worry about.

 

The fan will cycle even with a cold engine. It's what cools the AC condenser. It's quite loud. Hopefully, that's it, and not Eastern Gassy Owls holed up in your vents. They smell and they're protected (endangered).

 

That makes sense! Lol thank you.

 

The AC in my truck has always had a Darth Vader Exhaling sound on occasion, no problems with how it functions.

 

Found the threads related to the Darth Vader effect.
Darn TW making everything a crisis of the world.

I drove an 2007 for 7 years and had all sorts of random issues. Chucked it up to being a used truck and fixed them. Now TW has me worried about everything. Lol

 

My ‘19 has this ocean wave/Vader sound anytime the A/C is running as well. It is quite annoying and I really can’t imagine how it would be normal.

 

I have the whistle, probably 3-5 seconds like Ryan 760 mentioned

 

I've had that and I'd definitely describe that as the whooshing/wave break the OP describes.

 

It's just the sound of gas expanding out of the TXV. I think I remember reading somewhere that Toyota put the TXV closer to the evaporator in these trucks, whereas with most cars you'll see it located pretty much right on the firewall. Downside of it being right near the evaporator is that you hear more of its noises (although probably a more efficient location).

 

I find it happens less, or goes away completely with recirculate on, and once the cabin cools down a bit. If you have it on outside air, and it's really hot out, it will make the whistle every time the compressor kicks on and engine speed is above 1800-ish rpm as the evaporator is constantly sucking in hot air. There seems to be some strange harmonics issue related to heat load on the evaporator combined with the compressor operating at a higher output.

 

It does not bother me, I assumed it was the air and now I know it is not serious

 

So mine is at the dealership right now for this exact problem + not cooling. I have other thread about it. Long story short - Started making the noise. A/C started getting warmer. Took to dealer and refrigerant had leaked out. They replaced evaporator when they found leak. Noise is even louder now and every 20 seconds or so, especially when truck is warmed up. A/C doesn't get very cool. It's back at the dealer and they admit something isn't right and they are looking in to it.