I've never heard the AC of an ICE be anywhere near as loud. To me, this isn't like the vacuum pump for the brakes or some other random noise -- it's so much louder. Heck even driving an ICE is less disturbing to listen to than the racket this AC puts out. It's not horrible inside the cabin (it's not great) but it's pretty crazy outside the cabin. The pitch / makeup of the noise is perhaps the worst component (versus the decibels involved).
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I've never heard the AC of an ICE be anywhere near as loud. To me, this isn't like the vacuum pump for the brakes or some other random noise -- it's so much louder. Heck even driving an ICE is less disturbing to listen to than the racket this AC puts out. It's not horrible inside the cabin (it's not great) but it's pretty crazy outside the cabin. The pitch / makeup of the noise is perhaps the worst component (versus the decibels involved).
Gizmotoy
Active Member
I got my Model S at the end of the hot season last year, so I didn't really work the AC too much. This year my experience has been much like yours. Indeed, I fully believed my AC to be broken and reduced its usage substantially. Then I saw this thread with a lot of the same complaints, particularly that cycling the compressor off and then on again usually fixes it. I made a video and sent it to my SC. They said they put some parts on order for me that will reduce the harmonic vibrations being caused by the compressor, and that I could continue to use the AC until that time without damaging it. That's been a few weeks now, and the parts are still on order.
I'd have agreed with you until my car started doing it. It is LOUD. I heard it from across the parking lot when I used the app to cool the car remotely. Thinking the same as you, I sat my Tesla next to my Evo which has a nearly straight-through exhaust and a belt-driven AC compressor, and the Tesla's compressor was undeniably louder than the Evo's engine+exhaust(at idle)+compressor. I think it must vibrate at the resonant frequency of something under the hood, amplifying the sound, which would explain why it can go away by "turning it off and then on again." The frequency changes slightly and all is good.
I had a pedestrian at a crosswalk ask if my car was OK. So, yes, perhaps a little embarrassing.
I'm not saying it isn't loud from the outside. I'm just saying that I've always considered it one of the more or less "normal" noises put out by this car. The AC doesn't just cool the cabin interior, it also cools a very large battery. So it has to be quite powerful to handle both simultaneously. I don't think comparisons to other, quieter ACs in other cars is a fair comparison. No other car has over 7,000 lithium ion cells to cool in addition to keeping passengers comfortable.
Gizmotoy
Active Member
I don't know if you were responding to me in particular, but I wouldn't say the car in my example is quiet. When importing it to the state it was found to be just under the legal limit for exhaust volume in CA. My wife thought it was hilarious the car I race and is barely street legal because of all the noise it makes was quieter than my Tesla with the AC on.
In any case, Tesla seems to have acknowledged that it's not supposed to sound like this and that they have a fix, so it's safe to say it's not a "normal noise put out by this car".
Of course, there is the other possibility that your car's not actually making this noise. The AC is loud when it's working normally, but it's clearly normal compressor noise. When it gets in this unusual state it is something completely different. It doesn't even sound the same.
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William13
Active Member
It is louder than any standard new sedan ICE at idle I have ever heard.
It needs to be fixed.
Unfortunately mine was quiet until recently "fixed" due to an error message.
It needs to be fixed.
Unfortunately mine was quiet until recently "fixed" due to an error message.
Wrt how powerful it needs to be - the AC on an RV or a bus (or my central air) is quieter. The output requirement doesn't dictate the loudness (I understand the space constraints involved here which come into play yes but it's still reasonable to engineer a quieter system given those constraints).
I get what you're saying - to a point. However, if we just listen to the percentage of people unhappy with the noise, there's clearly an issue.
(Btw I appreciate your input and candor. I'm not trying to gang up on you
chickensevil
Active Member
That might be it then, there might be two crowds of people without realizing it. Those who think the "normal" sound is too loud, and those who are actually hearing something far worse with their car, and it becomes REALLY loud haha! Hopefully they can fix it for you!
My AC is certainly embarrassingly loud when running at full power. It sometimes drowns out the Mustangs and pick-ups with aftermarket exhaust next to me. Sounds terrible, and the vibration can be felt through the brake pedal, steering wheel, and in the passenger seat. Was told last summer that it was normal, but they are looking on sourcing a new compressor. Is there a fix now?
There is a "fix" for this out now. It's a insulating blanket and a different bracket. When I was in last time they installed the blanket, but did not have the bracket. It did not improve the sound and I actually think it might be worse than it was before. I am convinced there is either something (compressor, line, bracket) contacting either the frame or more likely the frunk tub and amplifying the noise now.
EarlyAdopter
Active Member
There's a TSB now that involves a sound insulating "blanket" and a new bracket to keep the compressor from vibrating.
When I was in two weeks ago for another issue I asked if they had ever come up with a fix, as I had complained last summer and told there was nothing they could do yet at that time. Indeed, yes, they said they have this fix now and they installed them.
It's not been hot enough here to test it fully, but the little I have run the A/C it seems much quieter.
When I was in two weeks ago for another issue I asked if they had ever come up with a fix, as I had complained last summer and told there was nothing they could do yet at that time. Indeed, yes, they said they have this fix now and they installed them.
It's not been hot enough here to test it fully, but the little I have run the A/C it seems much quieter.
Liz G
P03056
The way I have handled this is simply to put the car into Eco mode. It take slightly longer to cool the car down, but if your pre-cooling that's not a big issue. The fan is noticeably quieter when in Eco mode.
EarlyAdopter
Active Member
Interesting topic... I get the cooling-system ramp up too... but I've always felt I was hearing more of the condenser fan pulling air across the coils through the louvered intake vent more so than the compressor itself (although I can hear/feel that as well)...
Is everybody just lumping all that sound together as "A/C noise"?
Is everybody just lumping all that sound together as "A/C noise"?
When I got home yesterday, the noise was so loud my dogs ran out of the garage. I tried to catch it, but only got the tail end:
Dropbox - Monday, Jun 2
IMO, that's louder than an ICE.
Dropbox - Monday, Jun 2
IMO, that's louder than an ICE.
Just to claify my own issue, I don't hear any buzzing or whine. What I hear, and am unhappy with, is the EXTREMELY loud fan runs.
ok, so i went out and made a video of it. I turned on the A/C from the passenger side then just walked around the front. It gets louder over time. you can start to hear it around 0:43. it gets louder slowly. then around 2:40 to the end of the video you can easily hear it get louder and louder and LOUDER. sounds ridiculous.
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