2011-12 A/C Compressor Noise - TSB ITB13-021

[Debonair]

So here it is. The actual TSB with applicable VIN's and production dates plus part numbers.

I looked at the part numbers listed for my car and they come out to around $450.00 total . There is mention of temporarily unbolting the BRKT-TUBE CLIP from the body to see if this improves the noise that I am happy to see. It looks like a very easy bracket to modify with rubber to absorb the vibrations and noise before bolting it the body for $0. Hopefully this is the main cause.

Overall it looks like a very easy procedure. Now that I have it I will do some tinkering and then decide if I want to perform the "fix" and buy all required parts including the "A/C Amp" module.

PDF

[m37intheburg]

Is this the wining noise when at idle? I thought it sounded quite noisy.

[AlphaSnacks]

I swear my car does this, but it's a 13. And dealership couldn't get approval to apply the fix.

[Frog]

I believe it was fixed on all 2012 and newer. But you could need a new compressor. At idle turn off the ac. Does the sound go away? Or as u rev the engine to 1.5 does the sound change pitch?

[AlphaSnacks]

Yeah it goes away. But no it doesn't change pitch. Once you start driving the car sounds perfectly normal. You hear it mostly from the outside, it doesn't come inside.

[Frog]

The ac noise on my car was not noticeable from out side the car. Sounds like u have something else.

[MpamP]

I had this problem fixed, but it's back it seems and I still sometimes hear a whine, like pressure being released, for sometimes as long as 12 seconds after I turn off the car..

[NoTalentLoser]

I think I'm noticing this noise in my 2012 M37x. Do you only hear it after you've been driving for a while, and then you stop the car and turn on the AC? I tried to reproduce it last night after immediately starting the car after it had been parked for several hours, but I couldn't hear the hum. It only seems to do it at idle but after I've been driving for a little while. Is this what you guys have noticed as well?

[NoTalentLoser]

BTW, is there any chance that someone recorded an audio file of the sound that they happened to upload online somewhere? I'd like to compare it to the sound my car is making, if possible....

[biggie]

Pretty sure mine is doing this. Anyone get it fixed for free from the dealer?

[Frog]

Park car. Run the ac. Fan on low. Windows up. Listen for low vibe sound. Turn ac off. Does sound immediately go away? Turn AC back on does sound immediately reappear? If so then u need the update.

This sound is always there when the AC compressor is running ... Because the running AC compressor causes a slight vibration but the new vibration damper will remove....

[SwissCheeseHead]

I'm getting something that sounds like a squeaky bearing. I can hear it if the fan is running (heat or AC) and I turn off the car. Whatever is slowing down associated with the HVAC is squeaking. Can be heard easily from outside but difficult from inside the car. Anyone else have this?

[Frog]

This sound of the ac compressor can not be heard from outside. Because it's more of a vibration wine. And The sound immediately goes away when you turn the AC compressor off. Your fan bearing may be going

[SwissCheeseHead]

That's what I'm thinking. I'm having trouble with heat only going to the driver's compartment and rear seat vents. Dealership said the heater core is bad. Might as well add this to the list as well...

[tlaspec]

Thanks for posting this, I fixed my noise only by putting some dynamat between the two brackets and the car body, I did not bother wrapping the ac lines as shown on tsb. Took it to dealer previously and they said to bring it back when noise worsens...

[SwissCheeseHead]

I just started noticing the low humming sound described by frog. Seems like i'll have to do some exploring of the procedure and getting a rubber sound damper made up. thanks for posting this.

[Debonair]

Thanks for posting this, I fixed my noise only by putting some dynamat between the two brackets and the car body, I did not bother wrapping the ac lines as shown on tsb. Took it to dealer previously and they said to bring it back when noise worsens...

This is exactly what I have been planning on trying. Free time has been non-existent lately so I have yet to get to it.

Is the hum when the AC on gone completely?

[tlaspec]

After adding some dynamat under the brackets the noise is much less pronounced than before but you can still hear it if you know what to listen for.

The upper bracket is easily accessible but adding some dynamat between the lower bracket and chassis helped the most.