alex03TL-S

Hello all, I got my ’03 TL-S about three weeks ago, since day one I can hear a whistling noise whenever the A/C kicks in and as soon as I turn off the A/C it goes away. It gets annoying after a while. Took the car to the dealer and according to the service advisor Acura is aware of this problem but has no fix?! Has anyone experienced this noise? Or does anyone know the fix? Any replies are appreciated.

samkws

it's normal...

axleback

Here's a fix. Turn your stereo's volume up when you have the AC on.

axleback

sotiri

Yeah I have the same problem, they replaced the A/C compressor, its still there.
How did you find out that Acura knows about it, but has no solution for it? Do they acknowledge that it is a problem/defect?
Problem seems to worsen when the weather is hotter.

sotiri

Hey Axelback, the problem is that sometimes its so damn loud, you can hear it over the stereo.

samkws

reallie?
mine is very minimal...

and our A/C is already very quiet compare with camry and maxima

alex03TL-S

sotiri: The problem is definitely worst when the weather is hot, probably because the compressor engages more often and stays engaged longer. The service advisor called the Acura tech line and according to him they are aware of the problem and are working on a fix. He did tell me that the compressor wasn’t the problem and the noise was coming from the engine block.

asloudasitgets

its normal. all cars humm or make a hum or whistle noise while ac is on.

sotiri

Thanks, as for the problem worse in hotter weather, I disagree, at least with my car, I can feel the AC engage in cooler weather, but in cooler weather when its engaged, the noise is less, the whistling is markedly less.

samkws

in cooler weather u don't need A/C on...
so what u do is to put it A/C off mode so u won't hear any noise

sotiri

dumb idea, in cooler weather you still need A/C, its called dehumidification. Here in Chicago, we can have 45 degrees and 90% humidity, and if you have ever driven with the A/C off, you can see the humidity condense on the glass within 3 minutes.
The fact is that in the winter you need the A/C on to remove the moisture from the interior to prevent condensation on the cold glass surface... even when its sub zero.
Turning off the A/C is not the solution, isolating the noise from the frame/block is.

alex03TL-S

You hit the nail on the head sotiri! I couldn’t have said it better myself.

sotiri

samkws:
The problem with the A/C is not continous. My dealer understood the problem, because the tech verified that under the same conditions, ie; same time, temp and model car, my car was whistling (more like a loud whine) and the new car on the lot wasnt.

alex03TL-S
have you noticed if the whistle/whine increases with the engine speed?
I have been able to verify that the whine is not dependant on the transmission being in gear or any gear, its just there whether the car is moving or not, in gear or not, but that the whine is directly linked with engine RPM's, and the A/C engaged.

samkws

err....so u gotta fix it...not on my car...

btw the weather up here is pretty dry at most of the time...so it's better to put A/C off...why?? coz it saves u a few bucks per tank and it's not that gd to use the A/C for hot air...

alex03TL-S

sotiri: I haven’t noticed the whistle increase with engine speed, but I hear it more during stop and go traffic. Either way it’s really starting to annoy me more everyday I have to get it fixed soon.

axleback

Geez, then you really have a problem. I do hear the whistling noise too, but definitely not as loud as you describe it.

Hey, you're in Chicago area too? Got any mods? Which area are you located at?

axleback

Lazyman

Mine has that problem, but it happens in winter when the heater is on. My dealer has no idea hat the hell that happens.


"This is my fifth time bringing my TL back to dealer to fix the whistle noise at the passage side when the heater is on. They took down the whole dash and replaced a new vent system at the passenger side, but it still make whistle noise. I am sick and tire of this noise in the winter when heater must be on."

Tatewaki

Like I said on another post: Ask them to check the AC vaccum valve. It most likely needs to be replaced. You may try flushing the coolants. It didn't work on my civic and the valve was replaced

Tatewaki

Southbound

Are you talking abouty a whistle that comes from the VENTS INSIDE THE CAR, or an engine whine that comes from under the hood???

From day ONE I have had a "wind" whistle from the AC system coming from up near where the dash meets the windshield on the drivers side. IT DRIVES ME NUTS! It does go away if I crack open ANY window... OR IF I PUT THE SYSTEM INTO RECIRCULATED AIR MODE??? It only does it when in the fresh air mode? I've tried messing with things to isolate it, (I've changed and messed with the AC filters, I've pulled the stereo and messed around with vents, etc.) but so far no luck... the dealer has no clue. I just end up cranking the stereo and pushing the "recirculated air" button whenever I'm not playng music. Again, something not cool about a so called luxury car.

Does any of this whistle from the dash or vents sound familiar out there. NO WAY is my whistle normal. The other cars on the lot don't do it. There's got to be a leak somewhere in a dash/vent seal somewhere. How much destruction of the car am I willing to risk while the dealer goes on another fishing expedition???

As far as ANY whistling/whining sound coming from UNDER THE HOOD... I don't have any annoying noise there. You can tell when the compressor kicks in, but it's certainly quiet. So are we talking about two different problems???
What gives, Acura???

alex03TL-S

I hear the whistle noise from the passenger side, regardless of the outside temperature, or if the vents are set to recirculation or fresh air. It is directly related with the A/C compressor. Like I stated earlier my dealer has acknowledged the problem and calls it "Internal air leak in vent system suspected" but has no fix for it. I have since called the Acura Customer relations and documented the problem but haven't heard back, so much for Acura customer service. Does any one know if this qualifies the car for the lemon law?

alex03TL-S

Just got off the phone with Acura customer relations (I had to call them, they never called me back) and was told that this problem is so new that they are still gathering information about it, no fix yet. I wonder if this is a wide spread problem but people just don't notice it.

02blue-tls

I have taken my car to the dealership since LAST summer for the a/c noise only they can't fix what they can't hear. It's so frustrating!

Chemmech

Man, I always thought that noise was coming from the bent out side mirror moulding, it doesn't fit flush. I'm gonna check that noise with and without a/c on. Thought I was the only one

ShivsTLS

i perchased my 2003 TLS during winter and never had any problems with the heat, untill this summer when i put the A/C on and i also noticed that there was a whistle sound comming in and this happens with my Mini van as well , the problem was that the switch to turn the Vent on/Off was turned off but not so tight that just a lilttle air can pass through so that it would wistle. so check ur vents.

srarndt

Mine is as silent as a crypt... geez....that would be obnoxious to have the whisssssstle!