Question/help: Why is my A/C compressor making a loud noise?

[all_about_size]

Hi All,

New to the forum and seeking answer about the A/C compressor of my 2012 pilot EXL.

From day 1, I noticed that the A/C makes annoyingly loud humming noise whenever the compressor kicks on. I can hear it at idle, but not when driving. I understand that compressors are supposed to make some noise; have owned bimmer, acura, nissan, toyota, the noise is new to me. The compressor will turn on (w/ noise) for about 10 seconds, turns off for 10-seconds (off for 5 seconds during hot summer days here in Texas), and repeat. The A/C is cold, though. So my question is: is that normal for the Honda? Specifically Pilot?

I took it to the dealer, who insists that it is normal. They didn't do any diagnostic works. Well, they said they compare it another on the lot and they sounded about the same. I'm still not convinced given that my experience with other cars suggest otherwise.

Could you guys help? Does your vehicle do that? Would appreciate your comments.

Thanks in advance,
Sydney

[peyton23]

Sorry about the late reply, I was away this weekend, but anyway, there have been two other threads about this. Basically, mine did the same and the dealer thought that I was crazy. After not hearing anything from any other pilots, a couple of techs listened to mine and sure enough, heard the noise. It turned out that the power steering container and filter had to be replaced. The filter shipped from the factory was dirty, and was causing the power steering pump to work harder to get fluid through the filter. Once replaced, the noise and slight vibration of the steering wheel stopped. I couldn't believe it!!, but sure enough that was the problem. Good Luck!! One of the threads was: Numbing Vibrations from Steering Wheel

[Joyfuljoy2000]

Okay everyone, here is my situation. Well My dealer has had my vehicle 4 times. They have replaced my Power steering twice now. Honda said they have had several consumers complaining of the same issue. The last Power steering they put in was supposedly a "special" power steering that the engineers at HONDA made to try and eliminate the humming noise that comes from the power steering while the AC is cycling. Well my dealership called this morning and said that the rep from Honda said that the Power steering they installed is the final fix and that I am going to have to live with the Humming noise. Ummmmm No Im not! I have taken in my vehicle over 3 times for the same problem with absolutely no remedy. Obviously there is a problem since they have TRIED to fix it, but since they CANT fix it, it is no longer a problem...Not exceptable. Please if you are considering buying a Honda Pilot test drive yours! I test drove another one, and "chose" my color. Well now I am paying $600 a month on a vehicle I want to cry about.
LEMON LAW here I come

[rocky]

Please reference year of your Pilot with posts. If lemon law applies, go for it. No disclosure of an inherent defect suggests car has a lower value new and second hand.
Is it time to file a complaint with NHTSA as this suggests a defect with steering?

[Joyfuljoy2000]

Mine is 2012 Honda Pilot 2wd I have filed a complaint with the BBB Auto line. They takke it from start to finish. I already sent the 10 day notification to Honda to give them the final chance to fix the problem. My dealership agreed that the problem still exists. But gave the paperwork showing where Honda says the "new" power steering they put in would make it somewhat quieter but wouldn't completely take away the noise. It is actually worse now. I have taken several people for rides to show them and everyone agrees its an unacceptable noise. I'll let you know how it turns out. I sent my notification 3 days ago via certified letter. They have 10 days to reply.

[Joyfuljoy2000]

2012 Honda Pilot 2 WD My Update...Got a call from Honda yesterday, They scheduled an appointment for my vehicle to go back to the dealership this Thursday. They are going to do a full vehicle diagnostic to check out the noise that is still coming from the Power Stearing (they say) It has been replaced twice already. The representative from Honda says it is a problem that is being addressed and the work they are going to do thursday should quiet down the noise but more than likely not eliminate it. I will definately pass on the results.

[Joyfuljoy2000]

Well the latest update is.... NO FIX to my problem as of yet. I filed a vehicle defect notification with Honda. I have a claim going throught the BBB Auto line. Honda set up a date for a "Final Repair Attempt" That was last Thursday. They called me to pick it up that it was not fixed. They are yet again ordering more parts. Well their deadline is coming soon. I just cant understand what is so Wrong with this vehicle it is NOT FIXABLE? I have shown these threads to the dealership, and they just brush me off. They have until next Sunday, for their 10 day limit. I will keep you all posted. Next step is mediation and LEMON LAW...stay tuned

[Joyfuljoy2000]

well outcome is HONDA says there is nothing more they can do at this time. Their engineers are still working on how to eliminate this problem, that seems to be more noticible/prevalent in the 2012 EXL and not the 4 WD or Touring models. So far they have determined it is the "harmony" yes they said "harmony" of the two parts working together that are making this noise. They offered to pay my next car payment so that they can keep attempting to "fix" this problem. I just cant live at my dealerships service department any longer. I have moved forward with the case, with the BBB Auto Line. Honda now has 14 days to come up with a solution, however I'm sure it will end up in mediation. I will definately let you know how it turns out.

[peyton23]

Good Luck with that JoyfulJoy, I feel for you. It simply is annoying and stressful to purchase a new vehicle and have these problems right out the gate. Good Luck!! Something else that maybe you and alot of us should look at. On the Today show and also NBC Nightly news yesterday ( Friday ) was a story of a woman who took Honda to small claims court in response to the Civic Hybrids claims of 51MPG. She sued due to her vehicle never coming close to that number. There was a class action suit in which she would have received $200 in compensation. She instead, took Honda to small claims and won $10,000 due to her proving that Honda Hybrids don't get 51 MPG. I suspect that this may open the floodgates due to so many people having various problems with different Honda vehicles. I think that it helped her somewhat that she was an attorney ( retired, I think ) and she was persistant. You may very well find the story on NBC's website. Take Care!!

[jrsdart]

I have a 2011 exl 4wd doing the same exact thing,i just bought the truck last week.

[Joyfuljoy2000]

Originally Posted by peyton23

Good Luck with that JoyfulJoy, I feel for you. It simply is annoying and stressful to purchase a new vehicle and have these problems right out the gate. Good Luck!! Something else that maybe you and alot of us should look at. On the Today show and also NBC Nightly news yesterday ( Friday ) was a story of a woman who took Honda to small claims court in response to the Civic Hybrids claims of 51MPG. She sued due to her vehicle never coming close to that number. There was a class action suit in which she would have received $200 in compensation. She instead, took Honda to small claims and won $10,000 due to her proving that Honda Hybrids don't get 51 MPG. I suspect that this may open the floodgates due to so many people having various problems with different Honda vehicles. I think that it helped her somewhat that she was an attorney ( retired, I think ) and she was persistant. You may very well find the story on NBC's website. Take Care!!

Thanks Peyton
Yes I am very frustrated. I told the rep from HONDA that if he wasnt all the way in California, I would love to pick him up for lunch and take him for a ride in my 2012 Honda Pilot, so he could experience the noise (they call it a harmony of two parts working together-haha)
Well he said they would be willing to pay my next months payment so they can continue to try and let the engineers figure out what is wrong, and look for a resoultion. Well Im done they have had a half a dozen repair attempts. So we move forward. BBB sent them a letter stating that I am looking for a Vehicle buy back. I should have an answer within the the next 14 days. Im sure they wont do that, so then we will be off to Arbitration with the BBB. If I dont like the outcome there, it's time for an attorney, and a case with the Attorney Generals Office for Lemon Law.
It is definately something you have to be persistant about. But come on HONDA make it right!!!!
Thanks Peyton

[mudbog]

I noticed the AC humming on my Pilot the other day. I've put some details in this other thread:

http://www.piloteers.org/forums/82-2...-problems.html

The source of the noise is the cooling fans that kick on when the AC compressor cycles on. it doesn't bother me enough to care. But if it concerns you, you may want to pass the info on to the dealer.

[peyton23]

I may have a small problem. Late last week, the noise came back for one day, of course when the a/c was cycling on. The noise stopped after a day, then nothing for the next four, now today, I heard it again. I don't know what to do. On the one hand, I did notice that the couple of times that I heard the noise, it was after starting the car and just driving off, or when making sharp turns. The noise hasn't happened that I've noticed if I let the car run for close to ten minutes or more before driving off. If this continues, I'm calling Honda again about it! Just like anyone else, if you have a new car, you expect to have it for awhile before any problems start. Hopefully, this is a temporary thing. Mudbog, I did read the other posts and your comments. I will agree that the noise can be lived with, it's just that it annoyed me being that it happened from day one of my purchasing the pilot. I'm happy that you did find out that your problem was with the fans. I remember asking the service technicians at honda about that back in november and they said that there was nothing wrong with them. Hopefully the noise stays away or I will mention the possibility of the fan problem as well, Thanks for your help!

[whizmo]

Originally Posted by Joyfuljoy2000

Thanks Peyton
Yes I am very frustrated. I told the rep from HONDA that if he wasnt all the way in California, I would love to pick him up for lunch and take him for a ride in my 2012 Honda Pilot, so he could experience the noise (they call it a harmony of two parts working together-haha)
Well he said they would be willing to pay my next months payment so they can continue to try and let the engineers figure out what is wrong, and look for a resoultion. Well Im done they have had a half a dozen repair attempts. So we move forward. BBB sent them a letter stating that I am looking for a Vehicle buy back. I should have an answer within the the next 14 days. Im sure they wont do that, so then we will be off to Arbitration with the BBB. If I dont like the outcome there, it's time for an attorney, and a case with the Attorney Generals Office for Lemon Law.
It is definately something you have to be persistant about. But come on HONDA make it right!!!!
Thanks Peyton

Just to be sure you know, there is no standard that the noise has to be low enough to be acceptable to you. You have to show that your car is "defective" with respect to materials and workmanship. Defective in this case would generally mean that your car is unusual and not making the same noise as other cars. The car doesn't have to meet your (or your friends') personal standards about how loud a P/S pump and A/C compressor should be. The fact that Honda has tried repeatedly to fix it does not mean they are acknowledging that the car is defective; they're probably just trying different solutions on a trial/error basis to placate you.

If yours is making about the same noise as the rest of the 2012 Pilots on the lot, then you're going to be going to a lot of trouble for nothing because if you take this to the limit, you're probably going to lose. And if your car is making the same noise as other Pilots, how can Honda "make it right" if the problem is inherent in the design?

- Mark

[PM12EX-L]

Originally Posted by mudbog

I noticed the AC humming on my Pilot the other day. I've put some details in this other thread:

http://www.piloteers.org/forums/82-2...-problems.html

The source of the noise is the cooling fans that kick on when the AC compressor cycles on. it doesn't bother me enough to care. But if it concerns you, you may want to pass the info on to the dealer.

i read your findings as well and was about to copy the post and paste it here, but you beat me to it...it sounds like you might've hit the nail on the head...i checked ours again today, & it definitely sounds like the fans...i popped the hood, watched, and listened....it does the humming exactly the moment the compressor kicks in & the fans turn on...as soon as the fans cycle off, the hum is gone....not sure if it's abnormal or not though....guess we'd need to know exactly how many don't make a humming sound