TSB 14-0073 AIR CONDITIONING (A/C) COMPRESSOR NOISE HEARD INSIDE THE VEHICLE CABIN

[Bill-N]

TSB 14-0073

AIR CONDITIONING (A/C) COMPRESSOR NOISE HEARD INSIDE THE VEHICLE CABIN

 

Publication Date:  April 10, 2014

 

FORD: 2013-2014 C-MAX

 

ISSUE:

Some 2013-2014 C-MAX vehicles may exhibit a customer concern of excessive A/C compressor noise heard inside the vehicle cabin, especially at vehicle speeds 65 Km/h (40 MPH) and below.

 

ACTION:

Follow the Service Procedure steps to improve the condition.

 

SERVICE PROCEDURE

The following procedure will reduce the noise level inside the vehicle cabin. Some amount of A/C compressor noise will continue to be present after performing this procedure and should be considered characteristic.

1. Replace the right front fender splash shield with a revised part that is equipped with enhanced sound insulation material. Refer to Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 501-02.

2. Reprogram the powertrain control module (PCM) to the latest calibration using IDS release 89.02 and higher. Calibration files may also be obtained at www.motorcraft.com. 

 

WARRANTY STATUS

Eligible Under Provisions Of New Vehicle Limited Warranty Coverage.
Warranty/ESP coverage limits/policies/prior approvals are not altered by a TSB. Warranty/ESP coverage limits are determined by the identified causal part and verified using the OASIS part coverage tool.

Edited February 5, 2015 by Bill-N

[bigalpha]

What exactly would this sound like?  It already sounds like hell when I start it up - sounds like a really loud buzzing-type sound.  I have to cycle the AC button to get it to stop.

[FordService]

What exactly would this sound like?  It already sounds like hell when I start it up - sounds like a really loud buzzing-type sound.  I have to cycle the AC button to get it to stop.

Hello bigalpha,

 

Have you been to the dealer to get your C-MAX diagnosed, and what’s the mileage? I'll check my resources on this end!  :) 

 

Tricia

[bigalpha]

It's made this noise for a long time, but the car is roughly 50,000 miles outside of factory warranty.  I did get the extended warranty though.  I have not been to the dealer for this.

[FordService]

It's made this noise for a long time, but the car is roughly 50,000 miles outside of factory warranty.  I did get the extended warranty though.  I have not been to the dealer for this.

Bigalpha,

 

I recommend making an appointment with the Ford Dealer. You can find a dealership here: http://owner.ford.com/dealer-locator.html#/. Let me know how your visit goes, and if you need additional assistance I'll check the available options at that time!  :)

 

Tricia

[wab]

It's made this noise for a long time, but the car is roughly 50,000 miles outside of factory warranty.  I did get the extended warranty though.  I have not been to the dealer for this.

Have you seen this thread?

http://fordcmaxhybridforum.com/topic/2435-ssm-32308-2012-2013-c-maxfocusfusionmkz-hybrid-plug-in-hybrid-battery-electric-vehicles-ac-compressor-noise-low-refrigerant-charge/

"SSM 32308 - 2012-2013 C-Max/Focus/Fusion/MKZ Hybrid - Plug In Hybrid - Battery Electric Vehicles - A/C Compressor Noise - Low Refrigerant Charge

"Some 2012-2013 C-Max/Focus/Fusion/MKZ Hybrid/Plug In Hybrid and Battery Electric vehicles may exhibit excessive noise from the electric A/C compressor. A/C compressornoise in these vehicles may occur due to an incorrect refrigerant level or restriction in the system."

[RobMax]

Have you seen this thread?

http://fordcmaxhybridforum.com/topic/2435-ssm-32308-2012-2013-c-maxfocusfusionmkz-hybrid-plug-in-hybrid-battery-electric-vehicles-ac-compressor-noise-low-refrigerant-charge/

"SSM 32308 - 2012-2013 C-Max/Focus/Fusion/MKZ Hybrid - Plug In Hybrid - Battery Electric Vehicles - A/C Compressor Noise - Low Refrigerant Charge

"Some 2012-2013 C-Max/Focus/Fusion/MKZ Hybrid/Plug In Hybrid and Battery Electric vehicles may exhibit excessive noise from the electric A/C compressor. A/C compressornoise in these vehicles may occur due to an incorrect refrigerant level or restriction in the system."

 

Thanks for this post, wab! I'm having the same issue and posted an update on that thread, copied and pasted below here too:

 

My 2013 Hybrid just started making this same whirring-almost-thumping noise behind the right front bumper whenever the A/C was turned on just a couple months ago, and it's only when the A/C is turned on.

 

Prior to this recent noise the A/C was absolutely silent. Noise is audible from outside the car quite a few feet away, and from inside the car with windows down, and can still hear just a bit with windows up. It continues to make this noise for at least a couple to a few minutes before it goes silent. A/C operation is unaffected whether it makes the noise or not. Am having the dealership check it out while it's in getting a grinding transmission noise looked into.

 

My wife's own 2014 C-Max Hybrid is also absolutely silent from a few feet away and from inside the car, even with window down, so having any type of noise like what kostby kindly recorded for us above is not normal at all (BTW, mine sounds exactly like that). I've never heard an A/C compressor, or whatever that noise is, be that loud on any other vehicle. And that includes my wife's identical (except for exterior color) C-Max.