AC compressor noise and shutdown on and off

[larryfl1]

Hi ,

its now getting hot in south Florida and the AC on the R1S is not operating correctly

first It gives very loud noise when compressor is spun up high speed…it is almost like a vibrating whine that I can feel through the steering wheel…

as the car cools a little all of a sudden the compressor noise winds down or stops and then ac compressor cooling warms up and humid air…then 30 seconds later it kicks back in..

overall its horrible

is this normal behavior..excessive noise from compressor and on/off warm/cold air?

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[iansriv]

There have been a few complaints about the AC. I would call it in for service.

 

[SwampNut]

It's hard to compare perceptions of noise and vibration. Mine is certainly somewhat noisy and vibrates, but not crazy. Just annoying. An SC "guide" said that it's probably normal. Also pushing on the compressor changes and reduces the noise/vibration. The mounting is very loose.

 

[COdogman]

Your description of the sound and vibration is similar to what many have experienced, and in some cases Rivian has said it’s “normal”. Can’t hurt to make an appointment to have it checked though. Seems like in some cases they were able to help.

 

[PappaBolt]

I had this exact problem. The compressor would cycle on/off every two minutes. The service center initially dismissed it as normal behavior. Eventually they replaced the compressor but that didn’t fix it.

After a year of living with this, they finally found a faulty humidity sensor that the software was reacting to. Once they replaced the sensor the AC noise and constant cycling was resolved.

 

[InTheMatrix]

I’m having the exact same issues (I’m in Vegas) but the vibrating and loud noise seems to be coming from the floor board. I have a service ticket in for July to look at that and fix several other issues I’m having while I’m on vacation. Hopefully they can fix that because it’s very annoying and fix everything else ???

 

[Upland]

Noise is subjective, but I have had my R1T for two years next month and I do hear the AC compressor once in a while. All vehicles make noise and unless you can be side by side with another R1S it is hard to judge if what you are hearing is normal. I chose "normal" for my noise because the AC is working and it is still under warranty in any event.

 

[defcon888]

Ours spins up when we first get in the R1T. It has been in the 90's as of late in California and it will turn on the fan/pump until it gets to the temperature it needs.

What you can do is "prep" the car for when you leave, meaning, start the cooling down 10 mins. before you leave. Then when you get in the car it will either have shut down, slowed down or at a minimal spin.

 

[Nivek]

The AC compressor is definitely a problem area in my short experience with my R1T. I got a Dual Motor Performance in mid-February and within a few weeks we started to hear what can be described as a loud ratcheting that would last only a couple of seconds at random times. By the time of the service appointment, it was happening a lot and on the one hour drive to the service center it happened 11 times. The mechanic went on a ride with me and it happened twice and he said he had never heard the noise. They ended up replacing the AC compressor and all was well until just a few days ago. After a 6 hour drive and upon exiting the highway I noticed the compressor was running at full speed (outside temp of 68F). Then the ratcheting sound returned a few times and yesterday on another long drive the AC quit altogether. I called service and they said they were 2 months out. The problem is that this is my only vehicle and I'm living a nomadic life while my house is remodeled (first world problem).

In summary: 3 months of ownership, nearly 7000 miles of driving and two AC compressors have failed.

 

[larryfl1]

They replaced all the ac components and i thought was good..just drove yesterday and noticed when recirc turns off and outside air..it gets way warmer and a little humid…. Not sure if that is normal in this car that the compressor can’t keep up with the outside warm/humid compared to the recirc

 

[ForestNSea]

My AC was loud but working ok given enough time. Now it is ONLY blowing warm air and not cooling at all. SC appt is in October but they “expedited it” to the end of Aug, 7 weeks after initial appt. We are miserable every day in our new car (2023 R1S, delivery March 2024) ???

 

[pmd5700]

I had this exact problem. The compressor would cycle on/off every two minutes. The service center initially dismissed it as normal behavior. Eventually they replaced the compressor but that didn’t fix it.

After a year of living with this, they finally found a faulty humidity sensor that the software was reacting to. Once they replaced the sensor the AC noise and constant cycling was resolved.

Sorry for reviving an old thread, but do you happen to have the service paperwork from Rivian for this? I'm having the exact same issue and just want to see if I can reference the specific sensor when I bring it in. Thanks!

 

[PappaBolt]

Sorry for reviving an old thread, but do you happen to have the service paperwork from Rivian for this? I'm having the exact same issue and just want to see if I can reference the specific sensor when I bring it in. Thanks!

I went back and looked at the work order and they didn’t list the actual problem. It shows they replaced the A/C compressor, which they did. What it doesn’t say is the noise persisted and after they dug into it further, they found a defective humidity sensor (1 of 2). I don’t know why they didn’t add that to the ticket.

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