Gurgling bubbling sounds from my 85D

[supratachophobia]

Since it has gotten a bit cooler , I noticed that when I am parked I hear gurgling sounds coming from the dash area. sounds like bubbles coming to the surface in a pond or stream. I suspect that it is the heater circulating coolant but it sure is strange.

My supra does that. Sounds like air in the coolant loop.

 

[Luclyluciano]

I have that gurgling noise also. Just noticing it now that weather is getting cooler. There are enough people here and on other threads who are experiencing this. It definitely is an issue. It also is embarrassing when you have a passenger in the car checking it out and you hear gurgling like molten lava under the hood. What is it?

 

[StaceyS]

Complete guess here:
I'm guessing it is connected to the heating system. The battery is liquid cooled and heated. With the new v7 update, I believe the heating system uses the compressor as a heat pump to the greatest extent possible before activating the resistance backup heat. Before v7, I would have said the system was purely AC for cooling, and resistance heat only for heating. Now I can distinctly tell when the electric resistance heat kicks on, I can smell it. Our home heat pump does the same thing, since most of the year, its running on its compressor and not the back-up.

We just took a 2200 mile trip from Oregon to Utah and back and I noticed this gurgling sound as well, and it coordinated with brief operations of the compressor now and then.

I'm not sure if the liquid warmth running through the battery also helps heat the cabin, but its how I'd try to utilize 1 compressor to heat two different things. Our heater was on, settings to 73 degrees interior temp, outside temps were in the mid 50s.

 

[Ingineer]

There is no heat pump capability in the Model S. Unfortunately it lacks the hardware for this.

The compressor will sometimes run during heating for dehumidification purposes. There is no liquid inside the cabin except for the refrigerant, and the heat comes solely from an electric resistance heater (PTC).

 

[scottm]

Maybe it's bubbles in the LCD making the noise?

http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/showthread.php/55868-bubbles-on-touchscreen?highlight=lcd+bubbles

 

[cbin97]

I have a P85D got in March 2015 and it does the same.

 

[MassModel3]

My 2013 started doing this a couple weeks ago.

Did you guys ever figure out what it was?

 

[Jeff4155]

Fuel starvation?

 

[Lightmatrix]

- - - Updated - - -

It's pretty hard to hear. Probably easiest the last 5-10 seconds. You may have to hold your ear to the speaker.

Whoa that's crazy... is it an easter egg?!

 

[supratachophobia]

If it's any help, my Supra does this exact same thing and it's related to air in the coolant lines that connect to the HVAC.

 

[jmsurpri]

I've had these sounds since day 1 on my 7 month old 85D but thought nothing of it. Another item for service next month.

 

[steven315]

Updates?

 

[supratachophobia]

I'm getting this pretty loudly and frequently. I've also noticed the heat isn't keeping up very well with winter. I'd be curious to know if the two are related or if I'm drawing an empty conclusion.

 

[MIT_S60]

I have an early 2014 P85 service loaner right now that does this as well (along with the milling drive unit noise), and it's incredibly annoying.

 

[Ingineer]

I suspect it's just the A/C evaporator doing it's job; boiling refrigerant. You hear some of the gas bubbles coming up through the passages in the coil.

I find it a nice soothing noise. Sort of womb-like!

 

[orangem]

Sorry if I am bumping a super old thread. I got the same gurgling sound when heat is on. The tech found out is an actuator behind the dash that’s on its way out. The actuator is responsible for directing air to the feet. Tesla even had the same sound recorded inside their database. So is a known issue. FYI

 

[habanero69]

2016 Model 75 here just started noticing this exact noise. Sounds like refrigerant boing off or something. Almost repeats itself every 30 seconds or so, basic same repeating over and over. Def not related to battery coolant as I only hear with A/C on; no, heat not on. Turn A/C off and it will not do it. It is cooler here than normal (sorry mid-westerner's, 60 is "cool here") so may be related, but just noticed a few weeks ago. Ignore or send to have them look?

 

[Ingineer]

I think this is just refrigerant boiling inside the evaporator. This will happen even in the winter, because when in auto mode the HVAC will use the A/C a tiny bit to condense the humidity out of the air to prevent internal fogging on the cold glass. (normal function on all cars) The lack of engine noise in a Tesla means you can hear this very soft bubbling sound, whereas on an ICE vehicle, the engine idle would mask it.

At least on my 2 cars, it's NOT an actuator. I think this is 100% normal. To test my theory, put the system in manual and turn off the A/C. The bubbles will go away after the R134 stops circulating.

 

[habanero69]

I think this is just refrigerant boiling inside the evaporator. This will happen even in the winter, because when in auto mode the HVAC will use the A/C a tiny bit to condense the humidity out of the air to prevent internal fogging on the cold glass. (normal function on all cars) The lack of engine noise in a Tesla means you can hear this very soft bubbling sound, whereas on an ICE vehicle, the engine idle would mask it.

At least on my 2 cars, it's NOT an actuator. I think this is 100% normal. To test my theory, put the system in manual and turn off the A/C. The bubbles will go away after the R134 stops circulating.

If A/C is off, it stops almost immediately. Thanks. I think I just noticed sound due to recent frigid temps in FLorida

 

[darxsys]

So has anyone ever gotten any definite conclusions on where this noise is coming from? I just started hearing it on my Model S 85D right after I got it back from the service center. I felt like I was in a submarine.