Whine when in reverse

[bbwex]

I have noticed a bit of a whine when the car is first starting out and put in reverse. This happens as I pull out of my garage, but the moment it goes into Drive, the noise stops. Anyone else notice this and anyone have a clue as to what causes the sound?

 

[glide]

Pedestrian warning system?

 

[SR-75]

Lucky you, many of us do not have that UFO sound feature. Our oldest daughter recently upgraded to a 2020 Tesla Model S LR makes that sound in reverse and to a lesser sound in forward at lower speeds to warn pedestrians, specially the ones that either not paying attention or blind.

 

[bbwex]

No it is not a pedestrian warning of any kind, just a slight whine as I back out of garage. Sounds more like some sort of noise from the motors, and if I had to guess, I would say it is in the front motor, but in a garage with the windows of the car closed, it is hard to pinpoint.

 

[zannman]

I'm guessing the battery heating that TeslaBjorn refers to as "afterburners" are on. You'll also notice this sound when preconditioning for Supercharging and driving low speeds.

 

[Pianewman]

Maybe the garage is amplifying the sound and you notice it more? Have you tried starting the car (cold) outdoors and then reversing?

 

[Frank N. Stein]

Yeah, PWS gets my vote.

 

[MrWattson]

I do not notice any noises when in the car but on my Ring video doorbell recordings there is an audible electronic whine when reversing into the driveway. Not sure whether the frequency is just amplified by the doorbell mic?

 

[frankvb]

I do not notice any noises when in the car but on my Ring video doorbell recordings there is an audible electronic whine when reversing into the driveway. Not sure whether the frequency is just amplified by the doorbell mic?

There's likely an automatic gain control in the doorbell. I can ask the guy I work with who used to work for Ring

 

[pt19713]

Stator motors if you pre-conditioned the vehicle. They'll continue to heating up for about 30-45 seconds after you get in the vehicle and drive away. You can replicate the motor whine by putting in a Tesla supercharger location in the NAV and give it a little throttle.

 

[PeterSx]

When I took my Y into the San Francisco Tesla shop for a different problem, I mentioned the noise - a whine of sorts - while in reverse. The repair person had me put the car in reverse, identified the noise, and said it is the PWS as noted above.

 

[Silicon Desert]

My wife also tends to whine when I go in reverse Not unusual

 

[laservet]

My wife also tends to whine when I go in reverse Not unusual

An acquaintance found his dog would cry when riding in his Prius, never when riding in his other car or his neighbors’. He figured the dog was hearing a high pitched sound that was above the audible threshold for people. He took the dog to a behaviorist at the vet school and her first comment was, “I’d cry if I had to ride in a Prius, too.” She owns a Tesla.

 

[JGhere]

Mine has a low level whine. I find it rather comforting. Nice to get some audible feedback that something is working correctly.

 

[Skywqr]

I got the whining noise while reversing as well. I thought it was standard
Should I contact the service?

 

[Pianewman]

Skywqr: You're new here. Are you sure it isn't the Passenger Warning System?

 

[Skywqr]

Skywqr: You're new here. Are you sure it isn't the Passenger Warning System?

100% sure that it’s electric whine. I’ll record a video and post here.

 

[with_raiden]

100% sure that it’s electric whine. I’ll record a video and post here.

The “whine” is from the pedestrian warning system which is required by law. The same is true if you’re driving forward with speed < 30 MPH, though the sound is different.

 

[Pianewman]

with_raiden: Not easy to diagnose a sound w/o hearing it live. Skywqr's car might be making a different sound.

Skywqr: drop into a SC and listen to other MYs in reverse.

 

[K_N_U]

Its the PWS, You wouldn't assume it is but that's the sound they chose to use.