whining noise from the rear mirror in refreshed Model S

[flying_things]

Hi All,

As soon as I took my refreshed model S last Sunday, I noticed a very distinct whining noise coming from the center. It sounds like a fan is consistently being toggling on and off repeatedly. It only happened when climate control is turned on. see youtube for the location and as well as hear the noise.

To reproduce this issue: make sure climate control is on, and also suggest to manually change the fan speed to 1 to reduce the climate fan noise. the sounds is light but very distinct and comes from the center rear mirror, you may have to wait a while (e.g. 1,2 mins) before it starts to make such noise.

I've brought my car to tesla service to fix other issues while raising questions about this noise. the technician verified the exists of such noise and states the noise is normal and it is a feature of the newly redesigned autopilot camera system in all refresh model S/X, and there is no way to fix it for now.

Maybe I am a little bit sensitive to noise but such whining noise is pretty annoying while I am sitting in my car to do other stuff, May I ask if any other owners of refreshed Model S/X also have such noise? I've tried to search the forum before I post but seems no one mentioned this particular noise.

Thank you!

 

[DerbyDave]

That is so wierd.

 

[WilliamG]

That is so wierd.

Nope it's not weird. Well, I mean it is weird, but that's the cooing dove sound that all Model S make. Mine made this sound from Day 1 when I picked it up in August.

 

[DerbyDave]

Must be a plaid feature.

 

[WilliamG]

Must be a plaid feature.

Refresh Model S feature. Most won't notice it.

 

[n2mb_racing]

My sound is slightly different. Only seems to happen on heat, fan speed 3.

New video by Jonathan Viventi

photos.app.goo.gl

It's more like a bunch of hooting owls. But, I'll check to see if it is coming from the mirror. Good grief, what a strange car.

 

[yo_chill]

Yes, mine does this too, 2021 refresh model S LR. It's intermittent though. Sometimes it doesn't make the noise at all. When it does make the sound, it is usually every 9 to 13 seconds.

 

[alb]

Mine makes the same noise as well. I made an appointment in early January to have them take a look and see if there is a solution.

 

[BruceR61]

This seems to exist to solve a fog build-up in the main camera housing which my '17 MS has quite often on cold mornings.

 

[flying_things]

Yes, mine does this too, 2021 refresh model S LR. It's intermittent though. Sometimes it doesn't make the noise at all. When it does make the sound, it is usually every 9 to 13 seconds.

Yes, it is intermittent. the fan/motor in that autopilot box seems running in a burst mode which results in this whistling sound. I hopes Tesla can make the noise less noticeable in the future firmware update.

 

[CTDW]

Yes, it is intermittent. the fan/motor in that autopilot box seems running in a burst mode which results in this whistling sound. I hopes Tesla can make the noise less noticeable in the future firmware update.

I just picked up my S yesterday and noticed it right away...came here to see if it was a known issue and found this thread. I noticed if I turn on the "bioweapon defense mode" and toggle it back off after 5-10 secs, it seems to stop the noise for a while. Not sure why but I was able to reproduce that 5 times yesterday.

 

[n2mb_racing]

I just picked up my S yesterday and noticed it right away...came here to see if it was a known issue and found this thread. I noticed if I turn on the "bioweapon defense mode" and toggle it back off after 5-10 secs, it seems to stop the noise for a while. Not sure why but I was able to reproduce that 5 times yesterday.

Seems like an annoying software bug. I realize there's a fan for some purpose, but it shouldn't be blipping on and off like that. Turn it on, if needed, for a while, then turn it off when done!

 

[charterry]

My 2021 refreshed model S LR has the same noise from day 1. I just stopped by a Tesla Service Center and had an argument with SA. Long story short, he said he checked the other two plaid in the SC and they are all making the same noise.

Bad that when you hear that, you are going to notice that ALL THE TIME.

 

[n2mb_racing]

Yeah, and the buzzing from the yoke... I hear that all the time.

Also, I get an HVAC whistle when heat is on with fan on setting 3. I don't think everyone has that....

 

[planetary]

Yeah, and the buzzing from the yoke... I hear that all the time.

Also, I get an HVAC whistle when heat is on with fan on setting 3. I don't think everyone has that....

I do not. I do have the dove cooing, but that's all. So far.

 

[n2mb_racing]

I do not. I do have the dove cooing, but that's all. So far.

Well... great. It's going to be a nightmare to get them to fix that.

 

[trayloader]

I love the sound
seriously.

 

[SoCalDude]

So, I had the same sound until I found this behind the front console.

 

[n2mb_racing]

So, I had the same sound until I found this behind the front console.


View attachment 750005

I'm hoping it wasn't there from the factory...

 

[hotsoup]

Very interesting. Someone earlier in the thread mentioned it, but it seems like the front windshield camera module is climate controlled, so what you're hearing is probably a defect related to that system. I didn't realize it until I saw snow all over my windshield except for the camera.