Strange sound coming from left rear air suspension

[vinayks]

Hi

at times i notice humming sound coming from left passenger side rear suspension when the ride height is at Medium. It goes away when i put it in P , as the ride height lowers to Entry. It happens intermittently so unable to consistently reproduce it. Anyone else faced it ? Unable to upload a video due to file size .

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[AbblePC]

Hi

at times i notice humming sound coming from left passenger side rear suspension when the ride height is at Medium. It goes away when i put it in P , as the ride height lowers to Entry. It happens intermittently so unable to consistently reproduce it. Anyone else faced it ? Unable to upload a video due to file size .

You may find that it’s really coming from center of vault area more so than the left rear side wheel well area, as it appears that way as it’s easiest to hear from outside the vehicle from there.

I hear mine inside with music playing as well outside if I’m lucky enough to make it pump while out of the vehicle, easier now since Tesla enabled the app operation for raising & lowering air suspension.
I would typically notice mine more at stop signs or lights when setting it on high or medium & yes mine too would disappear once the auto lower to entry level would occur, or after it would pump a ridiculously long time and either overheat and stop pumping or I would hear a quick burst of released air and the noise would suddenly stop.

Through all of my research so far, I’ve decided it’s source is coming from the air compressor for the air suspension which sits front center of the bed right behind the rear seats & can be accessed by removing the cover in the bed that is nearest the rear window.
The compressor sits on four rubber gaskets/feommets but has a metal flanged frame that protrudes over other body framing parts under the bed vault area and at times will vibrate that metal flange against those other metal parts. It’s not the air compressor itself making the noise, it’s more so from that metal vibrating as the pump works.

I am planning to schedule an appointment at my local SC, however was waiting for warmer weather over winter. In early winter I had my FS CB lightbar installed and mentioned the vibrating noise then but that it wasn’t a priority and was more stoked to have the lightbar installed than that random noise.

Although it is embarrassing to me when driving at slow speeds when it would otherwise be silent to onlookers, I get the feeling it can easily be heard by them outside the truck at sidewalk distance and wonder if they think the truck is making odd noises due to non functioning parts.

I also have the Tesla cybertent (I got a great deal on from Bearded Tesla Guy on YouTube, as he had an extra one) and plan to install it this spring as weather also warms and can’t wait to use it for some local camping trips. What I don’t want is that loud vibrating noise coming from the compressor pump while leveling for tent/camping mode.

I will follow up after I set an appointment and hopefully it will easily be resolved from what I’ve seen just by repositioning those brackets of just having the base frame assembly of that air compressor swapped out which may have modified ‘ears’ that don’t extend onto or near other metal parts.

 

[vinayks]

thanks so much for your detailed reply. Its very helpful. usually i notice the sound during my trip of the day and yes it can be heard inside the cabin as well with low volume music. I will get it checked during my next SC trip. Its not going to go away on its own

 

[cybersky]

I have this as well. The air compressor comes on for what seems like a very long time on each drive after overnight parking. Also, if trying extraction mode, after the suspension reaches its maximum height, the compressor keeps working. I am wondering if I have a slow leak or something . Or maybe it's normal... Does not affect ride quality, except for annoying compressor noise for 10 minutes or so. Any way to diagnose air suspension ?

 

[HaulingAss]

I have this as well. The air compressor comes on for what seems like a very long time on each drive after overnight parking. Also, if trying extraction mode, after the suspension reaches its maximum height, the compressor keeps working. I am wondering if I have a slow leak or something . Or maybe it's normal... Does not affect ride quality, except for annoying compressor noise for 10 minutes or so. Any way to diagnose air suspension ?

It shouldn't run as often as I think you are describing, you may have a slow leak at one of the fittings or something. The Service Department can take care of it.

It is normal for it to run for a while whenever the tank runs low on pressure, but not on each drive (unless perhaps you have your suspension set to enter "Easy Entry" mode whenever you park). I would save that mode for situations/owners that actually require it, to reduce compressor cycling. It's easy enough to set Easy Entry manually, when you actually need it.

 

[cybersky]

I indeed have it set for easy entry on park. Kinda like that feature but l'll try turning it off and see if it's any better. What about the Extract height, does it run on yours way past when maxim height is reached?

 

[LatexCatDaddy]

I asked my SC about the pumping sound and then a short hiss of air, like a truck's parking brake, they said its normal operation and nothing was wrong. Let me know what you uncover if you get it looked at.

 

[Cybersurfer88]

It shouldn't run as often as I think you are describing, you may have a slow leak at one of the fittings or something. The Service Department can take care of it.

It is normal for it to run for a while whenever the tank runs low on pressure, but not on each drive (unless perhaps you have your suspension set to enter "Easy Entry" mode whenever you park). I would save that mode for situations/owners that actually require it, to reduce compressor cycling. It's easy enough to set Easy Entry manually, when you actually need it.

I had a similar issue caused by having too many saved locations with different suspension heights all close together. It drained the tank and by the time I park in the garage it would run the compressor for quite a while. Once the compressor also overheated. I deleted all the saved locations and it stopped doing that and I keep easy entry on.

 

[HaulingAss]

I indeed have it set for easy entry on park. Kinda like that feature but l'll try turning it off and see if it's any better. What about the Extract height, does it run on yours way past when maxim height is reached?

Yes, it can run on well after Extract Mode height is reached depending upon the pressure in the tank when you select Extract Mode. And that is just random.

Also, see the info posted by @Cybersurfer88 about stored locations remembering the last height selected at that location.

I never hesitate to use the adjustable suspension when I need it, but it's not the kind of thing you want running unnecessarily because it will just hasten the eventual need to replace the pump down the road.

 

[cjcomb]

You may find that it’s really coming from center of vault area more so than the left rear side wheel well area, as it appears that way as it’s easiest to hear from outside the vehicle from there.

I hear mine inside with music playing as well outside if I’m lucky enough to make it pump while out of the vehicle, easier now since Tesla enabled the app operation for raising & lowering air suspension.
I would typically notice mine more at stop signs or lights when setting it on high or medium & yes mine too would disappear once the auto lower to entry level would occur, or after it would pump a ridiculously long time and either overheat and stop pumping or I would hear a quick burst of released air and the noise would suddenly stop.

Through all of my research so far, I’ve decided it’s source is coming from the air compressor for the air suspension which sits front center of the bed right behind the rear seats & can be accessed by removing the cover in the bed that is nearest the rear window.
The compressor sits on four rubber gaskets/feommets but has a metal flanged frame that protrudes over other body framing parts under the bed vault area and at times will vibrate that metal flange against those other metal parts. It’s not the air compressor itself making the noise, it’s more so from that metal vibrating as the pump works.

I am planning to schedule an appointment at my local SC, however was waiting for warmer weather over winter. In early winter I had my FS CB lightbar installed and mentioned the vibrating noise then but that it wasn’t a priority and was more stoked to have the lightbar installed than that random noise.

Although it is embarrassing to me when driving at slow speeds when it would otherwise be silent to onlookers, I get the feeling it can easily be heard by them outside the truck at sidewalk distance and wonder if they think the truck is making odd noises due to non functioning parts.

I also have the Tesla cybertent (I got a great deal on from Bearded Tesla Guy on YouTube, as he had an extra one) and plan to install it this spring as weather also warms and can’t wait to use it for some local camping trips. What I don’t want is that loud vibrating noise coming from the compressor pump while leveling for tent/camping mode.

I will follow up after I set an appointment and hopefully it will easily be resolved from what I’ve seen just by repositioning those brackets of just having the base frame assembly of that air compressor swapped out which may have modified ‘ears’ that don’t extend onto or near other metal parts.

Great write-up. Thank you for specifics…have a rubbery/old fashioned Geiger Counter sound coming from that location -maddeningly disappears at Service Center-got a fast track floating appt thankfully just in case. Started w/in 3miles of Delivery Center (2024 AWD FS). Honestly my only real build quality issue I’ve had, but a nerve racking one.
Many thanks! Found a clue today!

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