[Todd111]

My wife and I have been running errands over the last few days and since it’s been very hot outside, we’ve used the A/C a lot. At one point when we were parked yesterday, the fan got really loud and buzzy. Inside the car, it sounded like we were near someone running a leaf blower but outside it was even louder. I’m attaching a video to my post but I’m not sure if it truly conveys how loud and buzzy it was.

We were running the A/C with the fan speed on four, the temperature set to low, and the vent set to fresh air (not recirculating). When we noticed the loud noise, we turned down the fan speed which helped a little. We stopped the car to go into a store and when we returned, the fan sounded normal again.

Although it was about 100-105 degrees Fahrenheit outside yesterday, it‘s the same temperature as the previous two days when the fan hadn’t made that noise. I’m just wondering if it’s normal to sporadically have this loud noise. It was unsettling since the car doesn’t even have 500 miles on it yet. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Boltmobile]

Auto mode was probably set to ON. Just turn it off.
The most effective way i get cold air with less noise is with AUTO off, temperature set to LO, fan speed at 2 or 3, air recirculating, head and feet air delivery ON and fan vents toward passenger and myself.

 

[Todd111]

Auto mode was probably set to ON. Just turn it off.
The most effective way i get cold air with less noise is with AUTO off, temperature set to LO, fan speed at 2 or 3, air recirculating, head and feet air delivery ON and fan vents toward passenger and myself.

We did have AUTO set to OFF (we never use AUTO), temperature was set to LO, fan speed was at 4, air was not recirculating (we don’t like the new car smell), and head and feet air delivery was ON. As I mentioned, the settings and the outside temperature were the same on each of the three days but it was especially loud during that one instance.

 

[micantony]

It's possibly a cooling cycle for the battery. Did you energy screen show usage for Battery Conditioning? what %?

I've heard mine do that at the end of a charging session (I suspect the battery got very hot).

 

[Todd111]

It's possibly a cooling cycle for the battery. Did you energy screen show usage for Battery Conditioning? what %?

I've heard mine do that at the end of a charging session (I suspect the battery got very hot).

I didn’t even think of looking at the energy screen. I’ll remember to do that if the loud noise happens again. Thanks

 

[Dark-Fx]

Higher pitched buzzing noise is the AC compressor. Fan noise is probably the one in the front of the vehicle that pulls "cool" air through the radiator and condensers. If it's over 100 degrees outside it's not very cool. Both were probably running at full speed, should eventually let up but probably would happen even quicker if you were driving.

The Bolt has a lot of electric motors under the hood because of all the coolant loops. On an ICE most of those things are run off the accessory belt.

 

[BoltCanuck]

It's possibly a cooling cycle for the battery. Did you energy screen show usage for Battery Conditioning? what %?

I've heard mine do that at the end of a charging session (I suspect the battery got very hot).

I’ve experienced this behavior a few times as well during hot days and in a hot garage. The car will do this to, I suspect, keeping the battery cool enough. I’ve only noticed it while the car is plugged in though. Mind you, it doesn’t get nearly as hot here in Canada as other places down south.

 

[XJ12]

I didn’t even think of looking at the energy screen. I’ll remember to do that if the loud noise happens again. Thanks

the car makes a very distinctive noise when battery conditioning kicks in. Almost sounds like a jet engine taking off.

 

[MikeyBolt]

The noises of an EV take some getting used to. Buzzing. Clicking. Beeping. Fan noises. My Volt did it. Then the Bolt. And my current Model 3 does it. All of them have similar sounds but at varying degrees and times. Sooner or later you learn to just let it do its thing and not worry about it. That is, unless it's an obvious "grinding" sound or something of that nature, or it is something new that has developed. It's troubling for a new owner because every sound is "new" but over time, you'll learn what to expect.

Heat is the enemy of any electronics and it takes quite a bit of "managing" to keep things in check.

Mike

 

[captivabolt]

Another possibility is that there is some rodent debris(nesting material) in and around the cabin filter.
It might be worthwhile to investigate.

 

[leenanj]

I have noticed the same louder fans as the temperature hit 97 degrees here and this is my first electric vehicle experience.

What was a very quite car in cooler weather has turned into a louder car than my ICE vehicle in hot weather.

I actually thought I had a bad wheel bearing on the front driver side when the fan starts up with whirring noise.

Once you get use to the noises it is suppose to make and they come and go as needed I am still loving the Bolt every time I pass a gas station!

 

[Sean Nelson]

Another possibility is that there is some rodent debris(nesting material) in and around the cabin filter.
It might be worthwhile to investigate.

Yeah, it's easy to open up the glove box to get access to the cabin filter. The fan is right next to the filter, so if there's any debris in there the fan blades might be hitting it.