Why does Tesla make noise when parked?

Tesla Humming Sound: Is It Normal?

You’ve always been an environmentally conscious person and have long been concerned about the emissions released by motor vehicles, and after doing the math and seeing that you will also save hundreds of dollars a year on your fuel bill as well, you finally take the plunge and invest in a Tesla. However, your shiny new electric car seems to be making funny noises. Is the Tesla humming sound normal? The Tesla humming sound is completely normal. The humming sound comes from the main coolant pump, the fans, and the external pedestrian warning sound. Some of the internal regulatory processes of the Tesla will cause humming, and the fact that you can hear this humming sound is more than likely a good thing as opposed to a reason to request a recall. » MORE: AC Compressor Noise in Tesla Explained

Why Do Teslas Hum?

There may be a couple of reasons why your Tesla is humming, but it most likely has something to do with the main coolant pump performing its regulatory process. This regulatory process may differ depending on whether your Tesla is parked or in motion, but it mostly works to ensure that your Tesla is at the ideal temperature for functionality and longevity.

Tesla Humming While Parked

You park your Tesla and get your groceries out of the back, but just as you close the trunk and walk toward your house, you notice a noise near where the battery is located that sounds like a humming refrigerator and become concerned that something is wrong. Fear not: What you are hearing is the main coolant pump regulating the battery temperature of the Tesla and the fans working to cool down the battery, motors, and cabin. While lithium-ion batteries, especially those used in Teslas, are remarkably durable products capable of performing well in a variety of conditions, it is best to ensure battery shelf life, that these batteries are stored as close to room temperature as possible. As high temperatures can lead to battery degradation over time, the coolant pump will work to keep the battery of the parked Tesla as close to 72°F (~22°C) as possible, thus creating the humming sound you hear coming from your parked car. » MORE: This is Why Your Tesla’s Fan Keeps Running

Tesla Humming While Driving

If you notice your Tesla humming while in motion it is likely the external pedestrian warning sound. This pedestrian warning sound is a light humming sound in Drive, and a slightly louder humming sound in Reverse gear. When in Reverse, the humming sound gets louder as you increase speed. Alternatively, it is once again most likely the coolant pump, which regulates the heating and cooling circuit that ensures optimal temperature of the battery and drivetrain. The drivetrain consists of the electric motor and copper rotor, which converts the direct current stored in the battery to the alternating current needed for motor function. In particularly cold temperatures, the circuit will transfer excess heat generated from the motor to the battery. In hotter temperatures, the circuit will work to ensure that the battery stays around 110°F (~43°C), the temperature most likely to ensure the maximum battery range of the moving Tesla, roughly 373 miles (600 km) in the latest Tesla Model S. » MORE: Why Do Frunk Panels Rattle in the Tesla Model Y?

Why Is My Tesla Humming?

The Tesla is doing its job. As mentioned extensively in the preceding sections, the coolant pump generates the faint humming sound to ensure the battery and drivetrain are functioning at optimal temperatures. Think of a ceiling fan gently whirring or a laptop waking up from sleep mode. All work will create at least a little noise.
The noise is exacerbated by how quiet the Tesla is. If the Tesla weren’t so extraordinarily quiet, you would never know that it made any noise at all. It’s due to the amazing efficiency of this electric car’s functionality that the humming of the coolant pump is audible to anybody.
We are used to internal combustion engines (ICE). Despite the increasing popularity of the Tesla, society is still overwhelmingly accustomed to ICE. The “roar of the engine” drowns out all other sounds of the traditional gas guzzler, and you would never notice the humming of the Tesla’s coolant pump if it were under the hood with an ICE.
We are trained to believe that “noise” equals “danger.” As a result of our familiarity with ICE, in which any noise heard above the sound of the engine would likely signal a significant issue, most people believe that “strange” noise coming from a car is a reason to be concerned and discount its role in the functionality of the designed mechanism.

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Your Tesla is humming as a result of the coolant pump working to maintain optimal internal temperatures. This is a good thing and should not be met with concern.

What if There Is Something Wrong With My Tesla?

Isn’t it so frustrating to go to the doctor, the mechanic, or the vet, describe all the symptoms surrounding an issue, and then have him or her say that it is probably this or probably that? They seem to know the answer, but don’t want to give you 100% peace of mind.

If you’re one of the people who aren’t completely satisfied that the humming sound coming from your Tesla is a simple result of the coolant pump performing its intended function, then there are several steps you can follow to help identify any underlying issues before spending significant money to have your electric car looked at by a technician:

Make a detailed note of the functionality of the Tesla. If your Tesla is and has been functioning as intended, then there is no reason at all to be concerned about the humming sound. However, if you can note or have noted anything awry, then there could be a reason for concern, and you will want to consider further investigating the humming sound
Listen to your Tesla. If you’re reading this article, you already know that it is completely normal for your Tesla to hum. Therefore, it would behoove you to familiarize yourself with this sound. The humming should be faint, so any sound that is obnoxiously loud may be a symptom of a more significant problem, perhaps an issue with the coolant pump itself
Watchvideosof humming Teslas. Compare the sounds you hear against the sounds your Tesla makes when parked, plugged in, and moving, making a note of any significant changes and/or differences
Take advantage of technology – the Tesla is one of the most technologically advanced vehicles on the market. It offers an unprecedented array of gauges, monitors, and screens to keep the driver alerted to vehicle function. It is even smartphone compatible, so owners can track charge level and temperature, among other features, when they are away
Collaborate with other Tesla owners – if you are in a progressive metropolitan city, there is probably no shortage of fellow Tesla owners with whom you can share and compare your experience regarding the humming sound. If you live in a more isolated location, check out some message boards for consumers who have experienced similar concerns.

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Tesla Humming Sound: Is It Normal?

While hearing any kind of unusual noise, especially from a vehicle thought to be noise-free, can be disconcerting, it is important to know that the humming sound coming from your Tesla is completely normal. It is a result of the main coolant pump working to regulate the temperature of important internal components, the fans cooling off the vehicle, and the external pedestrian warning sound to pedestrians can hear you coming.

As such, drive your Tesla worry-free knowing that slight humming noises are totally normal.

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The articles here on ThatTeslaChannel.com are created by Greg, a Tesla vehicle and Tesla solar expert with nearly half a decade of hands-on experience. The information on this site is fact-checked and tested in-person to ensure the best possible level of accuracy.

About the Author

The articles here on ThatTeslaChannel.com are created by a Tesla vehicle and Tesla solar expert with nearly half a decade of hands-on experience. The information on this site is fact-checked and tested in-person to ensure the best possible level of accuracy.

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What Happens When You Park A Tesla For Three Months?

Can you park a Tesla for an extended period of time? Will the battery lose all of its charge? We have the answer.

September 17, 2022

My wife and I have a summer place in a camping community in Connecticut. When we owned a Nissan LEAF, it sat parked in our carport in Florida for three months. During that time, it lost about 2 percent of its battery charge. But the LEAF was not a “computer on wheels” the way a Tesla is. So, when we went north this summer, we were curious how much battery power would be used by our Tesla Model Y before we got back.

Fortunately, the Tesla app makes it easy to stay in touch with your car at all times, so we were able to monitor things from afar. Before we left, I charged our Model Y (cleverly called Wylie — every car has to have a name) to 86%. Then we headed to the airport.

I was a little nervous, not because I thought there would be a problem but because this was something new in my experience. I wanted to not worry about Wylie sitting with a fully depleted battery for weeks or months. We have a neighbor who agreed to drive the car every few weeks. I showed my neighbor how to plug it in, but he wasn’t comfortable doing that, so I hoped it wouldn’t be necessary.

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After a week, I checked in on Wylie using the Tesla app. The battery was at 84%, which gave me a hint that my concerns were not realistic. After a month, it was at 79%. After 2 months, it was at 71% and when we arrived home last week, the battery still had a 64% charge remaining.

Parking A Tesla For The Summer

There are several things you need to do before you park your Tesla for an extended period of time. First, turn off all the features that can draw power, like automatic temperature control for the passenger compartment (which prevents the temperature inside the car from getting above 40°C/104°F for up to 12 hours after you leave the car). Dog Mode, Camping Mode, and so forth should all be disabled. Sentry Mode is a matter of personal choice, but depending on how often it’s triggered, it can use a lot of energy. Wylie was parked under a carport that kept it out of the sun in a condo community with 24 hour security. There aren’t a lot of ruffians roaming about who might decide to mess with it.

If it were parked at an airport or other public facility, you might want to activate Sentry Mode for your own peace of mind and to have a video record if any miscreants create mischief while you are away. I cannot report how quickly Sentry mode depletes the battery because I did not have it turned on during my absence. (Editor’s note: Sentry Mode can deplete the battery a ton. We used to live at an apartment complex where there was a lot of foot traffic around the car and the battery drained quickly when Sentry Mode was on. I assume it’d be similar at an airport.)

My neighbor did drive the car around for a few miles every two weeks, primarily to knock the rust off the brake rotors and keep the 12-volt battery charged. Heat is tougher on those batteries than cold, so I wanted to make sure it survived the summer in Florida.

He used my Tesla key card to access the car and it took him a few tries to get it to work. He assumed he was supposed to hold it in front of the camera on the door pillar, which someone unfamiliar with the car might assume is the proper method. The first time he checked on the car, he called me and I walked him through the process.

Then in late August, he called me to say he couldn’t get the car to lock when he was done driving it. There were some workers in the area and he didn’t want to leave the car unlocked. Rather than impose on his good nature, I simply locked the car remotely using the app. He thought that was way cool.

Lessons Learned

Wylie used about 25% of its battery power during the three months it was parked — roughly 8% a month. So, if you are concerned about leaving your Tesla unused for a while, don’t be. Just remember to shut down the systems and features that can draw more power and walk away.

Having a carport or garage is a distinct plus. Cars parked in the Florida sun can easily get as hot as 120°F inside, or more. That’s not good. As it was, when I checked the app, Wylie never got hotter than 85 degrees inside all summer long. As noted above, there is a feature that will automatically activate the air conditioning if the cabin temperature gets too high, which is a good thing, but if the AC is running regularly, battery power will decrease accordingly. Other than that, leaving your Tesla unattended for a significant period of time should be no problem.

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When my wife and I got back to Florida a few days ago, there was Wylie sitting just where we left it. We were able to climb in and go for groceries with no drama. The tire pressure monitor said it was time to put some air in the tires, so I found an air pump (I carry a battery powered air pump in the frunk but it’s a little slow) and aired up. All 4 tires were at 38 psi, which may seem like plenty, but the sticker on the B pillar on the driver’s side says 42 psi is recommended. Once I added about 5 pounds of pressure to all 4 tires, the warning light went out and all was well.

The Model Y Vacation Takeaway

Since my experience represents a sample size of one, extrapolating from my results is problematic. Still, I had no issues leaving Wylie parked for 3 months, which is comforting since my wife and I go north every summer. Having my neighbor take the car around the block twice a month was nice but not necessary.

What I did find, however, is that my neighbor was completely baffled by the touchscreen. He couldn’t set the AC temperature or turn on the wipers or listen to the radio. I know Hertz and other rental companies are ordering a bunch of Teslas and I wonder if their customers are happy with the “computer on wheels” experience. Most of us get in a rental, adjust the seat and mirrors, drop it in drive, and go. Operating a Tesla requires a tutorial.

I have to say, after owning Wylie for 9 months, the touchscreen is my least favorite part of the Tesla experience. Maybe it’s because I am older and my brain has atrophied, but my son-in-law has had a Model Y for 2 years now and my daughter is reluctant to drive it because it is still terra incognita to her. Maybe she inherited limited brain capacity from her father.

I peruse the reddit EV forum regularly and saw a post recently from someone who traded a Model Y for a different electric car and was overjoyed to have real buttons on a real dashboard again. To me, the Tesla touchscreen is not intuitive. It forces me to do what it wants me to do rather than doing what I want it to do. I know Tesla is selling gazillions of cars worldwide, which makes me an outlier, I suppose. But when I read that Tesla is thinking about doing away with the two remaining control stalks, I shake my head and ask why.

Elon thinks of a car as just a horizontal elevator. To me, it is so much more than that and I wish Tesla would stop sanitizing the driving experience to the point where much of the joy of driving is squeezed out of the experience. Your mileage may vary. See dealer for details.

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Tesla to Fix High-Pitched Buzzing in Model S/X with 2022.36.1 Update

Some Tesla owners have been complaining about a continuous high-pitched whining noise found in some Model S/X refresh vehicles, including Plaid variants. The annoying issue that happens while parked will be fixed in the upcoming 2022.36.1 software update (via Tesla Motors Club), a per a screenshot detailing the reply from Tesla customer service.

The buzzing sound in question was first reported following the 2022.24.6 update earlier this month. Apparently, it is the side effect of a vehicle performance improvement that was designed to increase efficiency by adjusting the flow of amperage within the battery.

However, it continues to persist and has even stuck around in the 2022.28.2 update, which started rolling out on Thursday.

The issue will be fixed in the 2022.36.1 software update. However, going by Tesla’s current release schedule for software updates, 2022.36.1 will likely land sometime in November.

In the meantime, Tesla reps have assured customers that the whining sound is not associated with any mechanical, electrical, or potentially hazardous concerns. Even if your Tesla is giving off a buzzing sound, it is safe to drive, park, and charge.

That said, the sound can be pretty annoying if you have to keep hearing it for a longer period of time. Some people have reported success with getting the noise to stop by making their Tesla sleep.

Check out a video of the buzzing sound in the video below:

You can get your Tesla to sleep and basically go into a completely inactive mode by turning off Sentry Mode, closing the Tesla app on your phone, getting the key fob well away from the car, and giving it some time to sleep. Once the Tesla goes to sleep, the whining noise will stop.

It could take up to 30 minutes of inactivity for your Tesla to go to sleep. In addition, it might take even longer if you’ve just gotten back from a drive or the car is overheating for some reason.