I think that is a bluejay ;-)

Seriously, do you mean the explosion sound or the clatter sound?

The rattle towards the end. I have read mixed things with some saying that is the sound a scroll compressor makes when stopping.

I've not heard that on a properly functioning scroll compressor(?!)

for a trane this sounds normal. The trane website has this unit listed as having a single stage climatuff compressor. If you can -- with unit off take a picture of the compressor sitting in the bottom of the unit. Thru the fan shroud at the top

I have seen on youtube certain lower end tranes with compressors other than climatuff.

I have a customer with an xr12 that is so noisy you can't hear yourself think and another one in an area that flooded out during Harvey that the compressor would make this high pitched sound when the unit cycled off.

With that said, both were cooling and operating normally except for the noise. These issues are not fixable without spending $$$.

Thanks Austin. It’s a black compressor that says Alliance on it, if that helps.

I have read that this could be the compressor going backwards on shut off due to a faulty internal check valve? The compressor is brand new so is this something I should contact installer about? It has been running fine aside from the shut off noise.

I may ask for a sound blanket to be added to the compressor.

It is such a lucky thing to have a Traned ear on this kind of thing....

single phase compressor not likely that it's going backwards. If you think it might be 3 phase (which is rare when it comes to residential) post a picture of the data plate information on the unit.

Alliance compressor as far as I can tell are not climatuff, they are scrolls and usually orange in color. The sound you hear on shut off is normal for a scroll. The higher end units typically put the compressors under a compressor blanket to dampen the noise.

Even a heat pump, the compressor does not go backwards. The refrigerant flow is rerouted to make you think the compressor is running backwards.

Typically if a single phase compressor is stop started and restarted the compressor can run backwards as you say. But once you stop, wait and restart this condition will correct itself. (unless the compressor has been damaged by the action)

If the compressor is 3 phase (3 phase unit) it can run backwards. Do not mess with it call a licensed pro, if that's the case.

With that said, Trains are known for being noisy. Trane's are a close second to that. Unless you go ultra high end, you'll hear them coming a mile down the track. LOL.

Austin, my impression is that you are thinking of a compressor running a cycle in reverse. I think that dva79's backward running concern is not running backwards on an entire cycle, but an end of cycle phenomenon. It might not be possible or likely with some types of compressors, but it is easy to think that a high pressure on one side of a recently "depowered" compressor would force the compressor to spin backwards unless something is done to prevent it like a clutch/brake or a check valve.

Sounds like a rattle. My Trane XR16 was installed 2 years ago and so far it's quiet when it shuts off. Don't ask about the evaporator coil.....!

Austin, my impression is that you are thinking of a compressor running a cycle in reverse. I think that dva79's backward running concern is not running backwards on an entire cycle, but an end of cycle phenomenon.

Ok, I read that again -- you're probably right.

The thing is: there is no way to know with certainty that there is anything wrong with it. Noise is objectionable, non warrantable to a degree. If the noise was continuous during operation I personally would be more concerned with it.

HVAC Equipment breaks, another reason why I sell and install Amana brand that will warranty the compressor for 99 years with a new replacement unit not a compressor replacement hack job. (conditions apply)

But I have been on many noise prone systems (many of them trane's) as well as some other brands. You know noises that come from the compressor that are non reparable other than to replace the compressor, that are far worse than what is demonstrated on this thread (so far).

So if you replace the compressor to correct the noise and the new compressor starts exhibiting the same problem a short time later?

The other less thought of symptom is oil return to the compressor. Which may or may not be the issue with this slightly noisy shut off.

System design (the whole system) duct system, refrigerant piping, layout, electrical, condensate drainage and so on... is important. But when it comes to the Trane brand in particular (IMO) these important things are tossed by the wayside or so it seems to me because you know: 'It's hard to stop a Trane'.

So my thinking, Trane made this mess let them deal with it. LOL.

With that said: The XR16 is more or less an entry system, so the poster (SLK230red) who posted above should post a picture of their compressor in their 2 year old unit. They may have the climatuff compressor.

I service the Katy, Texas area.

The system is quite when it runs and does an excellent job cooling both levels of my two story house (2900sqft).

My only concern was the sound on shut off but with more digging I am seeing this is pretty normal. My installer said It was normal.

I can’t see the model number on the compressor but it is says Alliance and is black. I thought all the tranes on XR16 were “climtuff” - not even sure what that means or if it’s some marketing BS.

The climatuff back in the day was made by Trane in Tyler, Texas. This was when American Standard owned Trane. Prior to splitting the company apart (plumbing vs air conditioning, vs vehicle controls) they moved the compressor manufacturing to Mexico. You know things of legend type stuff. ( I remember when...)

In 2007 they sold the plumbing division to Bain Capital for 1.7 B or so, spun off automotive controls to WABCO VCS, they retained the HVAC business Trane (HVAC side of things) to include Trane and American Standard HVAC brands They renamed themselves Trane at that point / Ameristar brand came later.

IR (Ingersoll Rand) made offer to buy Trane in Dec. 2007, the purchase was finalized in June 2008.

Ah HVAC history is so much fun! Thanks for the memories. LOL.

From Austin Air:

"With that said: The XR16 is more or less an entry system, so the poster
(SLK230red) who posted above should post a picture of their compressor
in their 2 year old unit. They may have the climatuff compressor."

Correction, we have a 2016 Trane XR15 4 Ton Heat Pump (4TWR5) and it has the CLIMATUFF Compressor.

Thanks for posting back slk230red, that is likely the difference.

Austin, so do the new XR16s not have a climituff compressor? Their website says they do:

https://www.trane.com/residential/d/products/heating-and-cooling/air-conditioners/xr16-air-conditioners.html?cid=ppc&utm_adgid=49478714369&utm_adid=223926563422&utm_adpos=1t2&utm_cmpid=937971023&utm_Device=t&utm_dvcmod=&utm_locintid=&utm_locphysid=9021445&utm_matchtypeid=b&utm_network=g&utm_plid=&utm_keyword=trane%20%2Bxr%20%2B16&utm_tgtid=kwd-371072254717&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIodCD66vE3AIV3LfACh3x_gpMEAAYAiAAEgLBkPD_BwE

What the is the difference between mine and slk’230s?

the site site also says some come with a compressor blanket. Mine did not. Should I request one from the installer?

The difference is that the climatuff is not a scroll compressor and Alliance (your compressor manufacturer) probably had an arrangement with Trane to supply compressors for various units. This compressor scheme may have changed recently, your condensing unit may have been purchased in bulk by your installing company for cheaper than new units containing the climatuff now. I don't know for sure, manufacturing changes all the time, they change various things to either cut costs or who knows what. Trane is not the same company by any stretch of the imagination since 2008 time period.

With that said, the climatuff compressor is a thing of former glory. They are made in Mexico now as far as I know and some might be made in China. IR which owns Trane since 2008 is a global company.

In the meantime you could take a picture of the data tag on the side of your Trane condenser that show model & serial number along with other information and post it to the thread, that may shine more light on the subject.

You can add a compressor blanket to any compressor, the company will probably charge you for it if I had to guess.

"... manufacturing changes all the time,"

You made me chuckle because that reminds me of an automotive analog. A few years ago I was regularly frequenting a model-specific automotive board to learn everything I could about my primary driver. It was a very mature technology with few radical changes happening in redesigns. There were, however, frequent small changes from year to year like maybe available differential ratios, heated mirrors, maybe a stiffer anti sway bar, and the like. Sometimes items would disappear only to reappear a couple of years later. Short story made long, one poster commented about the frustration of keeping track of it all by writing that it seemed to him that they let the guys on the assembly line decide what was going into or onto the cars.

Yeah I know... how many models of an air conditioner do you really need?

The manufacturing line is at a standstill because we don't have xyz part.... to get the line going again let's use part tuv? (The compressors are made in Mexico AFAIK, and the units are assembled in Tyler, Texas. )

It's clear that the Trane condensers on their own website claim that the climatuff compressor is used even down to the low end XR13. We know the OP's compressor is an alliance scroll compressor.

So what does this tell me? Connect the dots more or less.

Don't worry it says 'Trane' on the side of the unit. LOL. I'm chuckling with you ionized.

so I did a little search to see what I could drum up........'click picture to enlarge it'.

Thanks Austin. So what does that mean?

The number on my condenser is : 4TTR6048J1000AA

It is a 4 ton XR16.

I found this based in my item number:

https://www.trane.com/content/dam/Trane/Commercial/global/products-systems/equipment/unitary/split-systems/split-systems-1-1-2-to-5-tons/22-1864-03_01012013.pdf

They call the compressor just a “Climatuff Scroll” so I guess that really means anything they want it to.

An interesting thread from HVAC talk: http://hvac-talk.com/vbb/showthread.php?1794391-Trane-Compressors

This raises two questions in my mind. How can they freely sub in compressors when the assemblies have to be rated for efficiency as a unit? Does anyone remember the class action suit against GM by Caddy, Buick, Pontiac, and Olds owners who were pissed when they found out that they had lowly Chevy engines under the hood?

Sounds like they call all their compressors “Climatuff” but that is pretty meaningless as it’s basically saying ours are “great”. They don’t specify a model as their only Climatuff compressor. Apparently they also own Alliance so it’s still their compressor I suppose.

Dont get me wrong, it has been great so far. Sounds at shut off appears to be normal and when it runs it is quite. Much quieter than my old Carrier.

Yeah from what I've looked at it appears that Trane is using the 'Climatuff' as a trademark and not in reference as to what the Climatuff compressor was originally known for.

Using a name that described something as being better because it was 'different' from everything else. Climatuff compressor in it's original form was and is not a scroll compressor. Because the climatuff name is trademarked they can make it anything they want it to mean.

I think this is probably also in direct relation to some people who have discovered the compressor in their Train unit is an LG compressor. So it sounds like it's an anything goes type situation.

I remember the good old days when someone said it was what it was it meant something. Now, you don't know what anything means because the former glory name is a trademarked name that can mean anything they want it to whenever they so choose to change it.

Without all this digging how would anyone really know?

So this leads to another question: why in God's name is your alliance compressor black when it should be the 'trademarked' orange color.

Take a close look at the picture below ( I took this from a picture on the site you referenced in your post.) That alliance compressor is coming from a factory that makes Copeland compressors? LOL.

So much for Trane being so superior. I suppose they ran out of the orange compressors and slapped an alliance sticker on a none other than Copeland compressor. Which in all reality is all the alliance compressor is --- a Copeland compressor painted orange.

What other reason would a Copeland compressor show up in the background of an 'ALLIANCE' compressor manufacturing facility?

The model nomenclature where the model goes 4TTR--- the R in that model means retail replacement. (From the picture above in my last post)

So what is the significance of that... probably what might determine if that model gets the scroll or the actual climatuff as what it was originally intended to be.

You'll notice if that R in the model number is either X or Z those are classified as 'Leadership' so this might determine what kind of compressor is installed.

Other than that I have no idea, Trane is not the same company since 2008. That is a given.

In one of the post I read that all Trane compressors are now painted black as of a couple years ago.

I am assuming there is no difference between and Alliance and Copeland scroll, as evidence of their common origin from the same assembly line.

Hmm, ok the color thing is something I didn't know. I suppose a different color was too much cost for Trane to bear and they decided a sticker only difference (Alliance vs. Copeland) was good enough.

From what I have seen thus far (the noise you've demonstrated on shut off) the picture with the Copeland in the background, I can only assume they are one in the same. Except for the Alliance sticker, if that counts for anything?

(the noise you demonstrate on shut off is very Copeland scroll like... - if that's any consolation.)

With all that said, Copeland scrolls are good compressors, but this kind of makes the theory that Trane's are some how better than all the rest a little more obsolete. What separates a Trane from being 'better' than any other unit?

A sticker?

I am noticing that several compressor making a knocking sound on cutoff that uses Goodman condensers.

I am noticing that several compressor making a knocking sound on cutoff that uses Goodman condensers.

All brands can and do exhibit compressor noise problems. It's not relegated to a single brand. If the unit is newer it's likely installation problem or manufacture defect which is much more rare.

People love to blame Goodman because they are an easy target.

Let me show you what I mean, watch this video below.... "mind = blown". I think it may have been this thread that inspired this video or at least one of them....

I sevice the Katy, Texas area.

I also have a Trane unit not sure the exact size but it is the same series as the one in the video. When it shuts off it sounds like it has a clutch clicking sound as if it's trying to slow down compressor motor. It sounds like a card in bike spokes only more mechanical. I'm hoping nothing is wrong. It blows cold. Can't stand next to it and talk when it's on because it sounds like an industrial fan in your ear but that's normal.

It needs to be determined where the noise is coming from. Typically any unusual noise from a unit indicates failure. (some noises are worse than others)

The noise from the compressor in the video I posted above went on for years. It always made that noise from the day I started working on it. I determined thru a few simple 'professionally conducted' tests the noise was coming from the compressor (video above).

The house in that video is a rental, so because the system was still functioning / cooling properly the landlord wasn't going to spend money just because something is loud.

All that said, I have seen nearly every brand of AC various kinds of compressor type noises. Any brand can develop noise related issues.

I've been out there a few more times since replacing that condenser, the compressor noise has not returned to this particular unit from the video above.

I service the Katy, Texas area.

@dva_79 - did you ever find a fix for this? i just installed the same XR16 and have the exact same noise. I’m trying to figure out if this is normal .

Does the noise still exist after 4 years or has there been any change at all? Anything else I should know about it?