Auto Air Conditioning & Heater Repair: Noise from AC in 2001 Buick Regal Grand Sport Super Charge, buick regal, excessive strain

Question
I noticed a noise coming from under the hood of my car yesterday for the first time. As I slowed down to about 20mph I heard a humming type sound and as I picked up the speed the noise seemed to excelerate along with the rate of speed I was going and when I reached 50 I did not hear it again until I slowed down. When the car was idoling I could hear the whinning sound. It was late and no car dealer was open just a Walmart oil change place as i was on a trip out of state. i asked one of the mechanics to please look at my car and see if they could tell me were the noise was coming from. they asked me to turn off the AC and it stopped. What could this be? The car is not that old and only had 23,000 miles on it when I bought it a few months ago. It has 29,000 on it now. I want to know ahead of taking it in to the dealership so I do not get ripped off. I am a female and I know sometimes we can be taken advanatge of at a car shop. The AC seems to be working fine. blows cold air and has not shown signs of blowing freeon. I sure would appreciate your help. The car runs good and has no problems that i know of.
THANKS,
Marian

Answer
OK, Since you did not say and or you may not know the prior repair history of the vehicle you have several possibilities which are:

Without actually having access to the vehicle I can only give you some possibilities:

1. A fan belt that is worn can cause this type of noise due to age of the belt of which puts excessive strain on the belt when the A/C compressor is engaged. Check the belt surface for small cracks or small pieces of the belt missing most noticeable on the underside of the belt.

2. The A/C compressor may have some internal problems of which would require replacing the compressor. There may have been an earlier problem prior to your purchasing the vehicle where the A/C system failed and had to be repaired of which may have caused some internal damage to the compressor of which has been slowly getting worse and is now being heard.

3. Possibly one of the A/C hoses is not attached via a hold down clamp in it's proper location.


Get a second or third opinion before you make a decision as to what repair procedure(s) are required.


let me know


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