Iansaltes

Ok guys heres the problem. For awhile now I have been hearing a very faint, clanking kind of noise under the right side (looking at the engine headon) of the timing belt cover. I have never driven the car anything more than 50 miles until about a week ago when I drove to VA from FL. I stopped at a rest area in SC to stretch my legs and use the bathroom, and when I came back out, I started up my car, and hit the gas to get back onto the highway... but then it happened. A pretty loud, WHURRING, spinning sound from what appears to be under the right timing belt cover (when looking at vehicle headon). I freak out cause its 2am and I don't want to drive it cause it sounds horrible. So I hop on my iPhone and get on the internet trying to find a solution, to no avail.

So I try everything, took the timing belt cover off, everything appears to be ok, at least from up top. So I try turning off electronics inside, it still makes the noise. Put it in neutral, rev it, still makes the noise. Reverse, makes the noise. Shoot.

I turn off the A/C and wham! the sound is gone. I was so stoked, so I hoped back in my car and arrived back in VA.

My question to you is... what is this sound? is it the clutch? I've been driving the car for a week now without a problem. I am usually pretty good at diagnosing engine noises, but this one stumps me.

Ideas, anyone?

Thanks!

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

sounds like AC compressor/compressor clutch.