when i started my car after i got off work i noticed a ticking sound, not fast, probably like 2 a second maybe? the sound moves with the revs as well, i popped the hood and it seemed to be coming from the pulley area....my diagnosis was the the bearings were going out in one of my pulleys, no idea which one though, i kicked on my AC and the engine almost fell on its face, i pulled out and the car would barely move, it was like it was fighting itself...so i kicked the AC back off and drove the rest of the way home with the top down shortly before i got home i kicked the AC back on as an experiement and it worked fine, it didnt pull any harder on the engine than it normally does....so heres my theory:

my AC compressor is incredibly loud, at 2k it drones very loud and can plainly be heard inside the car, even with the radio on...im thinking that the bearings are going out of it, and that maybe they arent so bad once everything gets good and hot?

i know you can get stuff at auto parts stores that will lubricate your AC system, you think that might be a good idea?

If your A/C compressor is bad when your car is running then you would need to replace the entire compressor. The lubricating oil goes inside with the freon and wouldn't help the bearings.

It'* odd that you mention you hear it w/o the a/c running. But there are technically 2 sets of bearings. The clutch bearings and the compressor bearings.

A good test of pulley'* and bearings is to release tension on the belt and spin each pulley by hand.

yeah it does it at both times, well actually i cant verify that it does it, this is the 2nd time its done it, the only other time it did it was while i was recording my muffler, and thats been a long time ago, and that time i turned the car off, turned it back on and it stopped....ill try the pulley thing though later on...when i get some time and some daylight.

Hello,
If your compressor is bad, you will need to change the compressor, the receiver drier, and the orifice tube. If you just change the compressor and it goes bad, the manufactor doesnt have to stand behind their warranty. This information should be in the compressor box. Dont forget to add the proper amount of oil to each part. Drain the oil out of the new compressor, then add new oil into the compressor, add new oil to the receiver drier as well before you hook up the lines. The manufactors dont ever add enough oil to their compressors. You should also vacuum the system before you add the freon.

Good luck,
Sellncars

i think i might actually go to a mechanic on this one.....the AC system intimidates me a little bit...

i started the car up just a few moments ago, had to make a short trip, it did it for a few seconds and then stopped....and the engine was still sort of warm it wasnt a cold start....

is it just valve clatter? i cant figure out why the AC thing would go away once the car is up to operating temp....or even once it gets warmed up a bit...it makes no sense.