Eventually I realized I needed to do something more than just trying to keep my A/C off as much as I could so I saved up some money and took it to my mechanic to get it fixed. He said it sounded like the a/c compressor was starting to have trouble and I should replace it. I just replaced it and the belts again a couple of weeks ago since he thought it was best to have new belts with a new compressor.
The problem is that the noise is still there! It is not as often, or as long, but it is definitely there! I took it back to him and he said the compressor is working fine but he did notice that the power steering fluid was leaking and he thought that might be causing the belts to squeal since they were so close to the leak. So he cleaned it up and my dad replaced the leaking hose for me. Now it is not leaking anymore, and the noise doesn't go away! There is no power steering fluid that I can see on the belts.
I am at my wit's end. My car drives fine, but I want to get to the bottom of the noise. Why could the belts be squealing still? He said he tightened the belt a little bit when I took it back to him, but the noise hasn't quieted down any. It still tends to squeal for up to a minute when I am going at low speeds or stopping with the A/C on and then it will stop and be okay the rest of the time. And also, sometimes, especially right before the squealing starts I will start hearing a faint chirping coming from the belt area (again with the A/C on). This is usually a warning for me that the squealing is going to start up if I slow or stop.
Could it be the tensioner pulley? What else can I look at? Please help!
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Tuesday, October 5th, 2010 AT 2:28 PM