Infin1ty

Alright so for about 3 or 4 days now my ES has been making a loud noise, seems to be coming from the passenger side of the engine. Only happens for the first 5 minutes of so after I start the car after letting it sit for a while, and then it will stop.

What is making me think it might be the compressor, is that yesterday at the A/C light started blinking, it only did it once that I could notice, but it did do it.

It has also been affecting my power steering when I first start driving in the morning. It is causing the steering to be very tight, and this morning it was worse then ever before when i coming out of the drive way. Almost felt like it was skipping really bad, because the power steering would go in and out every few seconds. As always though, after I go driving for a couple minutes this stopped.

Really only worried about this, because my parent's vehicle had a similar problem, and they ended having to replace the drive belt because the compressor seized up on them.

JSM1284

Does it make the noise with the A/C off? Try adjusting the belts, they could just be loose.

Infin1ty

It makes the sound regardless.

the belt idea does make since, I'll give it a shot.

llcoolpass

belt slippage caused by an engaged a/c compressor clutch AND the compressor is seized,

or belt slippage due to worn out belt and/or improper tensioner

on mine, belt drives a/c comp and alt

other belt drives the ps

Infin1ty

my A/C is actually working though, so i don't think that it's seized. I was taking a look at it, and it does look like the A/C and Alternator are on the same belt, and everything else is on a separate belt, like you describe.

I may be wrong about the Compressor all together, the only reason the idea even occurred to me was because of the flashing A/C light yesterday, but like I said it only did that once. It may be something strictly with the power steering.

enterconne

Did you ever figure out the problem? Recently my car has been making a noise when the car is cold and only when the a/c is on. sounds like worn bearings or something but the a/c is supercold and it stops after a few minutes. what could this be?