sloppytot

Had a 150 mile trip home yesterday and about 3 blocks from my house, I began to hear a loud constant noise coming from the engine compartment. Drove the three blocks to my house and left it running and popped the hood. It seems to be coming from the front portion of engine compartment, maybe behind the radiator... somewhere in that area. The noise seems to subside or change if I put on the AC. Turn it off, and the boise comes back in full force. DEFNITELY loud enough to hear right away. Not sure if this helps, but... AC was re-charged in June, and the past week or two I didn't have AC. It was blowing, but no cold. On the trip home yesterday, the AC worked flawlessly blowing nice cold air.

Any ideas or theories? Any advice or tips?

Thanks!

Diesel

Is it a semi high pitched babababababababababa noise?

God I hate explaining noises online.

CodeXJ

Check the cooling fans for cracks or chips, if one of the blades is out of balance the entire thing will vibrate and make a wierd noise.

96_xj

Okay is it like a bearing noice? like not a squeal or anything but more of a metal-on-meta resistance? The AC compressor went out on my convertable and made a VERY loud noise not giving me cold air, just warm air. It ended up being that the compressor went out.... That is what it sounds like to me

CAEMI

Sounds like the clutch on the AC compressor is engaging sometimes and sometimes not.

I'm thinking if you have AC one day and not the next, then it's back the next...that squeal is AC related for sure.

I'd loosen the serp. belt and turn the AC compressor and other accessories by hand and see if any of them have bad bearings or any play in 'em.