Question About A/c

When I put on my A/C (which is something I should also have metioned earlier when talking about the power), it takes alot of power from the car! Is this normal? My A/C also has some funny irritating sound when I put it on, what could this be? I've changed the air filter just recently and have been trying to figure out what is causing the noise. It's a long, irritating noise that won't go away so sometimes I resort to just driving with the windows down without the A/C on.

Also what is the average cost to repair or purchase a new transmission? And how do you know that it's out?

Well, the power loss is normal. An A/C compressor will easily eat 10-15 horsepower from a car. The funny sound you're hearing is probably the A/C fan. I've never heard of a "long" noise myself, lol. The irritating noise also might be a bad bearing on the A/C belt's idler pulley. Is your tranny an auto or a stickshift?

It is an automatic. Only thing is that I did not have the noise before, so I doubt that this is normal. The noise stays on too. I'll check the bearing. Seems like my bug is beginning to fall apart :banghead:

Anne

Well, the power loss is normal. An A/C compressor will easily eat 10-15 horsepower from a car. The funny sound you're hearing is probably the A/C fan. I've never heard of a "long" noise myself, lol. The irritating noise also might be a bad bearing on the A/C belt's idler pulley. Is your tranny an auto or a stickshift?