2001 Taurus ac making strange noises, other problms too

I have a 2001 SES, 3.0 flex fuel, with 130,000 (mostly freeway miles) and running strong. My a/c is making some strange "groaning" noises after running in cold setting for anything over 20 minutes. It also seems to go into a cycle of not blowing cold air for 5-10 minutes at a time. I had unit checked last year, they added a can of a/c freon (I know it's not the correct name). The weird thing is that when I turn the steering wheel while in its "noisy" phase, this noise becomes louder and I can feel it through the steering wheel. SOrry for the poor description.

ALSO my trans feels like it jumps in/out of overdrive quite often. I have had trans flushed and traditional method of dropping pan, change filter too. Is this trans going bad?

Finally, my gas guage work/does'nt work! Goes for days working fine, then stops working, stuck above full position. I have taken the batt cable off for a reset which lasts a day at most. Ideas? Thanks for a great forum filled with experts!!

May have a bad A/C compressor. And try driving without the A/C on and see if hte Overdrive problem goes away. In my car the A/C causes the torque converter to unlock and lock back up alot and feels like the transmission is quitting.

Failing gas gauge is probably the sender unit crapping out,, not too uncommon, they exhibit weird readings at certain points in the operation, may work full to 3\4, then drop down to empty or back up to full, or some other wacky reading.. I think the sender is integral to the fuel pump??