Could you have a look at this condition?

I post a thread before about remove the AC system in 2001 Cavalier LS. Thanks for all of your reply.

The condition is that after i start the car, there is a scraping sound coming under the hood. The sound is there all the time since I start it.

After I dropped it to a garage near my campus, the technician told me the AC compressor was bad, and i need to change a new one. But I can not understand that even the AC is not on, there is still that kind of sound.

Is there someone who has encountered that problem? Please give me an idea what maybe the problem?

Thanks all,
Lynn Zhang

If the compressor is still on the vehicle and the belt is still routed around the pulley than it can still make noise. Either there is an issue with the clearance of the clutch which makes kind of a tinny rattling noise or the bearing for the pulley is bad which will make a deeper growling noise.

If the a/c no longer works and you don't wish to get it working than there is an A/C bypass pulley available for the 2.2 liter. Basically you would remove the entire compressor and bolt on a pulley/bracket kit in its place.

Thanks. I tried today, the AC works. So maybe the pulley problem?

Bearings are a fairly common problem. You would need special tools I believe to remove them so I would recommend taking it to a shop. You could also get a used compressor at a junk yard or on ebay cheap. Sometimes it is cheaper to go used than buy new bearings witht hese things. Some last forever and some crap out after a few years. Good luck.