99 Malibu LS LOUD metal noise coming from front right side...

[TheBU]

I have this LOUD Metal hitting metal sound coming from my fron right side....I think it has somthing to do with the A/C because in the summer when i turned A/C on it would go away but in the winter i cant turn the A/C on cuz i will freeze.....Does any1 else have this problem and know a simple way to fix it.....

P.S. I also notice other cars having same sounds like the grand ams and Grand prixs......... PLEASE HELP

[bearcatdon]

Does this happen while idling or driving? If while idling stick your head under the hood, rev up the motor and see if you can pin point a more precise location. If it does it while moving I would lean towards something in the suspension/cv joint.

[TheBU]

it happens while idling.....it continues to make the noise while i drive also....

[bearcatdon]

Without sticking my head under the hood the best I can come up with is a bad bearing. Take the belt off and check for free play on your accessory pulleys. If either of them have up and down movement they need replacing.

[TheBU]

Hmmm will that wear my belt out faster????....if it willl i will be very mad since When i got 2 new head gaskets and a Intake manifold the place put a belt on and they would of noticed that right away.......and if thats the case they should of told me so i could of had it fixed while they where fixing everything else

[bearcatdon]

If it is a bearing the belt may fray on the sides but that would be the least of my worries. I would be more concerned of the bearings ceasing, shaft breaking or belt skiping off the pulley. If either of these things happen you'll probably be stranded. Therefore, I'd look into it. As for the place that did the repair, if there was no noise at the time, there would be no reason to check the bearings. I've never checked my bearings when I changed my belts because noise is usually the first indication of the problem.

[BluntedDogg_420]

i suggest u change your ac pump and quick before it locks up on you like mine did

[BluntedDogg_420]

if the pulley on the pump locks up you'll need to buy a new belt too cuz this 1 is gonna break