Identifying Noise

[haphop]

I got a new rattling noise under the hood. Sounds like it could be a power steering pump, the ac compressor/bearing or idler. It would come and go when the ac clutch disengaged. It sounds the same with stethoscope on each device.

How to determine what's causing the noise?
Which have you had to replace? Which is most likely the cause of the noise?
Is it feasible to replace just the bearing, if it can be determined which it is?

2000 XLT 5.0 195k mi

 

[my98nnj]

Remove the serpentine belt, all you need is a ratchet on the idler.
Rotate each pulley by hand, you'll feel the noisy one.

 

[deweyville65]

I got a new rattling noise under the hood. Sounds like it could be a power steering pump, the ac compressor/bearing or idler. It would come and go when the ac clutch disengaged. It sounds the same with stethoscope on each device.

How to determine what's causing the noise?
Which have you had to replace? Which is most likely the cause of the noise?
Is it feasible to replace just the bearing, if it can be determined which it is?

2000 XLT 5.0 195k mi

And, if it is the tensioner, you can get just the bearing. At least, I have in the past. The power steering, I would replace the pump. The A/C, replace the whole clutch. This is my opinion.

 

[Flash]

The A/C, replace the whole clutch. This is my opinion.

I came to this thread because I'm having the same problem, I've tracked it to the A/C clutch bearing.

How do you replace the clutch?