OK - this is going to sound like such a basic, generic question - but what is this part in the picture???

I've noticed recently when driving a tapping sound - its not loud at all, I can really only hear it when I have the radio off - but the other day I happened to have the hood opened and noticed that it was this "thing" making the sound.. When the belt is going around, that part in the middle (with the imprint and yellow writing) would stop for a second and then the tapping was it starting back up. Is that normal or something I should be concerned about??

Again - I apologize if this is so basic - I'm not sure how else to phrase it! (I'm not a mechanically inclined person!)

[IMG]local://upfiles/9387/86A12C65BC1F4E57BD2D28D0A2FA1FF7.jpg[/IMG]

 

That is your A/C compressor. It does normally cycle on and off. If it is tapping as you say I would wonder if it is on its way to seizing.

 

It is the A/C compressor and they do get noisy. However as long as your air is blowing cold I would not worry about it. The reason it cuts in/out is that the compressor is driven by a magnetic clutch that is energized on/off again depending on the A/C line pressures. If your pulley bearing was going out it would be a continous whine.

 

Cool.. Thanks guys.. It is blowing cold air so I'll let it go for a while.. I'm just glad its not something that could lead to a breakdown!!

 

Well if its cycling too much it most likely means you are low on coolant, or maybe too much also. Its not uncommon for some coolant to be lost over time through the seals. It is when it gets to the point of mine when the compressor is trash.