engine knocking

[v8ter]

hi im new to the site, and i have a problem. My 2002 GT is getting old in the mileage department and the engine has began making a hissing/knocking sound...though i dont think its the engine but the compressor for the air conditioning....im not even sure if its called that but the culprit is below the front pulleys on the bottom left hand side of the front of the engine.

has anyone else experienced this..is it common? and more importantly does anyone know what i can do to fix it?

 

[Kilgore Trout]

How many miles are on the car?

Take the belt off and see if the idler pullies spin freely.

 

[speedfreak98r]

How many miles are on the car?

Take the belt off and see if the idler pullies spin freely.

+1
A likely culprit is the idler pulley.

 

[v8ter]

i dont have the time to do this right now but when i remove the belt the idler pulley is the the top or mid pulley? or could it be the one on the bottom that i orginally was looking at....and the car has about 80,000 miles