My 2006 Tucson - which has been problem-free for 85,000 miles - has started making a whining sound when I turn on the air conditioner. The faster I drive (freeway speeds, for instance) the higher and louder the noise gets. It kicks on and off, but mostly on.

Not being much of a car guy, am I looking at needing to replace the AC compressor, condenser...what?

 

Sounds like your accessory belt is loose. Did you ever change the belts?

 

Ten days later...

I had a couple of belts replaced, but not an accessory belt (tensioner and something else).

Do you supposed that's it? Since I don't know a darn thing about cars, my first hunch would be something more like the compressor or condenser, but again, I know so little about cars. What does that cost?

I will say this: it's completely obnoxious. I want it to just break already so I can get it fixed (under warranty, of course, being the goal).