1995 Taurus GL sedan, 3.8 liter engine, about 72,000 miles on it. Several incidents of Intermittent grinding/squeaking noise from the engine compartment. The intensity of the noise seemed to relate to engine speed. The last time it happened, I was able to pull the car over and listen with the hood open. It sounded like a bearing going bad in the alternator/steering pump or possibley AC compressor. The noise then stopped, and has not recurred in several short trips.
However, the AC now seems to be at least partially on when I turn the heater control to "vent", and my in town gas mileage is down about 3 MPG..
My best guess at this point is that the AC compressor clutch is locked up in the "engaged" position. Anybody ever seen this before?