Last Summer I wasn't able to use the a/c in my 2001 SS on account of it not working. It blows air but the air is hot. Around the same time I realized the a/c went, I noticed that the car was making a rattling noise, when the a/c in on or off. Could they both be the same problem? My guess is the air compressor but I'm not sure. I don't want to go through another summer without a/c! Any help would be awesome.

 

There is a good chance the compressor is making the noise (I've known that to happen on 3100 engines that the compressor hadn't been used in years). But it could also be more then that. You might have a leak in the system.

With the car off, slide the belt off and try moving all the pulleys by hand (the crank pulley won't move by hand, no reason to mess with it). Feel for any play or rough spots in the travel. Also listen for any sounds that at much higher speeds might be the rattle.

If that still doesn't fruit results, find someone you trust that works on A/C systems in cars to give things a go over.

 

Sounds like the clutch on a/c compressor to me. I've seen these go bad a lot. If that is it and you change it yourself make sure when you charge the system again that you put a can of a/c oil in it. If you don't it will lock up from lack of oil.