thanks guys... i am more worried now as I read! low on refrigerant could mean a leaking system and may mean $$$$ oh well...

so a trip to the tech you rackon?

One more note, if I press the "EC" button to "on" during the first XX seconds of the car start-up, i.e. during the noisy period, the noise immediately cuts out. If I turn "off" the EC immediately after that, the noise kicks back in.

What do u guys think??

and sorry to ask but how can I test with a BIG screw driver?