1991 Plymouth Voyager - A/C compressor noise

I have a 3.3 liter 1991 Plymouth Voyager with about 120,000 miles. It just
started to make a loud noise under the hood. I hesitate to describe it. As
a layman/backyard mechanic, my description might be misleading to those of
you more experienced in fixing cars/vans. Anyway, I narrowed it down to the
side of the engine with the alternator, water pump, and a/c compressor.
When I take my ratchet and put one end on the a/c compressor and listen on
the other end, the noise I hear is the same. It makes no difference whether
or not the a/c is running or not. I think there is a clutch assembly on the
end of the a/c compressor. Knowing nothing about such things, are there
some sort of bearings in this clutch that could be bad? Note, my a/c works
just fine, my oil pressure is good, and I'm not losing any radiator fluid
(i.e., from the water pump indicating maybe the water pump is going bad). I
guess what I'm wondering is how to further narrow down the problem, and
could it possibly be this a/c compressor clutch assembly. Could some lube
in this clutch assembly help. I'm way over my head and reaching a little
here. Any help would be appreciated.

When it rains it pours. I just replaced by rear brakes and then here comes
this noise.

Skip

 

I'm pretty sure the noise is the bearings in the A/C clutch.

 

How about the water pump? Has it ever been replaced? When the water
pump started to fail on my 1993 Voyager, it made a "grating" sound.

-Kirk Matheson

 

How about the water pump? Has it ever been replaced? When the water

Too add what Kirk has said-I just replaced a water pump on a 1993-the frikker
was making the engine sound like a diesel from the pump bearing so shot. Tiny
amount of coolant loss only. Owner was sure the rod bearings were gone in the
engine. Heh.
Respectfully submitted,

Loren Knighton
Woodland, CA.

Under the hood since 1964
Member TRNI IATN
http://www.lubegard.com/automotive/trans_atf.html
http://www.longmfg.com/web/longwebframework.nsf/home/web.trucool

 

Not sure. I've been out of town for a couple of days on business (using a
company car) and had some time to think about it. I'm thinking that I can
remove the a/c compressor belt and start the engine. If I still hear the
noise, I'll look at the water pump. If the noise goes away, then it's the
a/c compressor clutch.

 

Since the 3.3 has a single belt for everything, I don't know if that
will be possible.

-Kirk Matheson

 

If that's so, maybe I can remove the a/c clutch from the compressor and then
tell if it's shot by trying to operate it by hand. I'm not sure. Is it
possible to remove it from the a/c compressor while the compressor is still
on the vehicle?