Undetermined Engine Noise, lil help?!

[dag19]

Hey guys I have a 2000 LS with the 3.9 motor in it with 139,000 miles. As of yesterday it starting making a whirring/whining/whistling sound. Below are a couple of videos of the sound, perhaps they will help you out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfqLVhWkfDc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23N08RMAM38

The car idles fine, which leads me to believe its not a vacuum leak. I've broke out the stethoscope to listen to each of the easily accessible pulleys and haven't heard any grinding noise nor saw any fresh metal shavings. I also listened to the front of the valve covers and the block to see if it was the cam tensioners, nothing. The belt seems to move freely along the pulleys and isn't "walking" anywhere. None of the pulleys wobble. Also, it makes no difference if I have the A/C (which doesn't work in the cab) on or off. When I shot the clips the A/C was off. Could it just be the idler pulley or the tensioner? Let me know if you want a different video or noise clip or something. I am open to any ideas you guys have. Thanks in advance!!

 

[joegr]

It sounds like the AC clutch to me. If your AC doesn't work, then you can't really turn it on to see if it makes any difference.

You have at least two vacuum lines disconnected from the intake, clear as can be on the video. Apart from that messing with your mixture, your are sucking unfiltered air and dirt into your engine.

 

[dag19]

Ah ok, makes sense about the AC working. However, sometimes it blows ice cold and other times it acts as a heater. (I am still having issues with that.)

Yeah I know I did have those disconnected...as I had the entire intake off. There was another closer to the throttle body but I hooked it back up as it was a bigtime user of the clean air. I put my hand over it and it killed the car!

Anyway...I took off the serpentine belt and started it for a bit and it purred like the kitten I remember. What are the effects of driving the car with a bad AC clutch? Can I replace the clutch and re-use the same compressor? Or would it behoove me to buy a new compressor with a new clutch already installed on it? I am looking for the most cost effective solution as I plan on trading the ol girl off for a more economical unit.

 

[joegr]

What are the effects of driving the car with a bad AC clutch? - Not much.
Can I replace the clutch and re-use the same compressor - Yes, however you may just need to add an extra shim washer to your existing clutch.

 

[dag19]

Is there any chance of getting the pulley off and adding the washer while the compressor is still on the car? It sure looks tight in there. As a side note after spinning the pulley around with the belt off it seemed like there was more free play and grinding in there than there should be. Should that be a concern? I just don't want to ruin more by putting off the maintence.

 

[joegr]

Yes, free-play would be a concern and mean that the clutch needs to be replaced.
I think that it is possible to work on the clutch with the compressor on the car, but I have heard that you'd be better off to remove the compressor.

 

[dag19]

So what all parts will I need in order to fix the a/c clutch and free play in the pulley? Everything outlined in the diagram below? Or can I get away with less? Also if I remove the compressor from the car won't I have to recharge my a/c system? In turn taking it to a shop??

 

[joegr]

Yes, you'd have to recover the refrigerant and then vacuum the system out and recharge it.
To be safe, I think that you would want everything except for the clutch field coil, unless that's why your AC isn't working.