My ac has been slowly going out. It'd work in 85F or below weather. The clutch wouldn't spin when it was above that temp or if i sat too long with ac on. I thought it was my few month old Denso Remanned Alternator or tensioner pulley making this grinding/whinny noise. The noise got louder over time. One day I pull into home and smell a weird smell. So I let it set for a few days. I come back to it. Take off the belt and spin the alternator, spins fine. I spin the tensioner pulley, spins ok with a little jingle. Then I thought it was the tensioner pulley. Later that night I figure I better do more research about how to replace it and verify its the tensioner. I came across a video of a guy replacing his compressor. He showed the noise it was making before he replaced the clutch assembly. So the next day I went to check everything again with the belt on. As the car was running I looked below around the compressor(wheel turned to the right). I could smell that burning smell. I got up and looked above at the compressor. I use take a screw driver and try to hear/feel the vibration on the tensioner & alternator. Nothing vibrating more than usual. I go turn the ac on. I look at the compressor again and notice smoke coming from between the pulley and clutch. Should I just replace the clutch? Or just the compressor? Do you think i damaged anything else?

I also forgot to mention. Before the sound got really noticeable. I did drive through really high water one night. I'm not sure if that made things works or if the compressor got slightly submerged? Or if the compressor/clutch was on its way out anyways. It did fail give me this issue almost 2 week after though

 

Replacing the clutch is the more economical way to go, replacing the entire compressor is the more prudent way.

Id replace the compressor assembly.