Grinding noise coming form A/C?

I have a '96 Aurora and when it is idling there is a grinding noise which I believe is coming from the A/C. It is only there when the A/C is off. When the A/C is turned on and the clutch engages the noise goes away. The compressor doesn't sound to healthy when its running but it sounds better. Is it possible that the clutch is not disengaging? How can I fiix it? I don't want to replace the compressor, I just want the noise to stop.

I have a '96 Aurora and when it is idling there is a grinding noise which I believe is coming from the A/C. It is only there when the A/C is off. When the A/C is turned on and the clutch engages the noise goes away. The compressor doesn't sound to healthy when its running but it sounds better. Is it possible that the clutch is not disengaging? How can I fiix it? I don't want to replace the compressor, I just want the noise to stop.
I bet it's just your Aux belt tensioner assy making chirping noises. Relax and replace it when you ready. Only 50$ part.

It doesn't really sound like a chirping noise. How do I determine if the Aux tensioner is bad? If I remove the belt would I be able to feel the tensioner running rough if I spin it by hand? I guess I could check the a/c compressor in the same way.

It doesn't really sound like a chirping noise. How do I determine if the Aux tensioner is bad? If I remove the belt would I be able to feel the tensioner running rough if I spin it by hand? I guess I could check the a/c compressor in the same way.

Just eyeball the tensiner assy - it have square hole visible (for pulling belt off), and carefully touch it while engine is idling. If you can feel that sound by feeling assy - it's seizing up.
Sure it can be AC compressor, but i hope it's not.

Well the tensioner was ok. I pulled off the belt and got access to the a/c compressor and found that compressor was not turning too smoothly. So it looks like the compressor is about to sieze soon. A metal ring around the pulley was very loose as well. It looks like the whole thing is falling apart. I'm just going to get a shorter belt for now and skip the a/c. Somewhere in this forum someone mentioned a belt size for this...I'll have to search. Is there an easy way to put the belt back on???