Bad a/c condenser/compressor?

[clifford_H3T]

'09 H3T Adventure 5cyl 109k miles
Hey guys, just noticed this sound recently when the a/c is kicked on. Doesn't make the noise when the fans are off. My a/c is still blowing cold and everything seems to be normal on the inside. Could this be the compressor or the radiator as a whole? Is this an easy fix/normal for 100k miles? Thanks for your help and time.
YouTube link

 

[Happy Hummer]

Check your water pump. You will also want to check the AC clutch and the pulley assembly. I just literally have been going through all this lol. So, maybe my pain will help you. I had to remove each item and physically put my hand and eye crytometer on each. In my case it was a failure in the water pump, alternator and two pulley. All within a couple weeks or less.

 

[Jeepwalker]

If it were my vehicle, I would get a wood handle/stick/large dowel/etc a couple ft long. I would put the end on the front of the AC compressor (behind the pulley), and the other end pressed up to my ear. If the bearings are going bad a guy will literally hear them crunching away inside via the stick. If I didn't hear much, then, I would move on to the other components of my H3 which Happy Hummer articulated above. It's a way I use to zero in on issues pretty quick. I'm always super-careful around rotating components too. This is not considered advice...

 

[alrock]

That doesn’t sound too nice. It could be a/c, or the extra strain the a/c is putting on the belt could be exacerbating another issue. Listening to the items is the easiest way to pinpoint and you can pick up a stethoscope at O’Reilly for $12. Agreed that water pump and a/c compressor are most likely culprits.

If you do replace the a/c compressor, you’ll want to do the condenser at the same time and maybe the expansion valve too. Heck, this is what Rockauto requires to get warranty coverage on the compressor. Grinding noises means the bearings are worn, suggesting metal could be in the system. You want your best chance to remove that stuff, which means replacing the reasonably accessible components.