fyi 3800's use and orifice tube, not expansion valve

 

If he has a 3800 he will need to clean/repace the orifice tube. I was never one to memorize that type of stuff

 

i didnt jump the switch but i was going to try to manually engage the clutch by using a paper clip and touching 30 and 87a on the a/c compressor relay. unless there is a better way?

 

I thought you said the compressor is engaging and makeing noise? Why jump anything?

If you know for a fact there is no pressure in the system DO NOT JUMP the low pressure switch. The freon has the oil in it, no freon in the system then there is no oil getting to the internal part of the compessor. Just a second to test the switch is fine but if you compressor is already making noise there is no reason to test the switch. If the compressor was working and now its not you either ran out of coolant or you over fired the clutch or something in the wiring.

 

Nobody mentioned a possible obvious one yet... your compressor could be locked up, and the awful noise and smoke you're hearing/seeing would be the clutch getting smoked. With the engine off, grab the inner part of the compressor clutch and try to spin it, which turns the shaft of the compressor. If it doesn't spin. it's locked up.

 

i tried spinning it with my hand with the engine and belt off i couldnt get it to move

 

no, the compressor isn't engaging. but is making a grinding scratching noise. and i wanted to manually engage the a/c clutch to see if it would turn at all

 

Make sure you're getting a good grab on it to be sure it doesn't want to budge, use a screwdriver if you have to.
Otherwise..... it's locked up, it's toast, it's a goner, it's a has been, it is no longer, it's deceased!!!
Then don't waste your time trying to wreck anything else, like your belt.

 

i put some force behind it now it turns around a lil tough but it turns

 

it still don't turn on its own though. i heard there is a pulley and bracket to bypass it but i can't find one. anyone know?