Air conditioning

[arlenj]

I have been told by an auto repair technician that my air conditioner compressor is failing. There is a smell of burning rubber outside the car. Is the belt that drives the air conditioning compressor and the alternator slipping, or could the smell come from the clutch that engages the compressor? Is the clutch "slippable" or is it either positively engaged or disengaged? If I keep using the air conditioning, will it eventually cause belt failure, or is there a protection mechanism that will disengage the clutch before that happens? 

[RX400h]

If you turn off the AC, does the belt stay cool? If so, it could be the AC clutch.

See

5 Signs Of A Bad AC Compressor Clutch & Replacement Cost (mechanicbase.com)