pmichel

Hi Guys. Been getting this squeal from the front of the engine for while and it's getting worse. No noise at at all when cool, but gets very loud when the ambient temp is over 80 and the engine is at operating temp. I thought it was the water pump (has over 100k on the pump) but now I'm not sure. I just tightened the belt a little but no change. Stock 93 XJ 4.0 290k. Other than this it runs great and still gets 21mpg hwy. Thanks for any help.

Video here:

http://youtu.be/Hz3094Elva8

Also: Belt looks OK and is tight. Harmonic balancer make a little noise and should be replaced, but would that cause a squeal like this?

1990jeepxj

Did you check your pulleys and see if there was any play? If they have play then thats what it most likely is. The bearings go out after awhile. If i remember correctly my sisters idler pulley went out and thats what it sounded like.

mdnov

You said that the squeak comes when the ambient temperature is above 80 degrees, do you have your A/C on? If you do, does it still squeak with it off?

pmichel

A/C not on in video. Squeal gets louder when A/C compressor engaged, but then tapers off and goes back to what it sounds like in the video. I shot this video right after I got home from work today and it was about 85 here in NW Oregon. If it was 10 degrees cooler it would have been silent. Good point about the A/C - thanks.

pmichel

Thats a real possibility and cheap and easy to change, plus it's the original idler pulley as far as I know. Thanks.

peep

Inspect your harmonic balancer, if the plyable center section seperates the outer ring can move and result in squeel. If it starts to move it will creep forward, eventually fly off with exciting results. If it moves reqward it will come into contact with the time chain cover, noisy also and eventually wear thru, again, exciting results. Too much excitement is not a good thing here. Inspect it, it may require replacement.
Also check your idler pullies, complete pully or replacement bearings can be had for under $30. Couple pics of a balancer issue. The original balancer had moved 3/16 to 1/8" toward cover and was incontact, I looked for that squeel for months

xKHANx

i have the exact same noise in my 95 XJ. But the cooler it is the louder it is, once it warms up it goes away. I can't seem to isolate it and have even gotten a "mechanic's stethoscope" and poked it all over. I thought originally it was the water pump but after listening through those all I heard was flowing water...

Post if you find what it is!

pmichel

It's been making a low, intermittent "rumbling" kind of sound when warm and I can tell it's coming from the balancer. No evidence of contact with the timing chain housing, so now would be a good time to R&R it. Didn't realize it could come apart. Thanks for the pics, too. Very helpful.

car5car

1. Bearing: idler pulley, alternator, compressor, water pump
2. compressor clutch needs adjustment. FSM.
You need stethoscope with removable stick.

pmichel

You know, I poked my stethoscope around in there too but no squeal at the major components - BUT - the squeal would be coming from the belt, right? I think it may be the balancer, and I'll replace the idler pulley too.

Nicks90xj

I would take off the belt and start it up real quick to see if its gone. than you know its a pully or what not. if noise is gone put belt back on and spray wd-40 on each pully untill you hear a diffrence.

or actually reverse the process spray wd-40 first and if noise does not change than take off belt and start it up. long day at work thinking backwards.haha

Muaddib420

You could always try installing a new belt. May not have ever been changed before.

jhinderliter

This stuff will quiet a belt down..

works good...









http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...CA&um=1&itbs=1

nickxj94

Check you distributior cap and rotor bug it sounds like mine did a few months ago I tracked it to the rotor bug hitting the contacts inside the cap I replaced both with a good pair from Oreally and has not done it since ..

pmichel

Update: Replaced the idler pulley and tightened the belt. Confirmed that the pulley bearing was going bad (but not totally gone). This stopped the squeal almost. Now it just chirps once for a millisecond only on startup - BUT- I still hear the intermittent rumble from the balancer so I guess that's next when I get the time. Thanks for all the help fellas - especially to Mr. Peep.