The jeep sat for a year, I started it and the belt snapped.

I replaced the alternator and belt.

I’ve had it running for 6 months now, it runs great, no other issues and I have no lights on.

Only issue is every time I start it up the belt SCREAMS. Like bad, and won’t stop until I drive it for like 10 seconds, then it goes away. Belt dressing hasn’t worked. It randomly does it if it gets wet as well but other than when I start the jeep it really doesn’t do it. But it’s really loud and really obnoxious.

Any ideas how to get it to stop ? Thanks

 

Belt dressing won't do anything for a ribbed belt. Dressing is intended for V belts. You may want to consider replacing the belt and cleaning the pulleys to get that junk off of everything. It sounds as though your tension is off, more than likely too loose. Although I have had mine too tight and it also squealed then. I adjust my tension so it is slightly tough to twist the belt 90 degrees. I also keep the tools in my Jeep to adjust as necessary, as they do require readjustments as time goes on. Make sure all of the pulleys rotate easily when you have the belt off too.

 

Tensioner pulley bearing starting to go?

 

I have always heard if the belt itself is what is making the noise it is an indication the belt tension is too loose.

I understand the XJ Cherokee models do not have an automatic belt tensioner. The XJs have a manual belt tension adjustment bolt located at the power steering pump. The belt tension could need additional adjustments? I see the rule of thumb for having proper belt tension is when it is at 1/4 - 1/2 inch of deflection. Also, twisting the belt at its longest section can help determine the proper tension. The belt should turn approximately 90 degrees with the correct tension set.

My grandfather told me those belt dressing products are not really worth it. They can cause more trouble than what they are worth. Using a sticky product like belt dressing should have helped some with the noise if it was just from having a slightly loose belt tension though. A brand new belt would not have worn grooves or anything about it yet to really benefit from the use of a belt dressing product..

Have you tried spraying some WD40 onto the bearings of the different components? A well placed shot of some WD40 just prior to start-up could help in determining which one if any of the bearing laden components could be what is making the annoying sound.

 

Try a different brand of belt or turn the AC off when starting it if you find the belt tension is OK.

 

Tighten the belt . I always use Continental® ContiTech™ - Elite™ Poly-V Quiet Channel Technology belts. Very quiet.

 

Check the water pump bearings. The way the belt is positioned on cherokees the water pump bearings take the most stress. So check that first. It's really easy to see where a pulley scream is coming from by using a screwdriver or a funnel. Look that up. If not, then I would suggest squirting water on the belt to see if it is the belt. If it's not the belt then I would take the belt off and spin all pulleys to see what pulley sounds like sand is stuck in it. Good luck - just be glad its just the pulleys!!!!!

 

I learned that with my '96 XJ I used to own the "Yeah that looks about right" when it comes to belt tension work fine.
With my '00 XJ not so much.
I use a belt tension gauge.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/parts/ga...sion+gauge,430

IIRC spec is:
New Belt: 180-200 lbs
Used Belt: 140-160 lbs
When first bought the gauge I did it by eye. 1/2" play up and down. Just being able to turn the belt 90 degrees at the longest length. Etc.
All the things you read.
Then checked it with the gauge.
I could not believe how low the tension was from spec.
By the way I just use the good Napa belt which is just a rebranded Gates and it works just fine.

 

Thanks everyone !

 

clean your pulleys check your tension you can always squirt a bit of water on each pulley to see if it stops then you will know a pulley is bad or F belt dressing run the engine get a bar of soap and let it rub on the belt for a bit that usually shuts it up mind you some brand belts cry more than others

 

Had same issue with belt squeak. Recently bought a 91 xj and it had a bad water pump. PO had a new belt already with jeep. Installed new belt, after new water pump, and it squeaked embarrassingly bad. Seemed the print on outside of belt when it hit the idler pulley coincided with the squealing. Changed brand of belt and no problem. Sounds odd maybe but it worked for me. Hope yours is a simple fix.

 

Mine did 100% exactly this before. I just slightly tightened the belt tension and it hasn't made a peep since.

 

I tightened the belt. Helped some but didn’t fully take it away

 

Like I said when doing it by eye/hand and then checking with the gauge it is amazing how far off it is from spec.
I always use the low ends on the specs for the belt. So a new belt is 180 to 200. I use 180.
And I want to say when I first did it by hand, thinking I was close, and then checked with the gauge that I was 80 lbs low.
So long ago I can remember for sure but it was pretty far off.
And like other people were saying. Could be grit on the pulleys or the belt.
Could be a pulley itself.
Could just be a bad belt. Hell even new parts out of the box have been known to be defective.
I don't really recall you saying if the belt was new or not or what brand it was.

 

When my pulley went bad it chirped really bad. My loose belt squealed louder than a pig at a bacon eating contest.