AC Chirp
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Member
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 174
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Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
AC Chirp
Hey guys, I just recharged my keeps AC, and I notice while I am driving, I can hear a chirp every now and then, and something's when starting it up with the ac on, I get a bad squeal. Any ideas?
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Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 2,379
Likes: 18
From: Florida
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: Golen 4.6L
The first thing to do is check your belt tension. It has to be a lot tighter than most people expect, and that nonsense of twisting it is not even close to reliable. Buy a Krikit II belt tension gauge to get it right:
You can sometimes find those at Napa stores also if you don't want to wait for an order to be shipped. Set the tension to 140 to 160 ft lbs for a used belt. If you put a brand new belt on, set the tension on it to 180 to 200 ft lbs. They stretch as soon as you run them, so you tighten a new belt a little more than the used belt.
If that doesn't fix it, then start looking at other causes.
You can sometimes find those at Napa stores also if you don't want to wait for an order to be shipped. Set the tension to 140 to 160 ft lbs for a used belt. If you put a brand new belt on, set the tension on it to 180 to 200 ft lbs. They stretch as soon as you run them, so you tighten a new belt a little more than the used belt.
If that doesn't fix it, then start looking at other causes.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 939
Likes: 71
From: Abysmo, NJ
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
At least on other vehicles I've heard worn compressor clutches chirp when they engage. (Some AC clutches can be adjusted with shims but I don't know if that's the case with the XJ.) The squeal is almost certainly the belt.