AC making loud screeching noise when turned on!
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Sacramento CA
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 i6
AC making loud screeching noise when turned on!
What could be wrong with it? I just got it and the ac runs good after awhile but right away when i turn it on it makes a loud screeching noise and gets louder when I drive. Need some help, thanks in advance!
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Indiana
Posts: 673
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
It happens.
Take your belt off first, inspect it.
If it looks good, then proceed to taking some light sand paper or wire wheel and take it to the water pump pulley. It probably has some pitting and rust on it. While the belt is off, do the same to idler pulley. Those are the only 2 pulleys on the serpentine system that the back of the belt rides on.
Put the belt back on and your squeaking should be gone.
If its not then you may want to look at a new belt. If you do that then the ac clutch is going out and thats a whole different boat.
I would start with the cheapest and easiest and work your way up.
The reason behind the belt doing this while only the ac cycles on is that there is much more drag and resistance and the pitting, rust, and build up where the back of the belt rides causes screeching.
Take your belt off first, inspect it.
If it looks good, then proceed to taking some light sand paper or wire wheel and take it to the water pump pulley. It probably has some pitting and rust on it. While the belt is off, do the same to idler pulley. Those are the only 2 pulleys on the serpentine system that the back of the belt rides on.
Put the belt back on and your squeaking should be gone.
If its not then you may want to look at a new belt. If you do that then the ac clutch is going out and thats a whole different boat.
I would start with the cheapest and easiest and work your way up.
The reason behind the belt doing this while only the ac cycles on is that there is much more drag and resistance and the pitting, rust, and build up where the back of the belt rides causes screeching.
#3
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Sacramento CA
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 i6
It happens.
Take your belt off first, inspect it.
If it looks good, then proceed to taking some light sand paper or wire wheel and take it to the water pump pulley. It probably has some pitting and rust on it. While the belt is off, do the same to idler pulley. Those are the only 2 pulleys on the serpentine system that the back of the belt rides on.
Put the belt back on and your squeaking should be gone.
If its not then you may want to look at a new belt. If you do that then the ac clutch is going out and thats a whole different boat.
I would start with the cheapest and easiest and work your way up.
The reason behind the belt doing this while only the ac cycles on is that there is much more drag and resistance and the pitting, rust, and build up where the back of the belt rides causes screeching.
Take your belt off first, inspect it.
If it looks good, then proceed to taking some light sand paper or wire wheel and take it to the water pump pulley. It probably has some pitting and rust on it. While the belt is off, do the same to idler pulley. Those are the only 2 pulleys on the serpentine system that the back of the belt rides on.
Put the belt back on and your squeaking should be gone.
If its not then you may want to look at a new belt. If you do that then the ac clutch is going out and thats a whole different boat.
I would start with the cheapest and easiest and work your way up.
The reason behind the belt doing this while only the ac cycles on is that there is much more drag and resistance and the pitting, rust, and build up where the back of the belt rides causes screeching.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Indiana
Posts: 673
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I just did this a while ago and it seemed to clear up most of the noise.
It shouldnt take longer than a half hour to do.
#5
CF Veteran
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Loveland CO
Posts: 7,842
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Year: 1993
Model: Cherokee
Engine: l6
Yeah check the belt, mine did it real bad before then I replaced the belt and it still did it....then thought why. And it wasn't on tight enough. Tightened it and now fine
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Indiana
Posts: 673
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
However I have seen that most loose belts will squeal all the time when they are loose, rather than just when the ac is on.
#7
It seems like Jeep belts have to be much tighter then other car belts or they squeak. Almost like the harmonic balancer gets worn and the belt does not grip it as much, then it turns fine with just the standard accessories on it, but turn on the AC and its too much.
Trending Topics
#8
Seasoned Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: SalinasCA
Posts: 282
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1991
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 L, 242 CID
I chased a squeel gremlin in my XJ for quite a while trying all sorts of tests and tricks, (spray water on it, changed an idler pulley, adjust and readjust etc etc) i even tried a new belt, and before installing it took a copper bristle brush to every pulley surface i could reach. the new belt worked for a while until it became visibly glazed again and started with the squeal. granted not as bad as it was?, but still kinda chirpy. now it kinda comes and goes, seemingly when it gets a little warm and dry underhood, its not anywhere near as bad but im over it. the old belt that i took off i gave to my buddy and he crosshatch scored it before putting it on his ZJ, no squeak whatsoever. still. so...for what its worth. good luck man. oh yea, during and since all this?, i seemed to notice almost every jeep i see chirps or squeaks a tad...I remeber even seeing one on a TV show and it was doing it..thaaaats it....im done, she doesn't overheat and I love her....
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
RunnerInPink
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
25
10-10-2017 10:34 AM
Jooman07
Modified XJ Cherokee Tech
25
08-28-2015 02:25 PM
AKghandi
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
7
08-28-2015 02:09 PM
OldTires
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
6
08-28-2015 08:06 AM
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)