jsmith823

I replaced the belt on my 96 xj about a month ago, and recently it has been squealing badly. I took it to Advance and they said it may be because I bought the cheap belt, so I purchaced the expensive one ($51!) and put it on. It's STILL squealing! I don't know what the problem could be, can you tighten the belt too much or too little?

xjmuddigger

your water pump? or idler pulley?

opie23

the belt tensioner could be bad

Gee oh Dee

First, pull the belt back off and move every pulley to be sure all of them spin freely. If they don't spin freely, save the crank pulley as that won't spin, it is bad.

If they all spin freely your belt just happened to loosen itself a bit. Make sure it is tightened enough, keeping in mind that you can indeed have it too tight causing squeeling.

With changing weather temps it is a common occurance.

irishexpat

i just had this issue, after a few days the belt snapped and i found out my alternator was seized up.

playin4funami

I have always when putting on a new belt checked it after a day or two, most of the stretching they will do is when first installed, readjust the tension and you should be good,unless you have other issues.

ifixit8

I have been fighting this myself since i had my water pump blow up. I have gone thru 3 belts, and 3 idlers, 2 water pumps. And just yesterday it started to squeak again. the first 2 belts/idlers/1 water pump were from advance. 1 was a driverite and the other was the dayco. I then got everything from napa. and now it looks like my whole belt system is out of alignment. which means I have to figure out what is bent.... I hope you don't have the same mess as me. good luck!!!

jsmith823

Here is a video posted of the noise. Tell me what you think.

ifixit8

seems like water pump. can you take another vid from more of the front? and mainly on the water pump?. because at the end of your vid it looked like the water pump almost locked up!!

Skunkape

From the sound ,my money says a bad bearing or pulley on the PS pump.I had a similar problem and my PS pump pulley had a small crack in it and it made the belt squeal like crazy.