So heres my problem. My water pump went out so i replaced it and then a day later my belts started squealing horribly. So i have replaced the idler pulley, the belt, got my water pump pulley resurfaced, replaced the clutch fan belt pulley, my harmonic balancer has been replaced recently, and i get an AC Compressor delete pulley but my belt is still squealing. My alternator charges fine, spins fine, and has no play so i dont think thats making the noise. When i try to hear where the noise is coming from it seems to be coming from my new water pump but its hard to tell. Also when i replace the belt or a pulley the noise goes away for a couple days or so. So has anyone ever had a problem with a brand new water pump squealing or any ideas of what else it could be?

 

Hi mate, I've got a similar problem on my xj, does the sound go away after your engine gets warm? Might be the front crankshaft seal. Just look under the timing cover and see if you can see a little line of oil coming from behind the harmonic balancer.

 

mine did the same thing. i just put more power steering fluid in. after awahile it toned down and hasnt done it since last month.

 

Ok I had that same problem for years and didnt even know what it was. I know everytime i turned on my AC the belt would squeal horribly. So I decided to take it to a friend he told me instantly that the belt was stretched and worn and should be replaced every three yrs. I went and bought a new belt $26.00 and he put it on it 5 mins. I asked him what was causing the noise he said the belt just had stretched and wasnt tight enough. He install the new belt make sure to crank the vehicle up and let it run about 5 mins if the squeal is still there then the belt need to be tighten more. You have to keep doing this until you know its completely tight. Mines work wonderful now and all it was the belt had stretched and wasnt tight enough to prevent the squeal.

 

The most a loose belt should do is cause glazing, it should not squeal. squeal most of the times comes from belts being to tight.

on a properly tightened belt you should only be able to turn the belt a quarter turn on its longest distance between pulleys.

meaning grab the center of the belt on its longest section and turn it. if it turns more than 1/4 turn it is to lose if it cannot, it is to tight.

next look into proper fluids as mentioned and finally check the charge on the AC a second time

 

A loose belt will squeal like crazy. Tighten it with the adjuster on the power steering bracket. Unless you have a tension gauge, tighten a little at a time until the squeal is gone. It's possible to overtighten putting unnecessary strain on accessories and the belt.

 

Well i ended up bringing the water pump back to pep boys and they exchanged it for a new one. After replacing the water pump for the second time the noise went away for a couple day but slowly started coming back but then randomly went away. While i was changing the water pump i noticed something else. The bracket that holds the A/C pump alo has a bearing pressed in which holds the shaft that connects to the clutch fan. that bearing has play in it which is why the sounds would get worse every time i would go from accelerating to decelerating or vise versa. If i get the squeal again i will be either replacing that bracket or if i can just changing the bearing.

 

The bearing in that bracket is not replaceable. You need a new bracket. Hit the Junk yards to find one with a good bearing.

Just something to consider, if this is a Dayco belt, that explains alot. Their belts normally squeek when new.

 

Well it all depends on what type vehicle you have as all vehicles dont work exactly alike, however, my problem was the belt was stretched and I replaced it and it resolved my problems. Good luck to the next man.

 

You are so right, and mine didnt squeal until I turned on the A/C. After replacing the belt and turning on the A/C all squeal is gone and A/C works better.

 

I've been having this problem too. I just picked up a 2000 Sport last weekend with 111,000 miles on the clock. It needed a radiator and the belt was squealing with the AC on. I had a radiator and a new belt installed and it still squealed. I took it back and they tightened the belt some more and it still squeals a little. I was wondering if something like the AC or the water pump could have a problem that makes them hard to turn, but the mechanic insists it was just the old belt and then the new one not being tight enough.

It's not a DD, I bought it to leave at my house in Lake Havasu City so it may take me a few visits to completely resolve the squeal. I'll look into some of the suggestions in this thread.

 

Just picked up a 98 XJ with 129k on the clock... same problem, turn the AC on and the belt would squeal like a mother at lower RPMs..

Got her home, tightened up the belt ~5 full turns (it was pretty loose) and it is fine now.. The belts on these puppies need to be really tight.. make sure your belt is newer before tightening, an older belt will just stretch and eventually break.

 

All cherokees have problems with the AC squealing. Its an inherent problem with the systems unfortunately a bad design. Its usually the worst when first starting up then it calms down. Don't worry about it to much.

 

Mine doesn't

 

A VERY BIG CAUTION -- Never attempt to tighten the serpentine belt adjuster hex head while the engine is running, PLEASE !