Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here XJ (84-01)
All OEM related XJ specific tech. Examples, no start, general maintenance or anything that's stock.

Belt squealing !

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 05-24-2014, 08:26 PM
  #1  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
boycecd's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Model: Cherokee
Default Belt squealing !

When I start my Cherokee something is squealing awful for maybe 30 seconds then it stops! Don't do it every time you start it ! Belt seems to be plenty tight ! Any thoughts ?
Old 05-24-2014, 09:05 PM
  #2  
Junior Member
 
Snotzalot's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Poconos, USA
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 98
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh
Default

Leaking water pump dripping onto the lower pulley.
Old 05-24-2014, 09:18 PM
  #3  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
boycecd's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Model: Cherokee
Default belt squealing

No sir no water leaking wondering if the pulley that puts tension on belt is wore out !?
Old 05-24-2014, 09:43 PM
  #4  
Junior Member
 
Snotzalot's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Poconos, USA
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 98
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh
Default

If it were that pulley it would squeal every time. It doesn't take much of a drip from your h2o pump to cause belt slip and squeal.
Old 05-24-2014, 09:47 PM
  #5  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
boycecd's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Model: Cherokee
Default belt squealing

True ! I will check that but haven't seen any water of any kind . Sounds like idler pulley or power steering pump maybe !?
Old 05-24-2014, 10:08 PM
  #6  
Senior Member
 
Pelican's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Texas
Posts: 691
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 1 Post
Year: 1993
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
Default

Why oh why can't posters include their year model, engine etc.????????

You cannot tell that a 4.0 belt is tight enough by "it seems to be plenty tight". Is your A/C usually on when you start the motor?

Loosen the belt and check all components including visual check of harmonic balancer. If everything seems to be okay, tighten until squealing stops and no more.

Some swear by a tension gauge but I know that I am not going to drive around with the belt squealing regardless of what the gauge says. I've never destroyed a bearing but perhaps I've just been lucky.

What is history of your belt, how old, tightening schedule etc.
Old 05-25-2014, 05:29 AM
  #7  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
boycecd's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Model: Cherokee
Default belt squealing

Sorry it is a 2001 4.0 !
Old 05-25-2014, 07:14 AM
  #8  
CF Veteran
 
Fred/N0AZZ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Monett, MO.
Posts: 7,554
Likes: 0
Received 14 Likes on 14 Posts
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

Originally Posted by Pelican
Why oh why can't posters include their year model, engine etc.????????

You cannot tell that a 4.0 belt is tight enough by "it seems to be plenty tight". Is your A/C usually on when you start the motor?

Loosen the belt and check all components including visual check of harmonic balancer. If everything seems to be okay, tighten until squealing stops and no more.

Some swear by a tension gauge but I know that I am not going to drive around with the belt squealing regardless of what the gauge says. I've never destroyed a bearing but perhaps I've just been lucky.

What is history of your belt, how old, tightening schedule etc.
I have, just not on a Jeep its not that hard to do anything can be over tightened.
Old 05-25-2014, 07:50 AM
  #9  
CF Veteran
 
RTorrez1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Riviera, Texas
Posts: 4,172
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Year: 1998 Sport
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

Originally Posted by Pelican
Why oh why can't posters include their year model, engine etc.????????

You cannot tell that a 4.0 belt is tight enough by "it seems to be plenty tight". Is your A/C usually on when you start the motor?

Loosen the belt and check all components including visual check of harmonic balancer. If everything seems to be okay, tighten until squealing stops and no more.

Some swear by a tension gauge but I know that I am not going to drive around with the belt squealing regardless of what the gauge says. I've never destroyed a bearing but perhaps I've just been lucky.

What is history of your belt, how old, tightening schedule etc.
^^ This^^
I also never used a belt tension gauge. I just tighten it and if it doesn't make any squeak I'm good to go. And if it does I just tighten a little at a time until it stops. The belt on the 4.0 has to be STUPID TIGHT!!!
Old 05-25-2014, 08:06 AM
  #10  
Junior Member
 
Snotzalot's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Poconos, USA
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 98
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh
Default

Tighten until you get about 1/8" deflection on the longest section of belt.
Old 05-25-2014, 08:17 AM
  #11  
CF Veteran
 
EZEARL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: WV
Posts: 5,676
Received 298 Likes on 253 Posts
Year: '96
Model: Cherokee
Default

Originally Posted by RTorrez1
^^ This^^
I also never used a belt tension gauge. I just tighten it and if it doesn't make any squeak I'm good to go. And if it does I just tighten a little at a time until it stops. The belt on the 4.0 has to be STUPID TIGHT!!!
+1

I tried the 1/8" method and it just wouldn't quite do it.
Old 05-25-2014, 10:32 AM
  #12  
CF Veteran
 
DFlintstone's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Nor-Cal Coast
Posts: 10,489
Likes: 0
Received 17 Likes on 17 Posts
Year: 90,84
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0,2.5
Default

Soaping Belt


Tight, tighter, tightest the darn new belt would still chirp.

Finally in desperation I went out there with a bottle of Dawn dish soap and the garden hose. Idling, I got it wet, then squirt soap on both sides, rinsed some, and soaped a little more. Let it idle a minute all soapy. To end, I ran the hose slow on it running for a couple minutes. Bingo! That solved it. There was some sort of coating on the new belt? Idk.

I normally run my belt as loose as I can, and still have the alternator not slip with the blower on high, and lights on brights. Puts less strain on all the other bearings. Radi pointed out a cool tip. After it might have been slipping, (voltage has been low), see if the Alt. pulley is hot. I want to go back and loosen it a tad now.
Old 05-25-2014, 04:59 PM
  #13  
CF Veteran
 
RTorrez1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Riviera, Texas
Posts: 4,172
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Year: 1998 Sport
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

Originally Posted by DFlintstone
Soaping Belt


Tight, tighter, tightest the darn new belt would still chirp.

Finally in desperation I went out there with a bottle of Dawn dish soap and the garden hose. Idling, I got it wet, then squirt soap on both sides, rinsed some, and soaped a little more. Let it idle a minute all soapy. To end, I ran the hose slow on it running for a couple minutes. Bingo! That solved it. There was some sort of coating on the new belt? Idk.

I normally run my belt as loose as I can, and still have the alternator not slip with the blower on high, and lights on brights. Puts less strain on all the other bearings. Radi pointed out a cool tip. After it might have been slipping, (voltage has been low), see if the Alt. pulley is hot. I want to go back and loosen it a tad now.
I got to the point when have to change out the belt I will wash it with a little soap and water before I put it on and it keeps me from having to tighten it to much the first time.
Old 05-29-2020, 09:51 AM
  #14  
CF Veteran
 
downs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Hunt County Texas
Posts: 1,096
Received 164 Likes on 139 Posts
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0L
Default

GATESK060975

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...rive,belt,8900
Old 05-29-2020, 05:11 PM
  #15  
Senior Member
 
country2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Homer Georgia
Posts: 699
Received 96 Likes on 87 Posts
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0l
Default

I got one of those belt clicker thingy's and never have used it. I always just go by twisting of the belt and feel never a issue...now next time I do the belt it'll be screaming like a banshee!


Quick Reply: Belt squealing !



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:01 PM.