Elivnitup

I had a cold squeal for the first month of ownership, but this past week it progressed into a steady, fairly quiet whistling squeal. Tonight I had a sudden loss of power steering, dim lights, battery amp gage reading zero... The belt is glazed so I will start with that and try moving all of the pulleys. I don't have a way to test the alternator so if it is not the belt or the pulleys will I need to get it towed? I'm assuming it would be too risky to drive it the 1.6 miles to the mechanic?
If it is one of the pulleys, how should I proceed? I replaced the alternator in my 98 but have never replaced a pulley. Thanks in advance!

Oh, I might add that I was able to drive a mile or so home and when I popped the hood the serpentine belt was not moving.

Elivnitup

Oh and I will check the power steering fluid in the,morning. Too cold and dark now.

fb97xj1

Get yourself a Krikit II belt tension gauge and a Continental (Goodyear) belt. The XJ needs a really tight belt. New belts should be between 180-200 ft/lbs.. Found this.


Spin each pulley by hand and listen for any roughness. Sometimes you can feel it spinning them back and forth. Spin the mechanical fan as well as there is a bearing in there that can go bad.

Elivnitup

Thanks!

gat

1.6 miles should be doable. You won't have the output of the crankshaft running thru the serpentine and turning the water pump to circulate the coolant. The thermostat will still open and 1.6 miles may not reach opening temperature for that depending on the duration of the ride and stops.
The other issues of driving without your belt turning pulleys is that your alternator won't give the system ~+2v more and the battery will be the sole electric, you will lose power steering, and you'll lose your air conditioning.

I don't know what year nor engine that you have. Some of those things may or may not apply. Also, I don't know whether you have manual tension set by the power steering pump or an idler that automatically tensions the serpentine belt. Lack of tensions would indicate that the tensioner is bunk.

Elivnitup

Super busy day but I just took a look and the belt is off so hopefully that's all that is required to fix the issue. I'll keep y'all posted.

Elivnitup

So my bud figured it out. It appears that the threaded portion of the crank shaft vibration dampener pulley (now there's a mouthful) fell off. Hopefully the pulley from the '98 will be installed tomorrow.

PatHenry

All U.S. XJ's use a mechanical tensioner at the P.S. pump.
The 99+ G.C's and 00+ TJ's use a spring loaded tensioner.

Elivnitup

Can't for the life of me get the removal tool bolts threaded in. I got one 5/16 inch bolt in partway but it looks crooked so I took it back out. Are the threads stripped? Any advice?

Elivnitup

So, not having the skills or tools, I had to enlist a mechanic friend to tap the holes so we could use the puller. I guess they were rusty and/or gunked up. Belt is on and she's running again, for now.