Hi, i have a 1998 Jeep Cherokee Sport. A couple days ago when i went to start it a loud screech noise was coming from the engine. I was able to replace the belt and the noise is still there. Anyone have suggestions on what it could be? Alternator, A/C Compressor? Pulleys?

 

Either the belt isn't tight enough or a bad bearing in one of the pulley's. The belt has to be pretty damn tight or it will make noise.

 

It's about a quarter inch deviation between the water pump pulley and power steering pulley. There's a method of using a straight edge resting on top of the water pump pulley an power steering pulley and then using a ruler to measure the deviation.

 

Remove the drive belt and start it up. Still making noise?


No?


Rotate the power steering pump pulley, alternator pulley, AC Compressor pulley, and water pump pulley with your finger tips. Any rough posts?


Still making noise with belt removed and no bad pulleys?


Yes?

Check interference between the vibration damper and the timing chain cover.

 

Just checked, is the ac pulley suppose to be locked up/ not moving?

 

Uh, no. That'd be the problem right there.

 

No. It should free wheel.

 

Is it possible to chnage the pulley and clutch on it without having to replace the whole compressor?

 

You guys think it's safe to drive it for about a mile? As you can tell i know a lot about cars.

 

 

I'll get it towed. ����

 

Realistically, the only thing you're gonna damage is the belt, but things get a little complicated if a belt snaps. I would say it's probably ok if you keep the rpm low so the belt is moving slower (less friction gives less heat) and get there as quickly as possible (exact opposites, I know, but you get the point). Keep in mind though that I have no idea what your belt looks like now though, and this is the most important factor by far. A new belt would be perfectly fine for a short drive, but one that's already seen a good amount of wear will probably snap on you. Use your common sense an evaluate the belt. If it looks like a lot of rubber has been removed or it's dry rotted at all, you're taking a risk that it snaps.

 

I think the OP already did.

 

Didn't see that when I posted, oops.

 

belt slip