Cherokee_Mike

Got a 1998 4.0 litre Cherokee XJ and I'm getting a screeching noise from the engine - sometimes there, sometimes not. Sounds like a slipping drive / fan belt ?
Also noticed I sometimes get the 'Check gauges' warning come on - the volt meter has dropped down to zero but is ususally showing 12v ~ 14v ?
How do I get the hood / bonnet open - the release handle has pulled off under the dash

Any advice please ?

caged

sounds like a bad alternator.

is there a bare end to the cable that you can grab with a pair of vise grips?

if not, you may have to cut and strip some housing to get to the wire.

its_deer_not_jeep

could be oil on the belt could be a bad a/c compressor/compressor clutch could be alternator could be power steering could be any thing lol

VTJeep

if your belt is too loose, or more likely too tight, then there will be a squeling sound. check all pulleys by taking belt off and spinning the pulleys by hand to see if they spin freely. this happened on mine and when it was really cold would be worse. the voltmeter in dash would drop unless noise stopped, and on a couple of occasions, the needle just dropped and sat as if jeep was off. the check gauge light came on.. when i restart, it was fine.

LazyEyedPsycho

Mine does the same thing. Only when it's cold (it's -39 C here ), as soon as the engine is at operating temperature or I give it some throttle the squeal goes away. Probably just the belt being cold.