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Serpentine belt slipping pls help
#1
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Model: Cherokee
Serpentine belt slipping pls help
Over the last 6 months my belt has slipped at least 10 times on my 99 xj. Needless to say im a pro belt changer now. Regardless im ready to drive my xj into a tree. Ive been damn good to her and im at my end here. Ive tried and tried to research jt to no avail. From what i gather it might be the crank pulley or harmonic balancer? But when i look at that it doesnt appear to be wobbling very much. However the place where the belt slips is right at the fan pulley. The belt will literally ride halfway on the fan pulley. I read it could be the fan clutch somewhere i think and i read to test it you spin the fan by hand if it doesnt stop spinning right away it could be bad. But mine stop right away.
#3
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Year: 1988
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Make sure that you have the belt tensioned properly and maybe try some squeal-reducing belt dressing.
It is also possible to put the belt on improperly and still have it fit. Verify that you have the belt looping through the pulleys properly. That is what it sounds like has happened based on your statement that the fan pulley is only half on.
It is also possible to put the belt on improperly and still have it fit. Verify that you have the belt looping through the pulleys properly. That is what it sounds like has happened based on your statement that the fan pulley is only half on.
#4
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Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: Golen 4.6L
The proper tension is 180 to 200 lbs. ft. for a new belt, or 140 to 160 lbs. ft. for a used one. Twisting the belt is NOT a reliable way to set the tension on a belt regardless of how many people tell you to set it that way. Use a tension gauge and set it correctly.
If it still squeals after you set the tension to spec, THEN go looking for other sources of the problem.
Also, next time you replace your belt, get a Goodyear Gatorback. They're made to grip better than a regular belt, even when they're not tightened all the way.
Unless you're overheating in traffic, put the fan clutch out of your mind for now.
#5
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I am pretty certain everytime it has been tensioned correctly as there was almost no deflection in the belt is was damn tight but not what i think was too tight. I will get some belt dressing and a belt tension tool. When i go to the store
#6
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Year: 1992
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 HO
Belt dressing is a good way to ruin a belt. Yeah it helps at first but then once the belt dries out again it will be louder than before. The oils in the dressing breaks down the belt over time.
#7
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Year: 90,84
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0,2.5
I had this "Canned". Easy enough to try...(although mine was/is tracking fine)
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.
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.
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#9
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Still having problems. I really think it has something to do with the fan pulley as its where the belt is slipping off. Will keep bumping thread until hopefully someone who's had this problem comes along.
#11
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Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Ok, belt tensioned. You can take the belt off, check for any wobble or play in the main pullley( harmonic balancer). It is basically two pcs glued together, so if it's separating it might make a belt squeal. Also check to make sure the tensioner still has good range of motion, it sits in one place so they sometimes freeze up and stop doing what they are supposed to do. Both of those can be bought at the parts store and changed pretty easily.
#12
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Year: 1985
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 2.5L
I had a similar problem on my 85 with the 2.5L . I finally got to looking at my alternator and noticed it was sitting crooked compared to all the other pulleys. On my engine, the alternator is supposed to use three bolts to hold it on, short one on front top, short one in the back that attaches to a bracket attached to the A/C compressor and a long through bolt in the bottom. Mine was missing the through bolt on the bottom and when attempting to tighten the belt to stop it from squeaking I had let the rear bolt and bracket slide forward(it was loose at the top mounting point) and that let things twist until the belt would jump off the fan pulley.
Apparently the bottom bolt had never been installed and somehow the thing has been like that for nearly 30 years lol. I put a bolt through the bottom and it holds it perfectly straight now.
If you can stand to the side and see the pulleys, look at them closely and see if any of them are out of alignment. That will tell you where to focus to fix the problem. Could be the harmonic balancer if the two parts are beginning to separate. Any loose mount, worn bearing, or bent pulley can cause exactly what is happening to your belt.
Apparently the bottom bolt had never been installed and somehow the thing has been like that for nearly 30 years lol. I put a bolt through the bottom and it holds it perfectly straight now.
If you can stand to the side and see the pulleys, look at them closely and see if any of them are out of alignment. That will tell you where to focus to fix the problem. Could be the harmonic balancer if the two parts are beginning to separate. Any loose mount, worn bearing, or bent pulley can cause exactly what is happening to your belt.
#14
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I had a similar problem on my 85 with the 2.5L . I finally got to looking at my alternator and noticed it was sitting crooked compared to all the other pulleys. On my engine, the alternator is supposed to use three bolts to hold it on, short one on front top, short one in the back that attaches to a bracket attached to the A/C compressor and a long through bolt in the bottom. Mine was missing the through bolt on the bottom and when attempting to tighten the belt to stop it from squeaking I had let the rear bolt and bracket slide forward(it was loose at the top mounting point) and that let things twist until the belt would jump off the fan pulley.
Apparently the bottom bolt had never been installed and somehow the thing has been like that for nearly 30 years lol. I put a bolt through the bottom and it holds it perfectly straight now.
If you can stand to the side and see the pulleys, look at them closely and see if any of them are out of alignment. That will tell you where to focus to fix the problem. Could be the harmonic balancer if the two parts are beginning to separate. Any loose mount, worn bearing, or bent pulley can cause exactly what is happening to your belt.
Apparently the bottom bolt had never been installed and somehow the thing has been like that for nearly 30 years lol. I put a bolt through the bottom and it holds it perfectly straight now.
If you can stand to the side and see the pulleys, look at them closely and see if any of them are out of alignment. That will tell you where to focus to fix the problem. Could be the harmonic balancer if the two parts are beginning to separate. Any loose mount, worn bearing, or bent pulley can cause exactly what is happening to your belt.
#15
Hey man not sure if you still need help
what I did was on the pulley that the belt hangs half off I took it off and put some washers to space it out to keep the belt on it completely and never had a problem again. Sorry if I'm too late but too all you brothers and sisters who are having the problem there ya go. I remember I myself was able to change a serpentine belt at a red light and change it before green from the problem occurring so many times. Lol man if only you knew this one time it happened