I have a 2000 Jeep Cherokee that just started this wonderful high pitch squeel about 5 months ago! Although its different from the other forums! It wont start squeeling when I start the Jeep, it seems to build up after driving for a while or if I stay in town and not the HWY it may not do it at all. But no matter what ...It will always start on the freeway! It will then go away when I give it gas or if I set it on cruise control. When it starts to squeel I will find the first parking lot to pull over in....by time I put it in park, pop the hood and jump out....it slowly fades. I think it sounds like its coming from the drivers side.

The weirdest part is that its stops completely when I give it gas! Also if I turn the engine off and then restart the Jeep it will go away as well.

I have had 2 mechanics look into it and no one can figure it out! I have replaced the serpintine belt, the rear brakes and the front brakes.

Someone please please please HELP!!!!!!!!! It is driving me nuts! Plus I am a realtor and its so embarassing around clients!

Yours truely.....Nichole

 

Maybe the water pump is starting to go. I have experienced that type of squealing before, come and goes as you go in and out of the throttle.

 

check yor belt?

 

idler pulley

 

How do you check a water pump? Do I need to take to mechanic? Thanks so much for your time!

 

my does the same thing have changed the belt and did'nt help. It does lose coolant very slow and never found a leak, but runs funny after pulling a load

 

Trust me, i also have a 2000 xj. It does the same exact thing. I have pinpointed the location at the back of the intake manifold. I dont have the money to buy a new one. But what I am going to do it just buy a new intake manifold. Because i have heard alot of people that the stock one sucks.

 

I sprayed Armour All Original that you can get from auto zone. My belt stopped squealing for about 2 months then started again. Mine is only for about 5 seconds upon start up then stops squealing. I sprayed it on the belt while the engine was running.

 

i had the same problem with my 94 xj... i was able to get under it while it was squeleing, it was a combination of my belt being slightly off the water pump pully and moisture in the air. if it just rained or it was foggy itd squeel like crazy.. if your jeep had work done on the engine part, the Sbelt loosenes at the power stearing, if the mechanic over cranked the bolts and bent the bracket slightly asque it can kick your belt off to the side of the waterpump a couple mm's putting pressure on the outside of the pump, the squeel was the belt slipping for the most part...
you can try getting a new powerstearing bracket or readjust the belt tension... that might help a bit..

 

Could be the water pump.. or your alternator. My 89 Cherokee is maken a loud squeel too but im pretty sure its the alternator.

 

You really can't other than monitoring the coolant resevoir level or having a mechanic stick a long-tube stethescope down there while the engine is running. A bad water pump will lose coolant through the bearings, which would be the ones making that squealing noise. Also check the heat mat under the hood for streaking or spatter going across, if you are losing coolant and see these marks across the heat mat, this would be a good indicator that the water pump has failed.