Hello I'am recently new to jeeps i acquired a 1986 jeep cherokee as a graduation present. I have had it for 6 months with only two problems the first my water pump pulley seized up and shredded my serpentine belt. And now the second my belt started squealing upon acceleration usually starting at around 2500 rpms it would do this just driving down the road in all gears or just sitting in neutral giving it some gas only time it did not was when it was just sitting at idle. I pulled the belt off and started spinning my pulleys the power steering pulley had some side to side movement and was hardly spinning so i replaced it figuring it would fix the problem it did not and i was back at square one. So i then went out and bought a new belt and now the squeal has gotten worse. Not sure if I'am not tightening the belt enough or its too tight? Or if I'am completely missing something. Just wanted some opinions and advice before i start throwing more money at the problem. Its driving me crazy

Thank you all i appreciate any advice or thoughts.

update: had to get a cheater bar but its tighter now no problems and no noises yet gonna drive it around and see what happens. thank you guys very much!

 

Tighten more.

 

The 4.0 uses a crazy tight belt. Crank yours down some more, you should barely have any deflection in the belt at all.

 

Like already mentioned. Tighten the belt more. What ever you do, DO NOT put any of that belt dressing crap on it. The stuff is not made for serp. belt and can cause the belt to fail prematurely.

 

Belt dressing is awful. Avoid that crap at all cost. You can always use a tension gauge. I would check: power steering pump. Pwr steering pulley, water pump, harmonic balancer, alternator, ac compressor, idler pulley. Now as far as belts i normally use gates. Seem to have good luck with those. If you turn a pulley by hand and feel alot of play something is wrong. For me i have seen water pumps whine when there about to go bad. Good luck

 

Yeah my belt would not shut up no matter what I did, so I tightened the living heck out of it. Quiet as a mouse, even though I would consider it too tight, problem free for over 3k now.

 

Just be careful with over tightening. Ive seen guys kill water pumps going too tight.