Hey guys... I just picked up a 98 4.9 4wd Cherokee SE. I love it, but I want to get everything 100%. Help me fix these few issues...

Once in a while it squeals when I start it up. I've noticed this happens more often when it's raining and it's been outside. Sometimes it happens if I turn the wheel right after I fire it up. Do I need a new serpentine belt or something else? Can I try soap on the belt to shut it up or do I need a PS pump?

When I VERY slowly creeping along and I make a turn, it want to kind of pop and skip. Is something rubbing out front?

When I come home after driving around a bit, sometimes the garage smells like roasted marshmallows. I'm not familiar with this smell and I don't think it's running hot or burning oil, but is there something else it could be?

Thanks in advance for all the help. I want to get my jeep in top notch shape for a few simple mods and years of worry free driving.

 

well are you lifted, bigger tires, anything? we need to know these things haha. but if your lifted i want you to look at the driver side front of the car where the power stearing box is bolted to the " frame" the popping might be that there is a crack right there. that was my problem.

as far as squeeking maybe one of the pullys might be going. try putting a little rtv silicone on the inside of the belt before you start up. if it goes away then replace the belt if you want the noise to go away.

anyone else wanna chime in on something i may be missing?

 

x2 on the belt, and check the condition of the pulleys when the belt is off.

Roasted Marshmallows? Thats kind of new but mine always smells hot after driving, but I just recently washed mine and sprayed the front radiator down pretty good, now it doesnt smell as bad. After years, these things will smell like burning coolant and oil from leaks and spills. I also plan to wash the engine here soon and get rid of as much gunk as possible, that stuff is cooking inside the engine bay also.

poping and slipping? Mine does that but only in 4wh when taking slow sharp turns.... never had this issue in normal driving, your not driving around in 4h are you?

 

Try tightening the belt for the squeal .The popping ,check the steering gear box,bushings and axle u-joints.The smell is probly mud if you wheel it.I get that for a week or two after I wheel.

 

I think the squeal might be from the AC. It didn't do it when I turned the defroster off.

I'm running in 2wd. I thought about the popping when the tires are spinnig at different speeds in 4wd but that's not in in this case this time. I'm going to try and check a couple of things mentioned here.

I'm not too worried about the smell.

Brakes are squeaking like mad too though. I think it's falling apart, lol.

Oh, and it's a bone stock 98 4wd SE with almost 150k on it.

 

whoa?! a 4.9? awesome lol

 

Thank you for your worthwhile contribution to this thread. Jerk. LOL. Stupid iPhone keypad!

Could the front end noise/grind/pop be a bad ball joint perhaps?

 

The belt seemed a little looser than what I've read it should be so I snugged it up and started the jeep. No squeal.

BUT... as soon as I turned the AC on it screamed! It didn't sound like it was coming from up top by the AC compressor, but it's hard to tell 100%. Do you guys think I should just replace those bearings? Or could another pulley start squealing because the AC is on so it changes the load on the belt?

 

The belt will do that if it's loose when you turn on the ac and when you turn it off it will stop cuz your putting extra strain on the belt when it's on.And my ZJ hardly ever gets to see 4wd but still made noise when the u-joint was bad in 2wd.

 

haha im messin! anyways try jacking each wheel up in the air and spinning it. (for all wheels have transfer case in neutral and BLOCK UP THE TIRE DIAGONAL TO SUSPENDED TIRE!!!!!)

 

Make double sure you're not driving in 4wd. Skipping and crabbing when you turn is 4wd action.

 

Belt isn't too bad now. Occasional squeak/squeal but I can't tear into it until I've got tools here (about 3 weeks). I'll find the culprit and replace what I need.

I've checked and I'm definitely in 2wd. Sounds more like a rub than a pop now. I'll have the oil changed and front end lubed and see if it helps.