Squealing Belt
CF Veteran
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,750
Likes: 3
From: Visalia, Kalifornia, ussa
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Go to NAPA, get a Krikit II belt tension gauge. If you put 5 guys in a garage with a Jeep, you'll get 6 different opinions on what's "tight enough". A used belt should have between 140-160 lbs of tension. Too loose, and the belt will slip. Too tight and you can wreck your PS or water pumps.
If your belt is really good, and the tension is correct, pull the belt, and spin everything by hand to see if there are any pulleys dragging. The compressor clutch is an obvious culprit, but I'd check the simple things first.
And when you replace the belt, I recommend the Goodyear Gatorback over the parts store brands.
If your belt is really good, and the tension is correct, pull the belt, and spin everything by hand to see if there are any pulleys dragging. The compressor clutch is an obvious culprit, but I'd check the simple things first.
And when you replace the belt, I recommend the Goodyear Gatorback over the parts store brands.
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Model: Cherokee
Your a/c compressor is going out. The squealing is either the compressor clutch or the belt slipping because it cant turn the compressor anymore. Putting belt dressing, soap, etc on your belt only causes the belt to slip and doesn't fix the problem. The bearing on the clutch could be going out, but that would make more of squeak, sqeak, squeak noise. the constant squeal when the a/c is on is the clutch or belt fighting against the seizing pump.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
jmsummers2012
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
56
Jun 12, 2025 02:04 AM
Bearstream
Stock Grand Cherokee Tech. All ZJ/WJ/WK Non-modified/stock questions go here!
2
Sep 28, 2015 10:53 AM
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
