My belt is driving me KOOKY. I cant seem to get a straight answer out of anyone as to why and moreover, how do I stop it!

 

Go out and tighten it down. Mine squeals like a MOTHER, when it just gets a bit loose. Id go try that real quick it only takes but two mins.

 

It seems pretty darn tight. BUT?, i think i may have done it incorrectly. i only loosened the rear bolts on the Idler...could be askew now is what I'm thinking..or it could be the gremlins have moved in too

 

Mines tight too, I dont know it works for me. It starts to squeal, and i tighten it and doesnt do it anymore

 

You tighten it with the screw on the bottom of the powersteering pump. Look up "how to change belt" and there will be a write up on how to do it. Its fairly simple.

 

I tightened mine till it stopped squeeling. I thought maybe it would be too tight but the squeel stopped and everything works fine.

 

good stuff everyone. i guess i know what i will be doing tomorrow before work..

 

I have identified this as the pulley. the clutch fan it is attached to seems to be slightly too far forward. (keep in mind i did just replace it) as i stare and stare at it i can not figure out HOW it would not just line up exactly how it was prior to removal. there are no washers, spaces, anything different in how it is attached. i really do not want to have to take the whole radiator, shroud, fan out again...dangit...guess i have a squeaky Xj now hm....bummer.

 

squeeky POS Jeep that is SURE to drive you BATTY from the friggin SQUEEL!!

 

took off the belt,used a brass bristle brush and break clean on all the pulleys,install new belt. squeak gone.

 

Yeah mine just got squeeky again and it pisses me off

 

Why
loose belt, misaligned pulleys, bearing going out in something belt driven, harmonic balancer going bad, oil on belt/pulleys.

How to stop it
Repair, replace or tighten as needed.

 

squeak gone

 

I think mine has all of those...

Just replaced idler pulley and the noise got less ear piercing but is still there...
I noticed definite pulley misalignment though.

FWIW... I have access to Alldatapro and there is a TSB for Squeaky belts on 4.0 XJs... The TSB says the power steering pump pull is not lined up correctly in relation to the pump shaft. I forget what it said for plastic pulleys, but for the metal pulley, the tip of the pump shaft should be flush with the pulley. Not protruding or recessed at all.

 

uh, huhuhuh...he said 'protruding'..huhhuhuh