Squealin' Belt
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Newbie
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Central Minnesnowta
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 5.2 L V8
Just had water pump, belt tensioner assembly, and serp belt replaced about 500 miles ago. Belt squeals like a banshee. No matter warm or cold, idle or 60 mph. Is it possible it's too tight/loose? I've tried dressing it, makes it worse. Thanks for any help folks!
Moderator CF K9-unit
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 5,842
Likes: 12
From: Alaska
Year: 2000 sport
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: New 4.0l from s&j engines
The belt has stretched a little over time, just tighten it a little. Stop using belt dressing on it, that is not good to do on that kind of belt. That's why it made it worse. You use belt dressing for old v-groove belts. Just go get it tighten and all that belt dressing cleaned off.
CF Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 4,734
Likes: 12
Year: 2015, 2012
Model: Grand Cherokee (WK2)
Engine: 3.6L
The belt should have been re-tensioned after 10 minutes of running under load.
Apparently you didn't do that. As another poster said, you need to thoroughly clean all the dressing off the belt, pulleys, and grooves. Then re-tighten.
If it still squeals, you ruined the belt with the dressing. Get another, clean the pulleys, and start over.
Apparently you didn't do that. As another poster said, you need to thoroughly clean all the dressing off the belt, pulleys, and grooves. Then re-tighten.
If it still squeals, you ruined the belt with the dressing. Get another, clean the pulleys, and start over.
Old fart with a wrench
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 14,398
Likes: 741
From: Manlius, east of Syracuse, NY
Year: 2000 XJ Sport & WJ Laredo
Model: Grand Cherokee (WJ)
Engine: 4.0L
If this is a 4.0, you've got a bolt tensioner, right? It's very difficult to know how tight is tight enough. I had the same problem after replacing the water pump in my 97 ZJ. After tightening it more, I toasted my stationary idler. $6 at PnP fixed that.
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