Hi All,

I have a 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee - 5.2 liter - recently I've started to have a noise in the front of the engine. When I start the vehicle (cold) there is a squeaking noise which has gotten worse just today, which disappears after the engine has warmed up. It appears to be coming from the air conditioner pulley ( or behind it). The air conditioning is NOT engaged. I don't use the air conditioner that often. Is it possible that the problem is in the pulley and not the air conditioning unit behind it? Can the bearings be replaced without replacing the actual compressor unit and discharging the entire system? Thanks for your help. Thomaz

 

No.

 

You have to replace the compressor but if you don't use your ac then just get a shorter serpentine belt, that's what I did

 

Thomaz, sounds to me more like belt noise. Be absolutely certain it is coming from the compressor before diving into any work with the compressor. A new belt is far less expensive than any parts associated with the compressor. Also, I am pretty certain that the clutch/coil assembly on those comes with a new pulley that would have a new bearing. I am pretty sure it can be replaced without removing the compressor or discharging the system. Don't just take my word, try to do a little more research because I am not 100% sure. I do know that at least at one time there were issues with those clutch/coil assemblies.

 

Hi Big Blue, thanks for answering. Do you have the same engine 5.2 Liter?

 

Hi Fishbone - Thanks so much for answering. I looked at alldata ( I subscribed last fall) and it seems to indicate that the clutch/coil assembly can be replaced...and it seems more complicated than any of the other pulleys. I have found a jeep mechanic who is a friend of a friend ( worked for chrysler) and I'll be consulting with him about it soon. This would be a great solution for me - if not - I'd be happy to use a smaller serpentine belt, but, I'm not clear if that will work. More research will occupy my time before I do anything. This just started and although it did seem to increase in sound - I've caught it early. But, i'm not leaving where I am ( Vermont) until I get this solved ( most economically, most efficiently). Thanks so much again for your help. Thomas

 

My wife's Dodge Caravan had the v-belt drive A/C compressor and I had to replace 2 of them simply because the clutch/pulley bearings went and I couldn't get replacements.

 

Hi,

Well, I put some belt conditioner on the belt and this is the resultant sound. Same sound with the air conditioner on or off. Can someone please confirm for me what it is.

http://www.gvpo.org/sound.mov

Thanks, Thomas

 

Could be a fan bearing or water pump even. Take a screwdriver or mechanics stethoscope and when the car is running, put one end to different areas and one end to your ear. Note where it sounds louder or you actually "feel" the noise.

 

My friend Robert, has a dear friend who's a Jeep Mechanic. We brought the car to him today and he confirmed that it's the belt. The belt conditioner made it worse, and he successfully demonstrated it by removing the conditioner and the noise went away. I bought a serpentine belt and have the diagram. I'd like to know if there's a special order to put the belt on. Does it go on the tensioner first or around the fan first etc. etc. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Thanks for all your responses and help. Thomas

 

Belt dressing/conditioner will not work on a serpentine belt. Replace the belt and inspect the pulleys.

 

Busted, this is a '94 5.2. Wouldn't it have v-belts?

 

Nope, it has a serpentine belt. None of the V8 engines in a Grand Cherokee used V belts.

 

Well, you learn something every day, don't ya?

My wife's 96 Dodge Caravan had a serp for everything BUT the A/C and my 97 Caravan had a serp for everything.

 

The 96 must have had the 3.0 Mitsubishi v6 and the 97 had the 3.3 or 3.8 v6.