hey guys my 98 xj sometimes makes this shurping squeaking sound at times when it goes over 2 grand. kinda sounds like birds being brutally murdered. i know its not my water pump that was just replaced, i was thinking my serpentine was too tight i just dont know, please give me some solutions and remember it doesnt do it all the time

 

A squealing belt would be too loose, not too tight.

Does the sound get faster as RPM is increased? Is the sound steady? Are you sure it is coming off the engine and not the drivetrain? Angry sparrows is generally associated with a dry CV joint in the front driveshaft.
Is it really wet where you are? Maybe water is lubricating the joint at lower RPMs.

Sorry, it is really hard to make a diagnosis via the internet from a thousand miles away.

 

"kinda sounds like birds being brutally murdered."

I thought that's what jeeps are supposed to sound like. yes/ no?

 

its not really wet but it rains and i have a front skid plate so not much gets up in there and yes the squeaking gets faster with the rpms

 

the squeaking gets faster with the rpms


When actually driving or parked?

 

Belts can indeed squeal when too tight, just like when too loose.

 

Could be the a/c pulley or any other pulley that the bearings went out on. When my a/c went out it sounded like a bird squealing and the a.c stunk. Pull the belt off and play with every pulley that comes in contact with it.

 

bothhhh ! and how do i know the right amount of tension to put on the belt

 

please help !

 

This is not set in stone but push on your belt It really shouldnt move more than 1/4 inch in either direction. Its a pain to get to tension right on Xj's due to it being tightened by the ps pump. Mine chirps when its warm and its because the belt is lose, I know this and its difficult to get it tighter so i'm just dealing with it Plus its been cold so its not that bad right now

 

The tool you need is called a Krikit belt tension gauge. It is available at most autoparts stores.

You would also be better off buying a Goodyear Gatorback belt. They last longer and are less prone to "chirping"

 

I just went through this whole belt chirp ordeal with my Cherokee...., here are some things you can try;

First make sure its your belt making the noise and not a pulley bearing going bad.

If the belt squeals or squeaks when you first crank the motor or when you make sudden hard turns with the steering wheel, it's too loose or bad. (Slipping)

Also, you can add a few drops of water on both sides of the belt. If the chirpping/squealing increases, the belt is most likely slipping. (WATCH OUT FOR THE FAN!)

(When tightening a serpentine belt, tighten it until there is no slop in the belt when you rev the engine, especially between the drive pulley and the next pulley in line that the belt pushes towards.)

If the chirpping momentarily goes away when you add water, there may be a friction problem caused by a misalignment of belt and pulleys. Also a faulty or cheap belt could cause friction problems.

If a misalignment/friction problem is the case, adding belt dressing will make the problem worse because it adds friction to the belt and pulleys.

A slight misalignment isn't a big deal if it's not causing premature failure of your serpentine belt. This was in fact the case with my Jeep, so I added a little Turtle Wax Tire Shine to my belt. Alot of guys in these forums say don't use lubricants, but actually, the tire shine not only reduces the noise, it seasons your belt and preserves it. When you first apply the tire wet to your belt, it will slip when you crank it. But the centrifical force of the belt slings of the excess and leaves only what is required to make your belt turn quietly and without any slipping.

If none of these tests have any affect on your noise, chances are you have a pulley/bearing problem somewhere.

 

Hey, Mine makes the same sound but usually when it is cold outside, when get warmer it goes away, but it sound like exactly what you described it as.

 

Those Gatorbacks are over rated. No where near as good as advertised.

My buddie has one on his '98 Camaro and it still screams.

 

my belt only squeels when i run the defroster or AC. it will eventually go away.....but man it is annoying. i was going to try and tighten the belt....but someof these posts make me thing it might be the AC pulley....though the ac works fine and blows cold.