loud squeeling noise when starting help please

metfan34 · 06-03-2007, 01:25 PM

When I start my 6 cyl 98 wrangler sport there is a loud squeling noise for about a minute and then it usually stops. The noise is worse when the air conditioner is on, but it still squeels even if the A/C is off...

Any ideas what this is? I recently had the serpentine belt replaced, do you guys think it may have something to do with the belt? I called the mechanic who put the belt on an he said that the tensioner may be going bad? Thing is that I did not have the squeeling before the belt was replaced....

Any suggestions on what may be causing the noise???

as always thanks for your assistance.....

Sweeney · 06-03-2007, 01:56 PM

Sounds like the belt is loose... tighten it.

**mrblaine** · 06-03-2007, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by metfan34

When I start my 6 cyl 98 wrangler sport there is a loud squeling noise for about a minute and then it usually stops. The noise is worse when the air conditioner is on, but it still squeels even if the A/C is off...

Any ideas what this is? I recently had the serpentine belt replaced, do you guys think it may have something to do with the belt? I called the mechanic who put the belt on an he said that the tensioner may be going bad? Thing is that I did not have the squeeling before the belt was replaced....

Any suggestions on what may be causing the noise???

as always thanks for your assistance.....

If your mechanic said the tensioner is going bad, you need to find another mechanic.

The 98 has a manually adjusted tensioner behind the power steering pump. You loosen the bolt in the center of the idler pulley just enough to let it slide and then turn the adjuster bolt right under the temp sender. Both are 15mm heads.

Tighten it until the squealing just stops, which means you may have to test it a couple of times. Re-tighten between each test.

The squeal is from the alternator pulley and the regulator telling it to top off the battery at start-up.

**Rocky529** · 06-03-2007, 03:28 PM

Your belt is loose and needs to be torqued down to increase the tension.

metfan34 · 06-03-2007, 04:32 PM

How do you know when you have the proper tension on the belt when manually adjusting it? Where is the power steering pump located?

metfan34 · 06-03-2007, 04:42 PM

Also the squeel gets much louder when i give it "gas" (accelerate) ..

And there is a wheel that appears to be on the front of what i think is the air conditioning system. (the wheel is on the left side of the engine and is one of the wheels that the serpentine belt contacts. On the outside of the wheel there is a part that spins and stops frequently. When this wheel spins the squeeling begins and stops when the wheel is not spinning)...Does this mean anything different from the advice earlier to simply tighten the belt?

Thank you

**mrblaine** · 06-03-2007, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by metfan34

Also the squeel gets much louder when i give it "gas" (accelerate) ..

And there is a wheel that appears to be on the front of what i think is the air conditioning system. (the wheel is on the left side of the engine and is one of the wheels that the serpentine belt contacts. On the outside of the wheel there is a part that spins and stops frequently. When this wheel spins the squeeling begins and stops when the wheel is not spinning)...Does this mean anything different from the advice earlier to simply tighten the belt?

Thank you

The spinning/non-spinning "wheel" you are watching is your AC clutch which is engaging and disengaging to spin your AC compressor. When it's spinning the clutch is engaged and there is higher load on the belt making it squeal because it's not gots enough tensions on it. Go tighten the belt like I dun tole yu oncet alreddy.

ckcooper · 06-03-2007, 05:14 PM

It could be the clutch itself on the AC. My 00 Cherokee had the same problem. I tensioned & then replaced the serpentine belt and it did not cure the problem then someone told me about the clutch going bad. From what I understand, it is easier to replace the whole compressor than the clutch alone. I never tried it though, got a truck to pull my boat. (I now have an 04 Rubicon). Hope this helps...

Unscathed · 06-03-2007, 05:47 PM

Whatever you do... do not put any belt dressing on it!.. That stuff makes for a bad day!

metfan34 · 06-04-2007, 01:43 PM

it is funny that you say do not put belt dressing on it because alot of people are telling me to put it on there.

**Rocky529** · 06-04-2007, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by metfan34

it is funny that you say do not put belt dressing on it because alot of people are telling me to put it on there.

No, do not use belt dressing... stuff is no good.

**john NC** · 06-04-2007, 01:51 PM

my 00 xj used to do that, but it always went away once the engine warmed up, i'm sure when my tj gets some more miles it'll start doing it

i just turned the hvac system off until it warmed up lol

**Rocky529** · 06-04-2007, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john NC

my 00 xj used to do that, but it always went away once the engine warmed up, i'm sure when my tj gets some more miles it'll start doing it

i just turned the hvac system off until it warmed up lol

Your '05 TJ has an auto-tensioner so tension will never be a problem. If it is squeaking it is either a pulley's bearing (usually idler pulley) or you need a new belt.

**mrblaine** · 06-04-2007, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by metfan34

it is funny that you say do not put belt dressing on it because alot of people are telling me to put it on there.

Did you tighten the belt yet?

metfan34 · 06-04-2007, 08:35 PM

Yeah Mr. Blaine I did tighten it today and it seems to have worked lika a charm, no more squeeling.... Thank you for the advice it is greatly appreciated...

06-03-2007, 05:14 PM	#8
ckcooper Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 19 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Squeeling It could be the clutch itself on the AC. My 00 Cherokee had the same problem. I tensioned & then replaced the serpentine belt and it did not cure the problem then someone told me about the clutch going bad. From what I understand, it is easier to replace the whole compressor than the clutch alone. I never tried it though, got a truck to pull my boat. (I now have an 04 Rubicon). Hope this helps...