Serpentine Belt

[RobCherokeeXJ89]

Hey what's up guys?

Alright well I have a 89 cherokee w/ ac and I just changed out the serpentine drive belt & one of the pulleys because the bearings froze and it wouldn't spin anymore, now that I replaced it the belt is still squeaking everytime I turn it on, even during the hot daytime. Has anyone had this problem? Any help would be appreciated thanks

Robert

[90xj06]

over tight or under tight.

[johnnyc]

Also check to see that your harmonic balancer isn't separating.

[Matthew Currie]

Have you used a tension gauge? If not, it's probably too loose. This thing needs to be a lot tighter than you would ordinarily think. A quick check is to take the belt at its longest unsupported span and twist it. It should be just barely possible to twist it 90 degrees.

[RobCherokeeXJ89]

Thanks for the info, i just checked the belt and it easily goes way beyond 90 degrees so i'll tighten it up

[RichP]

NAPA sells a belt tension gauge that fits in your shirt pocket, about $14, called a Krikitt II. very useful...

[TiRod]

If you have the tensioning screw under the PS, it's been suggested you tighten it until it stops squeaking. Just give a turn or two and try - but the 90 belt twist is a nice place to start.

[jesusjeep19]

Hey, i have the same problem. I thought it was just that i got a bad new belt but i put the old one back on and the squeal was still there. so i tried making the belt really tight and it stopped squealing for about thirty seconds, then it came back. I dont know what else to do. Any help is appriciated greatly.(the squeal is making me go nuts)

[90xj06]

check your pulleys.

[jesusjeep19]

Check them for straightness or what? I tried cleaning them.

[bewilderedbeast]

I replaced my belt a couple of weeks ago with a Gatorback. Great. Then a week ago, I turned on the AC and something screeched like a banshee.
It was the idler pulley. Replaced it and tightend everything properly, now everything is serene.

[90xj06]

Check them for straightness or what? I tried cleaning them.
making sure they spin nice. and give them a squirt of motor oil on the shaft. not the belt groove.

[jesusjeep19]

I was thinking about replacing the idler pulley but i have the 2.5 and there are two idler pulleys i believe. Do i replace both?

[bewilderedbeast]

Might as well, or you can try and detemermine which one is making the noise.