ZJ Belt Squeak

[Matt]

Does it only make the squeak when it starts up? And does it eventually go away?

PS I'm dissapointed you guys didn't know that was an AC Compressor. .. we need to have some open engine compartment discussions at our next meet!

[AJeepZJ]

Ummm... It does eventually go away.

[Matt]

Like after a minute or two?

[AJeepZJ]

I thought it was the water pump but was not sure. Umm, it goes away after 10-15 mins.

[cico7]

AJ, until it's fixed, until you have it apart, you will not know for certain. I am not above or beyond
wasting time, but I still believe, it's the waterpump. The AC still works correct? The heat works,
correct? I think it would have siezed and stopped working by now (the AC) but it hasnt.

Couple years ago I took my son's ZJ apart thinking a hose was bad because water suddenly flooded
the engine compartment steaming everything. When we were putting it back together, the belts
would not line up. The water pump belt was out of line. So I looked further and decided to take
the pump off. There was no leak, no seep, the pulley did not line up.When I took it apart, the
impellor had eaten 2/3 of the way through the housing.

Looked as though it were made that way until I pushed the impellor back out.

I wish i had a picture of it, but i was amazed.

After we did replace everything, leak was not from the radiator hose, it was the cleanout insert
someone installed to back flush the radiator.

[jcoulter]

At the risk of speaking too early, I went to the base auto shop and borrowed their stethoscope. I listened to every pulley and the only one that sounded off was the pully on the tensioner. WTF? I replaced it about 3 months ago. So now I'm thinking that instead of replacing just the pulley I'll replace the whole assy. Got it home and tried to take it off but I think when the dealer swapped the motor they jacked the bolt up. Great!

Then I remembered I had the old pulley from a couple of years ago. Swapped that one on there and the noise went away! I'm going to find a better one from somewhere other than Autozone.



Cliff notes: Go get an automotive stethoscope and check everything.

[jcoulter]

Well as I usually do I spoke to soon. Talked to a mechanic friend and he said to put some baby powder on the belt. If it kills the noise then it's the belt. Swear to God, baby powder.

So I stopped on the way home and picked some up. With the motor off I put some, 1 tsp or so, on the top of the tensioner pulley. Started the Jeep up and no squeal! Holy crap! Stopped today and bought a new belt. Problem solved!

That was a lot harder than it needed to be. lol That's just how I do things.

[NeilSmith]

we need to have some open engine compartment discussions at our next meet!

We have these at the meets just under different conditions and usually unintended. LOL !!

[AJeepZJ]

Although, funny - I have no idea why people won't just take my word for when I say it's "Coming From HERE". I've lost my interest in the topic and that's o.k., i'm going to do what I really don't want to do, and just take it to a mechanic.

[Sal-XK]

Although, funny - I have no idea why people won't just take my word for when I say it's "Coming From HERE". I've lost my interest in the topic and that's o.k., i'm going to do what I really don't want to do, and just take it to a mechanic.

Touchy today? The clutch and stuff can be replaced but you have to evac and refill the AC to do it so that's a hundo right there easy. Which AC system is that using because if it's the old stuff they won't touch it you'll have to convert it over. I understand what there saying about where the noise is it really is a tricky thing bro knowing for sure man. The fact that it goes away worries me that it isn't the compressor bro.