One of my pullys is squeeking i have 146000 miles on her and i cnt figuire out wich one it is. Anybody knowhow to trouble shoot i took belt off and spun pullys cnt hear noise unless belts on . Do harmonic balancers usually squeek or is it most likely the water pump or tensioner any help would be great. Its a 98 xj with 146000 miles on her

 

From my experiance a squeeky belt can be a tuff nut to crack on an XJ. I never had any trouble till the water pump went out. Sinse then I've replaced the water pump twice, power steering pump, alternator, idler pulley, and the belt at least 4 or 5 times. This is over the corse of a few years. Seems like it's been one thing then another causing my problem. Mine still squeaks a little from time to time, but not too bad. I've just decided to live with it. Sounds like your on the right track to chasin it down. U might not be able to hear it sqeak when turning it by hand, with the belt off, but try to FEEL if anything feels tight or ''gritty''. Good luck. Lemme know what u figure out.

 

Could be any of the above. Tensioner or idler pulley is probably the cheapest/easiest to start with.

 

give all the pulley axles a shot of lithium grease, and they make a belt "lube" if that doesn't fix it then it's obviuosly mechanical.

 

Have you pulled the belt and turned each drum to check for resistance? Basic but an easy check..

 

They are sealed.

Anti-squeak for belts lasts only a short time, then it rots the belt. He's got new belt.

 

I have a 99 and I had a terrible squeel when I turned on the AC or sometimes just when I started the veh. The belt was new and was put on by a repair shop. It appeared to be tight enough but I decided to tighten the tensioner a little more . It still made noise but less than before so I tightened it a little more. Problem solved, No more squeel. I'm not saying this will cure yours but it worked for me and may be worth a shot.

 

with it running, use a long object such as a screw driver, put it close or on a non spinning part of each pulley, and see where its loudest. i personally would do any tensioner/idler pulleys.

 

Just don't let that screwdriver get into the moving belt.

 

Mine seems to squeek every once n a while as my trans shifts to higher gears... That normal or is that a tension problem also?

 

Screw driver? Wouldn't it be easier to hear through a piece of scrap garden hose? I am as green as they come and now that's on the table: Is there a reason why a screwdriver should be used?

 

Does the harmonic balancer usually squeek?

 

I dont think that the balancer will squeak. What u have to watch for on the balancer is it seperating and the outer part getting against the timing cover and rubbing. 99.9% of the time if it's squeaking it cuz the belt is slipping. What ya gotta do is figure out why. Could just need to be tightened a lil bit, but don't over do it. I don't recomend useing belt dressing or lube. It made mine quiet for about 30 min then it got embassingly loud. Back to napa for another belt.

 

You said it had a tensioner. My 95 doesn't have a ''tentioner''. U have to unbolt the power steering pump, then turn an adjuster rod on the PS pump bracket to move the pump in order to adjust the belt tension. Does ur's have a spring loaded tentioner like a Chevy or is it a manually adjustable tentioner pulley?

 

My 2000 squeaks only when I start the AC up, when the xj is not mid drive. The squeak gets real loud too and will quit if I just turn the AC off. I will look into tigntening the tensior up, thanks for the info! can't stand the sound of that squeel