2.5 squeal noise?

[aiyoung97]

Hey guys. Been having a belt squealing noise since I bought my TJ. This has been an ongoing problem for 2 months now and still haven't found the issue. I replaced the belt - still squealing. So, I replaced the idler and tensioner pulley. Still squealing.. so i replaced the water pump. Still squealing. Last but not least, I replaced the alternator, and still yet have a squeal. The noise is definitely NOT coming from the PS pump so I didn't bother. It just sounds like it's dead center in the engine.

Today I replaced my belt with a better one hoping that maybe the quality of the last belt I had was shabby. I have came to a hopefully "hint" as to what it may be. I have noticed that if I tamper with the belt (taking it off, putting it back on or putting a new belt on), it stops squealing momentarily. (For about half an hour) then it comes back. Any clue? Does it cold, hot, doesn't matter.

I have noticed my water pump pulley (reused my old one because they don't come with a new one) is kinda pitted and rusty. But I don't think that would make a squeal noise. I have NOT replaced the fan clutch, but I feel no play in it. Any suggestions?? Thanks guys


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[Keston Shook]

Check all your U Joints, i do believe stock in a TJ are sealed and not able to be re lubed. i had the same problem with my TJ and thats what the problem was and now im in the process of getting new ones. Sounded like it was coming from the middle of the jeep when driving and was terrible. Give those a check and see what you find.

 

[JWjeepSask]

I had a god awful squeal coming from my 2.5 as well I just changed my belt and that toned it down lots(not completely) it still squeaks a bit but not nearly as much. Hopefully a fellow squirrel tamer will chime in here to try to help soon.


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[RaymondT]

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/2-5-squeeky-fan-belt-fixed.3420/#post-45520

Check out the last post on this thread. Until the P/S pump bearing got total fubar'd, it still seemed fine when you spun it with your finger and the belt off. When you tension the belt back down, it puts extreme side load on the bearing and that's when it binds. Even with a stethoscope and the engine running, I couldn't readily isolate the P/S pump as being the fault. But it was!

I also included some info about pulley alignment adjustments if its still noisy after the pump is changed.

 

[StG58]

"fellow squirrel tamer", that just totally cracks me up. I've got an intermittent squeal and haven't a clue as to what it is. It's not drive train because it does it just idling at the curb. Trans in neutral, trans in gear, moving, stationary...same deal. Seems to be coming from the front of the engine, but maybe not. I was starting to think it's an airflow noise in the intake system or a very small vacuum leak someplace.

 

[aiyoung97]

It squeals while idling. I've had the hood up listening and it's coming from the middle of the engine - definitely not a drivetrain issue. The PS pump makes no noise at all with the belt on and the Jeep running. The squealing g noise is coming from the center of the engine. I'm really starting to run out of ideas and boy is it annoying. It isn't just a small squeal, it screams! Can barely hear my radio


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[jakehudgins94]

"fellow squirrel tamer", that just totally cracks me up. I've got an intermittent squeal and haven't a clue as to what it is. It's not drive train because it does it just idling at the curb. Trans in neutral, trans in gear, moving, stationary...same deal. Seems to be coming from the front of the engine, but maybe not. I was starting to think it's an airflow noise in the intake system or a very small vacuum leak someplace.

Check you're vacuum lines and any hoses that come off you're throttle body for air leaks. I had a leaky air line coming off the map sensor once


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[RaymondT]

It squeals while idling. I've had the hood up listening and it's coming from the middle of the engine - definitely not a drivetrain issue. The PS pump makes no noise at all with the belt on and the Jeep running. The squealing g noise is coming from the center of the engine. I'm really starting to run out of ideas and boy is it annoying. It isn't just a small squeal, it screams! Can barely hear my radio.

The P/S pump doesn't have to make audible noise to be causing the problem. The noise you are hearing is generated by the belt squirming on the pulleys caused by the extra drag of the failing pump bearing/assembly. When I was diagnosing mine, I actually took the fan blade/hub assembly off, replaced the four nuts and drove it around the block. Without the fan wind noise, I still could not hear anything coming from the P/S pump. Only when it got real bad, after it squeaking for months, did I finally discover the pump. Spinning the pulley around with your finger doesn't prove anything. Grasping the pulley and using your palm hard as you rotate is the only way to create the sideload to test for flat spots/binding. Even then, it's impossible to create the force a fully tensioned belt puts on that bearing.

 

[Bsasealteam6]

I don't have a tj, I have a yj, but my belt squeal was caused by the Harmonic balancer. It had slid backwards and was rubbing against the engine. You might want to check that if it's still happening.