Drive Belt and something else...

[KJ zGal]

Okay, so this is probably a rhetorical question, but is there any way to REALLY tell if a drive belt needs to be replaced? I bought my KJ at 87k miles and the belt would squeak when it started up (only when cold outside), and so I had my mechanics look at it. They said it was fine and didn't need to be replaced. I don't know if and/or when the belt was changed prior, since I haven't owned the vehicle since it was new. I've noticed more recently that it's begun to squeak slightly when idling, which makes me think maybe it's time to replace it. It also kind of shudders when idling once in a while like it's going to stall, but I'm not sure if this is related. The battery is new and the terminals are attached, so I know that's not it. The KJ now has 106k miles on it. I took a couple pictures of it as well to see if that would help you guys determine anything =P

I had another question I was going to ask in this thread also, unrelated to the belt, but I don't remember it now. I'll post it as a reply, I guess, when I remember.

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[JeepJeepster]

Usually I like to replace things like that at least every 60k. The squeaking youre hearing could be from a worn out tensioner which Ill probably also replace at 60k then again at 120k.

Both are wearable items that need to be replaced.

Usually I like to look at a pulley where the belt is inverted so I can look for any cracks in the grooves of the belt. Kinda hard to tell anything from looking at it from the top.

Also, you clean your engine much? Looks like its had a lot of salt on it for along time.

wanna see a pic of my engine? huh? huh?

 

[offrovering]

throwing parts at a vehicle is never the best approach but for the cost of a new belt and without prior knowledge of it being replaced, you arent hurting anything. I would put a new belt on, keep the current as a spare incase you have an issue.

Sounds like it could be bearing related as well

 

[JeepJeepster]

Good point that I forgot offrovering, you always want to check for any play in all the bearings while the belt is off.

 

[Powerslave]

If the belt looks dry-rotted, replace it. On the inside of the belt, if you see cracks all through it, replace it. It will snap eventually...

The alternator is usually the cause of belt squeal when idling, cold, and you have items on that are drawing power, putting a load on it. That is a sign the alternator is going bad, and that can be a bad bearing to bad insides (for lack of simpler terms), causing the pulley to drag when a load is applied... This would happen to me on my Avenger when I would turn on the heater blower, and then turn on the rear defogger. AS soon as I gave it a little gas, it would squeal. Then, I would turn the rear defogger off, it was fine. It ended up that it WAS a bad alternator, I never replaced it though. Had it tested and it was (is) bad...

The other of course is the power steering pump when TURNING, you hear a squeal, then the pump pulley is dragging. This system has a tensioner pulley, so the tension on the belt is constant. I had to tighten mine manually with the Avenger, there was no spring loaded tensioner pulley, just a MANUAL ADJUST tensioner pulley; but, the alternator still dragged, so I had to be careful how much power I used till it warmed up.

 

[KJ zGal]

Doesn't squeal when the wheel's turned, and it actually hasn't done it much this winter anyway. I just noticed the slight squeaking when idling. Maybe I'll see if I can get a video of the sound and such. How much is a new tensioner going to run me, and should I replace that for now or just the belt. And what exactly is a bearing? The things the belt goes around?

Onto the alternator, the only time I've noticed it shuddering is when I stop, for instance, after I pull into my garage or once in a while at a stop light. None of the lights or anything dim, just notice it feels like it would if I were letting the clutch out without enough gas.

As for the cleaning of the engine, been wanting to do that but never really considered how. What is/isn't safe to use to clean it with?

 

[jnaut]

Also, you clean your engine much? Looks like its had a lot of salt on it for along time.

wanna see a pic of my engine? huh? huh?

Word on that. I was looking at her engine and thought "Man, is that just the picture or do we have a problem, Houston?"

 

[ShafferNY]

Mine looked exactly the same when it was making noise.

My suggestion is replace the belt.

Before you put the new belt on though, clean all your pulleys with some water and dish soap. Then rinse the pulley off. After they dry, put the new belt on. This way you're sure to get the most out of your new belt and not contaminate it with any sort of oil, dirt, or grease that may be on the pulleys.

I'll be willing to bet that if you take your old belt of and look at it you'll see that the ribs are nice and shinny. That's what causing your noise.

BTW, according the the FSM the tensioner has a wear indicator on it.

 

[moparman]

It might be too late for what we see in the picture. That's slight corrosion. Pretty normal. If any of your friends have a rice burner, look under their hood. It will be far worse. But for dirt and oil a "spray wand" car wash is a good place to clean your engine. And fenderwells and chassis, etc. The best ones have a low pressure engine degreaser setting. Just try to avoid spraying electronic stuff and do not soak the belt. Another way is household cleaner (Fantastik, Spray 9, Greased Lightning, etc.) and a garden hose. Spray the soap and let it soak a few minutes before rinsing. I would stay away from petroleum distillate based engine degreasers. (Gunk) Too harsh. Use a soft brush on the tough spots. If and when you buy a new vehicle, just never let the engine get dirty. Hose it off with a garden hose every 2 or 3 washes and you won't have to use any soap or degreaser. I have been doing that for years. A clean engine is good because you will be able to see oil and coolant leaks right away and the oil buildup will not make hoses go bad. My KJ is almost 3 years old with 49k miles, the engine looks like new. I will try to post a pic later today.

 

[JeepJeepster]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bearing_(mechanical)

Thats what a bearing is.

See if this link works. Its for a 2002 liberty:

http://www.napaonline.com/MasterPag...er=38167&Description=Drivebelt+Tensioner+Assy

If you really didnt want to get the tensioner replaced just replace the belt and go from there(needs to be done anyway). Make sure you get a good belt, not a cheap one. GoodYear GatorBacks are good.

Im not really sure what brand napa uses but we have a napa belt on our ZJ and XJ and its doing good so far.

http://www.napaonline.com/MasterPag...Number=25060874&Description=Belt+-+Serpentine

 

[moparman]

My engine, hit it with the garden hose a week ago.

 

[KJ zGal]

Well, belt has been changed and there's nothing wrong with the alternator. Showed up as having a 2.43 Amp drain on the battery. Have any ideas of what it could be?

 

[JeepJeepster]

Is it nice and quiet now?

Is it pulling that much when the Jeep is off? Nothing is on and the doors are closed?

 

[sleeve]

If the engine was off, could that drain be from the BCM counting up to 8 minutes before it powers down?

 

[KJ zGal]

I'm pretty sure it was when everything was off, but I don't remember for certain. This is the receipt I got.

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[sleeve]

That has to have been from the BCM powering down. I've never had a problem with my electronics on the 2002, so I doubt that you'll have any problems either...

Did changing the belt help with your squeak?

 

[KJ zGal]

Yes it did--I haven't heard a single squeak yet. The shuddering/near stalling also seems to have stopped.

 

[tjkj2002]

2.43amps is one heck of a parasitic draw,with that much it should be easy to find the cause.It's those 20mili-amp draws that can be pesky to find.

 

[KJ zGal]

The only thing I've done electrical with the Jeep is the stereo installation, but considering my brother has done them 98735982739587235 times before, I'm going to assume there isn't anything there that could be causing the drain. What exactly is the BCM, and what do you guys mean when you say it's powering down? Is it something that will need to be corrected?

 

[JeepJeepster]

If your Jeep will sit more than a day and start up just fine then evidently its ok.

The BCM is the computer that controls the electronics in the Jeep. It will shut anything off in the Jeep that is drawing power after 8minutes. This includes interior lights, head lights, park lights, etc. In other words, it turns off after 8minutes.