There's a noise in the Jeep!

“I first heard it Friday night. Got in the '88 Jeep Cherokee, fired'er up, started to pull out from curb and it made this weird noise. The best I can describe it is kinda like the sound you make when you try to imitate a car screeching to a halt. Or, along the same lines, kind like a rooster (without the crowing). That kind of noise... roughly.

I stopped half a block later at the stop sign. When I pulled away, it did it again, briefly. Sounded awful!

Saturday I drove the Jeep for maybe 5 miles, parked it, started it, and it made the noise again. I had it out all day and it didn't make the noise any other time.

Now today, it's made it on a couple occasion, always when starting up -- and usually after having been just sitting there, say half an hour, after having been run maybe half an hour.

WEIRDO MUNDO!

I saw a guy in front of where I work and he said, "The Jeep is working?!?!? We heard it the other day and thought it was on its last legs." So I asked him what he thought it might be. He said, belt? Plugged water pump? (It has a new water pump.)

I took it to the mechanic today. No, it wasn't the belt. He could find NADA!!! GEEZ!!! And of course it didn't make "the noise" when I was there. He even took it out for a spin.

It also seems like I can really feel vibration from the noise through the gas pedal when it does it.

PLEASE, PLEASE, SOMEONE ID THIS NOISE AND WHAT IT MIGHT BE!!! I hate getting stranded yet one more time when it could be fixed. 8-(”

“lizs,

I just sold a 98 Jeep a month ago. I had problems with the brakes screeching when I let off the brake pedal. It occurred the entire time I owned the car. I spoke with a few sources and found that Jeep had a reputation for the brakes doing this. It's almost like the brakes are wanting to grip even though you're letting off the pedal.

Does it sound like this?

Rob”

“Just a guess. A broken brake spring. Would account for your weird feeling in the pedal.”

“American cars have a useful life of ten years. After that, sinking good money into repairs that often cost more than the car is worth make buying a new car a better deal. Your car is 18 years old. Buy a new car.

As to the noise, it usually is a fan belt. But in your case, look at your instrument panel and see if you are getting output on your alternator when the screeching is starting out. My 82 CJ-7 Jeep used to screech occassionally as the alternator took about 10 seconds to come on line.”

“Get a new mechanic or a new car.”

“Liz.....
...I'll ask Lee, (who is a mechanic & engine specialist) tonight and then post again....and I'll put my phone number in your Yahoo Messenger and you can give me a call this eve!!!...hugs.....”

“i had to read this 3 times...i kept reading it "There's a NOSE in my Jeep"

...anyway as far as the NOISE, as many here have said it sounds like your classic belt noise...your mechanic probably couldn't find it cause he couldn't hear it...it's kinda hard to diagnose visually...is it still doing it?...i had a car that only did it when it was cold and damp”

“Belts get old, they stretch...how old are the belts?...The simple solution is to replace the belts and eliminate them as the cause....(You ought to replace the belts occasionally anyway!) Belts are cheap...

Check the Power Steering Reservoir and see if the fluid level is where it should be...


SUPER CHEAP: Stop at Walmart and buy a can of Belt Dressing....(A spray can with a fluid designed to eliminate belt squeal)...spray the belts lightly with the spray and drive the car for a few days and see if that stops the noise...if it does...replace or tighten the belts...

PS... Belts tend to Crack when they get old...shine a flashlight on them and see if they are showing cracks along the inside edges of the belt...”

“If the car squeals when it's cold and when you are accelerating, firt thought is belts... belts will warm up and the cold squeal stops...then when you accelerate, the belts slip on the pulleys, causing a squeal....

Another possible cause is a bad bearing in either the water pump, the AC Compressor, or the Power Steering unit.

Water pump is new so not likely
Power Steering Unit (Check fluid level yet?)
AC Compressor...Is the AC still cold? If the AC does not work,(because it hasn't for a long time) cut the belt to the compressor(unless that belt runs any other accessory as well). AC Compressors create drag on the engine, and if they ain't working anyway, eliminate the drag...(Lack of refrigerant will eliminate the lubrication in the compressor and cause the compressor to lock up eventually)”

“It's part of their character.

Yup, I agree...belt noise. Loose belt or idler pulley bearing. At worst, the alternator or power steering pump starting to go.”

“Lets see...

Belt should be reasonably new, but will check. Also, the mechanic checked it. There's just one belt (A non-cheap $70 belt, least to me that's non-cheap)

Power steering fluid and transmission fluids were checked and OK.

AC works fine.

Wouldn't think it's the alternator. Just got a new one last August.

Ain't this fun?!?!?!? LOL! (yeah, till I'm sitting beside a road...)”

“I had a strange screeching in my 2000 ford ranger a few months ago..they also could not find out what it was..until my brakes gave out at a stop sign and I ended up sitting in a field across the road.

check the brakes first.”

“brakes are overrated”

“My first thought was power steering.

My in-laws have a Dodge Caravan. They travel between Florida and Michigan. This year it started making a strange noise. It is intermitent and generally appears when the vehicle is cold. It started last Fall and doesn't appear to be anything major because they're still driving it and haven't had anything done to it. What's that saying, "It's a Jeep thing. You wouldn't understand." LOL Maybe this is what they meant!”

“That is why they gave you a horn.....

...in case the brakes fail.”

“Check the brakes.”

“Have you checked for small mammals?”

“Brakes first, then power steering.”

“If it happens sitting still, revving the engine, it's a good bet....loose belt.

I had to stand on my jeep wrangler (new) belt with a bar to tighten & I'm 220lbs.

My belt (used to) SCREAM. Especially cold.”

“I am just guess there was no ball cleaning involved?

Um here is a stupid suggestion...is the Emergency Brake on or off when this noise starts?”

“Ok, heres the problem. The front brakes use a disc system and the rear use drums. The front caplier is sticking and or the pads are worn enough that the squealer is making the noise. If the caplier is sticking you will have to replace that. Cost is around 30 dollors or less if you do it yourself. Pads will run under 20 dollors if you do that yourself. If it is the caplier replace the pads also. From what you have said I believe that the caplier is sticking and that has cause the pads on that side to wear out and the squealer is making the noise, like it is suppose to, to tell you to replace the pads. I bet when you move the steering wheel from one side to the other it quits!
last edited: 3/28/06 4:14:38 PM”

“I'll bet you have a problem with the cigarette lighter. My 2000 Jeep makes the same screaching noise when I use the lighter or plug anything into it.

Stick some gum in the socket and it will be good as new.”

“Got my Wrangler back on Saturday after having new trans and radiator put in. I have known for awhile now that the trans was going bad, but have been waiting for Christmas to be over before I put out the funds.

To my surprise, the whole deal only cost $800. Mechanic has become a good friend and advised that due to the vast number of peeps I have refered, he did the repair at basically cost.

He also told me to hang on to it as long as I can. He told me that the enigine will go forever, or at least until this trans fails so for all you Wrangler owners, hang on to it.”

“..as long as it has good oil...”

“Yeah - good 'ol American oil. None of that foreign crap.”

“American oil?”

“You know, Texas oil.


When your mechanic is a good friend you've probably had problems.”

“we had a YJ for a long time - ugly thing (flat army green with black primer spots) - but wicked for trail access and canoe access roads - we had something similar happen and it was the brakes

i sure miss that ugly green thing (except when we pull up to the pump)”

“I'm great friends now with our local body shop owner. We've been to him for major damage repairs about 4 times last year. Now I have a crack in my windshield from a rock..... guess he'll be seeing me again real soon LOL!”