L.W.(=?iso-8859-1?Q?=DFill?=) Hughes III

Hi Jeff,
If you can get in there without getting your fingers clipped by the
fan or pulleys, run the belt over a bar of soap, it'll quit right down
if that's the problem.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

CRWLR wrote:
>
> I am having a similar noise as you describe on the Wife's minivan, and I
> recently replaced the distributor. I was thinking I need to get her some new
> belts, but maybe my distributor is toast.
>
> I was putting off working on the belts because I am lazy and they take more
> effort to replace than the problem they present.
>
> If I took the belts off all together, and started the motor and heard the
> same noise, the only thing to consider at that point will be the
> distributor, right? (I wrote that before I read all of your post, then I
> scrolled down and noticed you came up with the same test. I think there will
> be two posts here on Monday to describe the results of taking the belt(s)
> off and checking for noise.)
>
> "bllsht" <nospam@invaliddot.net> wrote in message
> news:glsf409r5tn9gmeb86lvi7vpgsko5b7pmd@4ax.com...
> > Maybe he has misdiagnosed it, but given the fact he's had his head under
> the
> > hood, and you haven't, I'd believe him. :-)
> >
> > It's not the norm, but it's still very common to have a distributor make
> the
> > noise he's describing, many times well below the 100k mile mark.
> Rhythmic,
> > sometimes intermittent, sometimes louder, sometimes really quiet. "Bird
> chirp"
> > is a really good description, and if you ever heard one, you'd know
> immediately
> > that it's not a belt type squeak.
> >
> > BTW, even cheaper than a $5 belt, how about removing the belt altogether
> to see
> > if the noise is still there. If it is still there, you've eliminated a
> ----
> > load of possibilities and it didn't cost nuttin'!
> >
> >
> > In message <104f0rs7q1g1q69@corp.supernews.com>, "CRWLR" wrote:
> >
> > >I hear you, but my take is that he has diagnosed incorrectly. The
> > >distributor shouldn't get dry bearings already. It may have been
> submerged,
> > >and this fact would change my position on the matter, and I would also go
> > >along with the distributor diagnosis. But, given the real world, the
> belt(s)
> > >and/or the alternator bearings are more likely to make a squealing noise
> > >than the distributor.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >"bllsht" <nospam@invaliddot.net> wrote in message
> > >news:f2gd40dr3lbjn4trqm928s77grkpri42oi@4ax.com.. .
> > >> The OP already said he'd narrowed it down to the distributor area, and
> > >it's
> > >> pretty common for them to squeak when they wear out, despite the fact
> that
> > >it's
> > >> never happened to you.
> > >>
> > >> It most likely needs a distributor.
> > >>
> > >> In message <104c5vumldvlc4e@corp.supernews.com>, "CRWLR" wrote:
> > >>
> > >> >While is certainly is within the realm of possibility, a new belt runs
> > >about
> > >> >$5, and a new distributor is going to be about $150. And, I drive an
> '81
> > >> >that had the original distributor as recently as 2000, so I tend to
> > >discount
> > >> >the distributor as the problem. (My distributor got replaced because I
> > >> >installed a fuel injection system, and it required a different kind of
> > >> >distributor, else I would still be using it.)
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> >"Jerry Newton" <figatmcttelecom.com> wrote in message
> > >> >news:40453232_1@newspeer2.tds.net...
> > >> >> It is within the realm of possibility that the distributor is
> wearing
> > >out.
> > >> >> This will be confirmed when it siezes up and the vehicle ceases to
> > >> >operate.
> > >> >> If you know that the noise is coming from the distributor, I would
> > >replace
> > >> >> it.
> > >> >>
> > >> >> Jerry
> > >> >>
> > >> >>
> > >> >> "CRWLR" <beerman@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> > >> >> news:104a9hg2gdssn35@corp.supernews.com...
> > >> >> > You are describing a belt problem. It could be a bearing issue,
> most
> > >> >> notably
> > >> >> > with the idler pulley, but it is normally the belt that is making
> > >noise.
> > >> >> >
> > >> >> > Since you ruled out that the belts were not bad, it leaves open
> the
> > >> >> > possibility that they are bad. (the whole double-negative thing
> ...)
> > >> >> >
> > >> >> >
> > >> >> >
> > >> >> >
> > >> >> >
> > >> >> > "DaryRon Steffey" <dstef1605db@charter.net> wrote in message
> > >> >> > news:104a4eh8ji43t40@corp.supernews.com...
> > >> >> > > I have have 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0L, and one morning I
> went
> > >out
> > >> >to
> > >> >> > > start it up and it started and ran fine, but it started making a
> > >sort
> > >> >of
> > >> >> > > belt squeaking sound. I checked the belts and they are nice,
> new
> > >and
> > >> >> > > fresh looking. SO I ruled out that the belts were not bad. I
> drove
> > >> >the
> > >> >> > > vehicle for a week or so and the car didn't make the noise, but
> it
> > >has
> > >> >> > > now started making the noise again, but at times the noise is
> faint
> > >> >> > > something like a bird chirping, and it then has times that its
> loud
> > >> >such
> > >> >> > > as a belt squealing. I have ruled that the area that the sound
> > >seems
> > >> >> > > to be coming from is near or around the distributor. I have
> > >recently
> > >> >> > > purchased a new distributor cap, and rotor button, plugs & wires
> > >> >because
> > >> >> > > it needs it 100 thousand miles replacement. I haven't installed
> > >these
> > >> >> > > yet because I haven't had time, but I am wondering if anyone has
> > >heard
> > >> >> > > of this and that it is the distributor going south? The car only
> > >has
> > >> >> > > 106,000 miles on it and I talked to a gent at a local parts
> store
> > >and
> > >> >he
> > >> >> > > said that that is really low mileage for the distributor to be
> > >going
> > >> >bad
> > >> >> > > . Any suggestions or advice is really appreciated!!
> > >> >> > > THANKS!
> > >> >> > >
> > >> >> >
> > >> >>
> > >> >>
> > >>
> >

DougW

CRWLR did pass the time by typing:
> I am having a similar noise as you describe on the Wife's minivan, and I
> recently replaced the distributor. I was thinking I need to get her some new
> belts, but maybe my distributor is toast.
>
> I was putting off working on the belts because I am lazy and they take more
> effort to replace than the problem they present.
>
> If I took the belts off all together, and started the motor and heard the
> same noise, the only thing to consider at that point will be the
> distributor, right? (I wrote that before I read all of your post, then I
> scrolled down and noticed you came up with the same test. I think there will
> be two posts here on Monday to describe the results of taking the belt(s)
> off and checking for noise.)

You need one of these.
<http://www.jcwhitney.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=660&catalogId=10101&store Id=10101&langId=-1&TID=1544>

http://tinyurl.com/34ub2

Remember.. no belt = no water pump or cooling fan.
It's easier to touch some soap to the sides of a belt
to determine if the belt is rubbing.

--
DougW

DougW

CRWLR did pass the time by typing:
> I am having a similar noise as you describe on the Wife's minivan, and I
> recently replaced the distributor. I was thinking I need to get her some new
> belts, but maybe my distributor is toast.
>
> I was putting off working on the belts because I am lazy and they take more
> effort to replace than the problem they present.
>
> If I took the belts off all together, and started the motor and heard the
> same noise, the only thing to consider at that point will be the
> distributor, right? (I wrote that before I read all of your post, then I
> scrolled down and noticed you came up with the same test. I think there will
> be two posts here on Monday to describe the results of taking the belt(s)
> off and checking for noise.)

You need one of these.
<http://www.jcwhitney.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=660&catalogId=10101&store Id=10101&langId=-1&TID=1544>

http://tinyurl.com/34ub2

Remember.. no belt = no water pump or cooling fan.
It's easier to touch some soap to the sides of a belt
to determine if the belt is rubbing.

--
DougW

DougW

CRWLR did pass the time by typing:
> I am having a similar noise as you describe on the Wife's minivan, and I
> recently replaced the distributor. I was thinking I need to get her some new
> belts, but maybe my distributor is toast.
>
> I was putting off working on the belts because I am lazy and they take more
> effort to replace than the problem they present.
>
> If I took the belts off all together, and started the motor and heard the
> same noise, the only thing to consider at that point will be the
> distributor, right? (I wrote that before I read all of your post, then I
> scrolled down and noticed you came up with the same test. I think there will
> be two posts here on Monday to describe the results of taking the belt(s)
> off and checking for noise.)

You need one of these.
<http://www.jcwhitney.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=660&catalogId=10101&store Id=10101&langId=-1&TID=1544>

http://tinyurl.com/34ub2

Remember.. no belt = no water pump or cooling fan.
It's easier to touch some soap to the sides of a belt
to determine if the belt is rubbing.

--
DougW

G.Sandhu

It is the distributor. I have had the same noise in my 98TJ 4.0
((55,000 miles) for the past month or so. It finally reached the
occasional screeching stage before I could figure it out. The noise
disappeared for several days after I took off the cap and sprayed a
smidge of WD-40 down the shaft. Anyway, I am putting in a new Mopar
distributor this weekend. This is the first distributor I have had go
bad among any of the cars and Jeeps I have owned. The belt related
advice is also valid, but rare things do happen.....
Regards,

Guri Sandhu
98TJ

DaryRon Steffey <dstef1605db@charter.net> wrote in message news:<104a4eh8ji43t40@corp.supernews.com>...
> I have have 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0L, and one morning I went out to
> start it up and it started and ran fine, but it started making a sort of
> belt squeaking sound. I checked the belts and they are nice, new and
> fresh looking. SO I ruled out that the belts were not bad. I drove the
> vehicle for a week or so and the car didn't make the noise, but it has
> now started making the noise again, but at times the noise is faint
> something like a bird chirping, and it then has times that its loud such
> as a belt squealing. I have ruled that the area that the sound seems
> to be coming from is near or around the distributor. I have recently
> purchased a new distributor cap, and rotor button, plugs & wires because
> it needs it 100 thousand miles replacement. I haven't installed these
> yet because I haven't had time, but I am wondering if anyone has heard
> of this and that it is the distributor going south? The car only has
> 106,000 miles on it and I talked to a gent at a local parts store and he
> said that that is really low mileage for the distributor to be going bad
> . Any suggestions or advice is really appreciated!!
> THANKS!

G.Sandhu

It is the distributor. I have had the same noise in my 98TJ 4.0
((55,000 miles) for the past month or so. It finally reached the
occasional screeching stage before I could figure it out. The noise
disappeared for several days after I took off the cap and sprayed a
smidge of WD-40 down the shaft. Anyway, I am putting in a new Mopar
distributor this weekend. This is the first distributor I have had go
bad among any of the cars and Jeeps I have owned. The belt related
advice is also valid, but rare things do happen.....
Regards,

Guri Sandhu
98TJ

DaryRon Steffey <dstef1605db@charter.net> wrote in message news:<104a4eh8ji43t40@corp.supernews.com>...
> I have have 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0L, and one morning I went out to
> start it up and it started and ran fine, but it started making a sort of
> belt squeaking sound. I checked the belts and they are nice, new and
> fresh looking. SO I ruled out that the belts were not bad. I drove the
> vehicle for a week or so and the car didn't make the noise, but it has
> now started making the noise again, but at times the noise is faint
> something like a bird chirping, and it then has times that its loud such
> as a belt squealing. I have ruled that the area that the sound seems
> to be coming from is near or around the distributor. I have recently
> purchased a new distributor cap, and rotor button, plugs & wires because
> it needs it 100 thousand miles replacement. I haven't installed these
> yet because I haven't had time, but I am wondering if anyone has heard
> of this and that it is the distributor going south? The car only has
> 106,000 miles on it and I talked to a gent at a local parts store and he
> said that that is really low mileage for the distributor to be going bad
> . Any suggestions or advice is really appreciated!!
> THANKS!

G.Sandhu

It is the distributor. I have had the same noise in my 98TJ 4.0
((55,000 miles) for the past month or so. It finally reached the
occasional screeching stage before I could figure it out. The noise
disappeared for several days after I took off the cap and sprayed a
smidge of WD-40 down the shaft. Anyway, I am putting in a new Mopar
distributor this weekend. This is the first distributor I have had go
bad among any of the cars and Jeeps I have owned. The belt related
advice is also valid, but rare things do happen.....
Regards,

Guri Sandhu
98TJ

DaryRon Steffey <dstef1605db@charter.net> wrote in message news:<104a4eh8ji43t40@corp.supernews.com>...
> I have have 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0L, and one morning I went out to
> start it up and it started and ran fine, but it started making a sort of
> belt squeaking sound. I checked the belts and they are nice, new and
> fresh looking. SO I ruled out that the belts were not bad. I drove the
> vehicle for a week or so and the car didn't make the noise, but it has
> now started making the noise again, but at times the noise is faint
> something like a bird chirping, and it then has times that its loud such
> as a belt squealing. I have ruled that the area that the sound seems
> to be coming from is near or around the distributor. I have recently
> purchased a new distributor cap, and rotor button, plugs & wires because
> it needs it 100 thousand miles replacement. I haven't installed these
> yet because I haven't had time, but I am wondering if anyone has heard
> of this and that it is the distributor going south? The car only has
> 106,000 miles on it and I talked to a gent at a local parts store and he
> said that that is really low mileage for the distributor to be going bad
> . Any suggestions or advice is really appreciated!!
> THANKS!

DaryRon Steffey

Thank you for replying to my post with some information that explains
that rare things to happen! I have since changed the distributor cap,
rotor button, plugs & wires. I drove the car afterwords and heard the
same screeching noise as I had previouslly said that I heard. So I
invested 59.00 in a remanufactured jeep distributor and the problem was
solved!! After I installed the new distributor I took the old one and
held it in my hand while rotating the shaft and I was able to hear the
noise every 3-4 complete turns of the shaft. SO thank you for all the
great advice!

G.Sandhu wrote:
> It is the distributor. I have had the same noise in my 98TJ 4.0
> ((55,000 miles) for the past month or so. It finally reached the
> occasional screeching stage before I could figure it out. The noise
> disappeared for several days after I took off the cap and sprayed a
> smidge of WD-40 down the shaft. Anyway, I am putting in a new Mopar
> distributor this weekend. This is the first distributor I have had go
> bad among any of the cars and Jeeps I have owned. The belt related
> advice is also valid, but rare things do happen.....
> Regards,
>
> Guri Sandhu
> 98TJ
>
> DaryRon Steffey <dstef1605db@charter.net> wrote in message news:<104a4eh8ji43t40@corp.supernews.com>...
>
>>I have have 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0L, and one morning I went out to
>>start it up and it started and ran fine, but it started making a sort of
>> belt squeaking sound. I checked the belts and they are nice, new and
>>fresh looking. SO I ruled out that the belts were not bad. I drove the
>>vehicle for a week or so and the car didn't make the noise, but it has
>>now started making the noise again, but at times the noise is faint
>>something like a bird chirping, and it then has times that its loud such
>> as a belt squealing. I have ruled that the area that the sound seems
>>to be coming from is near or around the distributor. I have recently
>>purchased a new distributor cap, and rotor button, plugs & wires because
>>it needs it 100 thousand miles replacement. I haven't installed these
>>yet because I haven't had time, but I am wondering if anyone has heard
>>of this and that it is the distributor going south? The car only has
>>106,000 miles on it and I talked to a gent at a local parts store and he
>>said that that is really low mileage for the distributor to be going bad
>>. Any suggestions or advice is really appreciated!!
>>THANKS!

DaryRon Steffey

Thank you for replying to my post with some information that explains
that rare things to happen! I have since changed the distributor cap,
rotor button, plugs & wires. I drove the car afterwords and heard the
same screeching noise as I had previouslly said that I heard. So I
invested 59.00 in a remanufactured jeep distributor and the problem was
solved!! After I installed the new distributor I took the old one and
held it in my hand while rotating the shaft and I was able to hear the
noise every 3-4 complete turns of the shaft. SO thank you for all the
great advice!

G.Sandhu wrote:
> It is the distributor. I have had the same noise in my 98TJ 4.0
> ((55,000 miles) for the past month or so. It finally reached the
> occasional screeching stage before I could figure it out. The noise
> disappeared for several days after I took off the cap and sprayed a
> smidge of WD-40 down the shaft. Anyway, I am putting in a new Mopar
> distributor this weekend. This is the first distributor I have had go
> bad among any of the cars and Jeeps I have owned. The belt related
> advice is also valid, but rare things do happen.....
> Regards,
>
> Guri Sandhu
> 98TJ
>
> DaryRon Steffey <dstef1605db@charter.net> wrote in message news:<104a4eh8ji43t40@corp.supernews.com>...
>
>>I have have 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0L, and one morning I went out to
>>start it up and it started and ran fine, but it started making a sort of
>> belt squeaking sound. I checked the belts and they are nice, new and
>>fresh looking. SO I ruled out that the belts were not bad. I drove the
>>vehicle for a week or so and the car didn't make the noise, but it has
>>now started making the noise again, but at times the noise is faint
>>something like a bird chirping, and it then has times that its loud such
>> as a belt squealing. I have ruled that the area that the sound seems
>>to be coming from is near or around the distributor. I have recently
>>purchased a new distributor cap, and rotor button, plugs & wires because
>>it needs it 100 thousand miles replacement. I haven't installed these
>>yet because I haven't had time, but I am wondering if anyone has heard
>>of this and that it is the distributor going south? The car only has
>>106,000 miles on it and I talked to a gent at a local parts store and he
>>said that that is really low mileage for the distributor to be going bad
>>. Any suggestions or advice is really appreciated!!
>>THANKS!

DaryRon Steffey

Thank you for replying to my post with some information that explains
that rare things to happen! I have since changed the distributor cap,
rotor button, plugs & wires. I drove the car afterwords and heard the
same screeching noise as I had previouslly said that I heard. So I
invested 59.00 in a remanufactured jeep distributor and the problem was
solved!! After I installed the new distributor I took the old one and
held it in my hand while rotating the shaft and I was able to hear the
noise every 3-4 complete turns of the shaft. SO thank you for all the
great advice!

G.Sandhu wrote:
> It is the distributor. I have had the same noise in my 98TJ 4.0
> ((55,000 miles) for the past month or so. It finally reached the
> occasional screeching stage before I could figure it out. The noise
> disappeared for several days after I took off the cap and sprayed a
> smidge of WD-40 down the shaft. Anyway, I am putting in a new Mopar
> distributor this weekend. This is the first distributor I have had go
> bad among any of the cars and Jeeps I have owned. The belt related
> advice is also valid, but rare things do happen.....
> Regards,
>
> Guri Sandhu
> 98TJ
>
> DaryRon Steffey <dstef1605db@charter.net> wrote in message news:<104a4eh8ji43t40@corp.supernews.com>...
>
>>I have have 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0L, and one morning I went out to
>>start it up and it started and ran fine, but it started making a sort of
>> belt squeaking sound. I checked the belts and they are nice, new and
>>fresh looking. SO I ruled out that the belts were not bad. I drove the
>>vehicle for a week or so and the car didn't make the noise, but it has
>>now started making the noise again, but at times the noise is faint
>>something like a bird chirping, and it then has times that its loud such
>> as a belt squealing. I have ruled that the area that the sound seems
>>to be coming from is near or around the distributor. I have recently
>>purchased a new distributor cap, and rotor button, plugs & wires because
>>it needs it 100 thousand miles replacement. I haven't installed these
>>yet because I haven't had time, but I am wondering if anyone has heard
>>of this and that it is the distributor going south? The car only has
>>106,000 miles on it and I talked to a gent at a local parts store and he
>>said that that is really low mileage for the distributor to be going bad
>>. Any suggestions or advice is really appreciated!!
>>THANKS!