# 1998 Jeep Wrangler - Squeals

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-jeep-wrangler-squeals/140982>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** jeep\
**Created:** [May 25, 2019, 8:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-jeep-wrangler-squeals/140982 "2019-05-25T20:52:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Allenbutz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Allenbutz](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Allenbutz)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2019, 8:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-jeep-wrangler-squeals/140982/1 "2019-05-25T20:52:48Z")

</div>

my 98 jeep wrangler has 99000 miles on it. i replaced the fan belt about 6 months ago. 4 weeks ago the belt would squeal about 10-15 seconds after starting in the morning. now it does not squeal in the morning but in the afternoon when leaving work. what could be done to stop this/

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2019, 9:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-jeep-wrangler-squeals/140982/2 "2019-05-25T21:31:10Z")

</div>

Try re-tightening the belt.

Tester

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Scrapyard-John](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@Scrapyard-John](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Scrapyard-John)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2019, 11:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-jeep-wrangler-squeals/140982/3 "2019-05-25T23:26:07Z")

</div>

I think a 98 Wrangler has an automatic tensioner. Maybe not, though.

Does the belt squeal with and without the AC on (if equipped)?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Allenbutz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Allenbutz](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Allenbutz)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2019, 11:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-jeep-wrangler-squeals/140982/4 "2019-05-25T23:51:49Z")

</div>

not sure. will see tomorrow.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![SteveCBT](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/stevecbt/32/3192_2.png) [@SteveCBT](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SteveCBT)\
**Post date:** [May 26, 2019, 2:07am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-jeep-wrangler-squeals/140982/5 "2019-05-26T02:07:58Z")

</div>

I ran into this on my sons 98 Wrangler. Replace the belt with a high quality belt, Gates or similar.

We put a lot of time and effort trying to figure it out, turned out the belt was the problem

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Allenbutz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Allenbutz](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Allenbutz)\
**Post date:** [May 26, 2019, 7:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-jeep-wrangler-squeals/140982/6 "2019-05-26T19:48:32Z")

</div>

Thanks. I’ll try that. The belt on now came fromNAPA.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Allenbutz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Allenbutz](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Allenbutz)\
**Post date:** [May 26, 2019, 7:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-jeep-wrangler-squeals/140982/7 "2019-05-26T19:50:51Z")

</div>

Thanks. That’s worth a try.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Allenbutz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Allenbutz](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Allenbutz)\
**Post date:** [May 27, 2019, 1:37am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-jeep-wrangler-squeals/140982/8 "2019-05-27T01:37:17Z")

</div>

yes. it squeals both ways.