I have a weird noise coming from my jeep ????

[Ddub1973]

Hey guys and girls,

I have noticed for a bit now that my jeep is emitting a strange noise that was never there before.  It started after a muddy ride out at McLean Creek.  I'm not sure they are related.

The noise coincides with the rate of the RPM’s.  I should mention that I have a 6 speed manual transmission.  The sound is hard to describe.  It is like a high pitch squeal or a whining sound and the pitch gets higher as the RPM’s get higher.

Any ideas?  I am not a mechanic so any help would be great.

[Greg-100]

Simple and cheap things first.

Could be a dirty belt?

They squeal loudly and increase with RPMs.

Try giving the belt a quick spray with a water hose followed up by a few squirts of dish soap.
 (engine off, in the days of V belts we would hold a bar of soap against the belt while the engine was turning over, dangerous thing to do)

Greg

[foghorn]

mud between the dust shield and the rotor, more prone to the front.

[jandh]

as the sound get louder do you notice your battery charge meter go down?  might be the belt slipping on the alternator or another pulley, happens to my YJ after every muddy run.

[Ddub1973]

Thanks for the tips everyone.  It turns out it was the idler pulley that crapped out.  I assume dirt got into the bearings and wrecked it.  Funny enough the belt actually went not long after I posted this.

Pully and belt are replaced now and its good to go.