Hi, my 2015 SRT Cherokee with 120,000KMs / 74K Mile has started belt squeaking, normally just after startup, mostly only when at tight steering lock and foot on the gas. I've had it into the Jeep service center and they have recommended replacing everything - Power steering pump unit, drive belt tensioner, v-belt, idle pulley, etc.

Does this seem like overkill? Anyone with familiarity on what normally causes belt squeaking related to steering want to give me an educated guess on what of those parts actually needs replacing? They did say there's some 'play' in the power steer unit. I find Jeep service centers think we're all made of money and are quite happy spending $6K a pop to solve a problem.

I've had a similar issue... turned out to be a loose power steering pump bolt. One of the bolts is difficult to see and get to behind the pulley on the lower side.

 

I had a squeak at 40k miles. Turned out my water pump was bad and needed to be replaced.

 

I would be very hesitant on them replacing everything.. two most common belt squeaks on these cars are water pump and the harmonic balancer. Usually you can see the rubber ring coming apart on the balancer and it will cause an annoying cold start squeak

 

This is Spot on , earlier this year i had a F**k load of issue’s w The Cold start Squeak! 1st was the water pump # 2 at about 40k miles. Few weeks later the Squeak came back so i replaced belts and pulleys (was cheap enough and i drive hard so why not) Same shit again a few days Ltr upon cold start! Went to dealer and ask’d a texh and he was like i’ll bet you my Wifes @Ss its the balancer! He drew a strait line on it w a Sharpie and revved the eng. When we looked after the line was in 3 diff places (harmonic balancer pulley is a 3 piece pulley) Got a new one and had my mech install and bamm bamm all good again! Not to mention literally all the vibration was gone ~Note; i din’t even know i had vibration throughout the eng and vehicle till i changed it. Nite/Day diff in drive and Smoothness.
That pos pulley at my Mech’s cost was $230! But def an issue for me at 42k miles or soo

 

Ah, the good old "lets fire the parts cannon at it and see how it goes" -method...

 

um? not trying to sound like a know it all, But you can take a can wd40 with the straw on and check every pulley, and if you hit every pulley and the chirp is still chirping , hit the belt with it, If it stops after any of those, Then you will know wear the issue location is and there is no need to replace the whole motor LOL