When starting my XJ6 there is a loud squealing noise coming from the front. The squealing only lasts for a couple of minutes. Any ideas?

 

Pulleys, drive belts or harmonic balancer. Try and isolate the noise

 

The crank damper is likely the offender!

bob

 

Water pump and alternator bearings can go bad and the use of a long socket extension against the ear can locate it

https://store.alternatorparts.com/ni...-bearings.aspx

Replacing the alternator with a new or rebuilt one is ifi

The water pump has a weep hole on the bottom side if the seal has leaked into the bearing area

The idler pulley below the A/ C compressor has a habit of seizing up . cheap repair

Post back before stripping the 4 sided long adjustment bolt

The compressor or compressor clutch bearing can be replaced and I think you can remove the clutch without removing the compressor or breaking the freon lines

https://www.shopcenturyautoair.com/s...mpressors.html

Your compressor is a Denso 10 PA 15 I believe

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/xj-xj6-xjr6-x300-26/installing-harmonic-balancer-101674/

 

Of all the possibilities mentioned, perhaps the easiest to eliminate and longest-lead-time to fix is the damper (harmonic balancer)
Plenty written here on how to mark it and determine if it is an issue or not. Searches for "damper" "crank damper" or "harmonic balancer" should reveal the threads. The fact that the noise stops after a few minutes running leads me to believe that is probably your problem.

 

I don't think the 96 Jag had been driven for a couple of years.

But as quickly as the squealing started, it disappeared. No idea, but the squealing is gone, forever I hope.

 

If it was the harmonic balancer it will effect the turning of the main engine water pump

You can also look for the alternator light

I would suggest the marking of the HB pullieys and a watchful eye on the temp gauge

The temp gauge is not a accurate gauge of temp in this design