DUDE STOP TRHOWING MONEY AT IT!!!! IT IS THE WATERPUMP!!!! I WENT THROUGH THIS EXACT SAME THING!!!! IT IS THE WATER PUMP!!!! BELT TENSIONER-STILL SQUEAKS-BELT-STILL SQUEAKS-FLUSHED POWER STEERING PUMP-STILL SQUEAKS-IT IS THE WATER PUMP!!!! END OF STORY!!!! I ALSO HAVE A '97, MINE HAS 172+, WATER PUMP IS BAD!!!!!
REPLACE THE WATER PUMP!!!!

 

Wasn't the pump, threw a tensioner on there today and the noise is gone.

 

Glad to hear it was just the tensioner. Mine is the water pump. Replaced everything else first.

 

Yeah, I can see how that would cause a similar sound... The fact the tensioner was so easy to find... figured why not just replace it... thanks for your .02 though, greatly appreciated.

 

I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS WITH MY BELT SQUEELING....IT WAS THE ONLY PLASTIC PULLEY ON THE ROVER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, WILL BE ON THE TOP LEFT....HAVENT HAD A PROBLEM SINCE.....MY MECHANIC CHECKED WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND THAT WAS THE ONE MOST COMMONLY REPLACED......HOPE THIS HELPS

 

I replaced my first tensioner under warranty at around 32K.