shelby5041

hi

i have a question

i have a 1997 jeep cherokee....state police edition

belt screaming bad...i troubleshooted and discovered alternator was seized up.....called around and found out 2 are avail at autozone and oreillys

90 amp or 136 amp

i got the 136 amp version.....and they said it does fit 4.0l 1997 jeep cherokee

nope!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i tried to install it and it wont fit....its about 1/2 inch larger diameter and when trying to install it comes short of trying to line up the alternator with the lower mount..it interferes with the motor when trying to fit......even though all websites say the 136 amp version is compatible....i found out its not......

the one that was in my jeep was a 117 amp upgrade from factory for police version..........but its not avail...only 90 and 136 amp at local auto parts store so i had to get the 90 amp and it fit perfect

any ideas why the 136amp version will not fit on my jeep???? even though it states it is compatible?

any input would be appreciated...

thank you

shelby5041

and fyi....to all of you who wonder if changing alternator on 1997 jeep cherokee is easy or not.........i have never done one and did it myself in about 45min........without removing anything other than the battery...and my vehicle had the skid plate which made slightly harder but i did it......with zero experience...........

shelby5041

45 min to remove and about 15 min to install..........removing was harder due to first time doing this..learning curve

RTorrez1

I really don't understand it. Not what you are saying but why the only show a 90 and a 136amp. I even looked it up for my 98and it says the exact same thing. My 98 came stock with a 117amp. I know that if and when I have to change mine out I wouldn't want to down grade to a 90 amp. If I am not mistaken I thought that I have read something on here about putting in the 136amp but the mounting bracket had to be modified by grinding down some spots.

CCKen

The '97 came from the factory with an alternator having 119 Rated Amps/90 Minimum Test Amps. The stores generally sell alternators at the Minimum Test Amps value, in your case "90 Amps", whereas the Rated Amps for this alternator is actually 119 Amps.

The 90 Amp alternator you bought is rated at 119 Amps.

Don't worry, be happy.

RTorrez1

That makes sense.

shelby5041

thank you but my concern is why do parts stores sell parts that are not compatible with a vehicle AND say they are?

the 136 amp unit will not fit in my vehicle since the diameter is too large and interferes not allowing to be installed without modifying the car

i would have liked the 136 amp........and plus my car is a police jeep cherokee..which i thought came with an alternator upgrade .....i guess mine didnt?

the denso that was in my car was 117 amp... and i was the only owner after owned by state police.....and you are saying the 117 amp was stock

RTorrez1

I wish that I could put in the 136 amp in my 98. I do know for a fact that mine did come with 117 amp. If you want to be sure about yours you can always get your build sheet. You can get it from the link I added.
http://www.jeep.com/webselfservice/jeep/index.html

Demonoid369

Guess you haven't searched much have you? There are write up and such explaining that a 136 can fit our 4.0l but with a little grinding.

As to alternator, I got a 120A from autozone for it, might want to check in to the zj section of theirs, that's where mine came from

CCKen

How do you know you have a factory police edition Cherokee? Did you get your VIN listing from Chrysler?

Do you have an Extended Idle switch on your switch panel? This was factory issue.

I'm not saying a 117 Amp alternator was stock for your '97. The '97 FSM says a 119 Amp (rated)/90 Amp (test) alternator was standard.

I went to NAPA's website and Advance Auto Parts website and took a look at what they offer for a '97 Cherokee, 4.0. Both have 90 Amp and 120 Amp alternators for this Jeep. They did not list a 136 Amp alternator. They show the 90 Amp as standard and the 120 Amp as optional.

NAPA shows the 120 Amp as beng for the '97 and '98 Cherokee, and the 90 Amp as being for the '91-'98 Cherokee.

The best thing you can do is go to the website of an auto parts store near you and determine what they offer (90/120 Amp) and print off the pages(s) you would like, then take the pages to the store and ask them to look at the alternator(s). The paperwork in the box should show both the alternator Rating Amps and the Test Amps. Generally the Test Amps will be the 90 Amps.

belvedere

Some good suggestions and info here. One other thing you could try, is to have the parts store cross-reference the part number on your original alternator.

Demonoid369

I know the 117 was a standard(at least for my 97') because mine had the 117 from factory, the build sheet I got from Chrysler stated that also.

Maybe it was 98' that I looked up for the 120a alt. thought I did the zj alt. as they do have the 136a and 120a as they had the power everything.

shelby5041

well if u have to modify/grind ur car to make it fit....to me thats not truely compatible .....yes i appreciate all the help...i bought my police jeep at a used car place....i do not know if it was factory version..but it does have ext idle button and trans and oil cooler......and no carpet...rubber floors......jr

yarom

I got mine on eBay. They had units at 136, 169 and 200 for $110. Dropped right in. No grinding necessary. Good idea to change the cables to higher gauge at the same time.

colt44

What makes a Cherokee a ''Police version" Just interested to know the differences.