So I went to replace my alternator only to find out the new one doesn't work with my Jeep. I put the old alternator back since it works for now, but now the belt feels too loose. The belt doesn't move, the alternator makes a weird noise, power steering won't move. I tried to tighten the adjuster bolt and the pulley and they're as tight as I can get it yet the belt won't tighten anymore. Keep in mind everything was working fine before I decided to replace the alternator. �� It's also a 2001 Jeep Cherokee Sport.

 

In an '00 and '01 you crack the bolt on the pulley, 15mm I believe, and then move the adjustment rod behind the bracket in the appropriate direction. Also 15mm I believe. So this is how you are doing it? The adjustment rod fits in a hole at the bottom of the bracket. It does have a habit of coming out of the hole and riding on the bracket. Any chance it is not in the proper position?

 

Yes it's a 15mm. I loosened it to get the belt off. In other videos I've seen the the adjuster bolt actually moves the pulley system. Mine didn't move when I loosened the bolt. I just loosened the belt tensioner and it came off that way. When I went to tighten everything back up, nothing moved back into place.

 

So the rod is frozen in what I circled in the picture?

 

Yes that's the rod. I see it move under the steering pump like it's 'tightening' but the pulley system itself doesn't tighten so the belt feels too loose. Is there a way to move it up by hand or anything to give it some go? I spent all day removing rusted bolts so when I put everything back together it was night time, but all the bolts were right and that adjuster I cranked as much as I could.

 

Are you doing this with the pulley still on but the 15 mm bolt on the pulley cracked?

 

The bolt spins and tightens. I'm lost for why it doesn't 'move' back into position. The belt was tight before I started. I loosened the bolts and now it doesn't get tight. The alternator makes a funny noise when spinning the belt and pulleys and the belt doesn't move when the Jeep cranks up.

 

You need to take everything apart. Make sure the threads are not stripped in the part I circled. Check the threads on the rod too. Only reason that I can see how you can tighten and loosen the rod but the bracket the pulley bolts to does not move. That all can be replaced. Dorman makes one.

 

That's the plan for now. I'm getting a new alternator as well since it seems shot now. It was old to begin with. Other than that I'm lost.

 

If you can find one I suggest you invest in this:


The yeah that looks about right when it comes to belt tension dosen't really work with my '00. The 1/2" play or tight enough to just be able to twist the 90 degrees in the longest distance between pulleys never really was quite right

The specs can be seen here. I use the low end of the range.

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/bel...stions-208779/

Video for using the tool.

 

Sounds like a dumb question, but did you loosen the bolt in the center of the pulley first? Before turning the adjuster?

 

I thought that too stating that in my first post.

 

Yes I did. That's how I got the belt off. The adjuster bolt didn't seem to do anything. I could be wrong. But I loosened both the adjuster and the center pulley.

 

Yeah Ralph, thats probably whats happening. He probably got the belt back on, tightened the pulley bolt, then tried tightening the adjuster.

OP; the pulley bolt still has to be a bit loose while you tighten the adjuster. Once the belt is tight, then snug down the pulley bolt.

If this IS how you're doing it, then i can only guess your adjuster is stripped.

 

I don't think he did. But I had to ask. He said he watched some videos so I am hoping he did things in the proper sequence. Belt is 10 minute job. Takes me longer to get the tension right when using the belt tension tool then it does to get the belt off and on. LOL. My '00 is funny with the belt tension. My experience has been it has to be just so. My '96 I used to own was fine with the "Yeah that looks about right" method. LOL.