WomanNeedsJeepExpertise

Hey Fellas, here's the logistics:

1994 Jeep Cherokee Sport
1) Whining noise coming from the serp. belt area (belt needs replacing soon)
2) Saw the lights dim out a little
3) Took her to Advance Auto to have battery/alternator/starter checked out. Everything was great, guy said I needed a new pulley but he didn't know which one.
4) Sprayed wd-40 on all of the pulley's hoping to lubricate and obliterate that horrible whining noise.
5) Noise increased one hundredfold but now I know which pulley needs to be replaced because it is screeching and wobbling severely and the belt is slipping off of it.

This is where the fellas expertise comes in: what pulley is this? I would like to walk to Advance Auto, today, and get the part. I don't want to chance the drive.

Thanks for the help guys. Fire away.

bigbadon

I just replaced the idler and tensioner pulleys, cheap and easy fix. While you have the belt off spin the alternator,power steering pump and AC to check for noise or play.

ZINGGG

Idler pulley

Jareduhhh

For future reference, to diagnose which pulley is squealing, spray water or carb./brake cleaner. It'll evaporate. Spraying with a lubricate causes the belt to slip more.

WomanNeedsJeepExpertise

Idler pulley. Ok cool, guys thanks alot.

Is this an easy job? Will I have to remove the fan or can I slip my hands in with a socket and get the job done?

Jareduhhh

You could take the belt off without removing the fan, but the bolt on the idler pulley might be too long. There's only two 5/16 bolts that hold the electric fan in right on top. The bottom has two slots that the shroud slides into to keep it in place. Take out those two tiny bolts and pull the fan out, you'll have a lot more room to work with.

Lowrange2

You have to remove the belt, remove the bolt that holds the pulley on.

Replace the bolt with the new pulley and reinstall the belt.

This is a 20 minute job.


Obviously, you aren't going to have to release the tension to get the belt off...

But you're going to have to release the tension to put it back on.

The easiest way to do this is:

Remove the top of the air filter box
Remove the air filter.
Remove the (2) 13mm bolts and (1) 13mm nut in the bottom.
Remove the air box.
(All that is optional but makes this job WAY easier, IMO)

Now, loosen 2 13mm bolts on the back of the power steering pump bracket, 3 13mm bolts on the front and one on the slider under the pulley. Then under the pump is a long bolt turned parrallel to the grille of the Jeep. Turn that bolt counter clockwise for what seems like 2 days. Now push on the pump. That should release enough slack to reinstall the belt.

Now, turn that bolt clockwise until the belt is tight. (Tight as hell) Now, tighten the rest of the bolts and you're done.

I know the part about the power steering pump is fuzzy but it'll make sense when you look at it.

Lowrange2

The fan doesn't need to come off. I bet I've had to swap 15 idler pulleys and never had the fan off.

freegdr

around 20 dollars at auto zone and belt needs replacement ....

letinsh

And if you want pictures to go with lowrange's description, check out the first few pics in this post.
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f46/1987-wagoneer-limited-97938/#post2231999
(Post #48 if the link doesn't go right to the post)

CCKen

Nice photos Woman. What camera are you using?

WomanNeedsJeepExpertise

Ok, would it make sense to replace the belt today too?

Also, I don't get the whole tightening of the tension thing. I checked out the pics but I'm a little confused. Any simpler terms?

Thanks.

WomanNeedsJeepExpertise

Used my Sony Cybershot Carl Zeiss 7.2 Mega Pixels for the pics.

Lowrange2

Nice pics?

2 bucks says it's a cell phone.

Yes, I would replace the belt today too.

I'm not sure of any other way to describe it.

You have to loosen the bolts on the power steering pump so that it'll pivot and release enough tension to install the belt.

I can't watch youtube videos at work but maybe that'd be a good place to find a How To:


Maybe this one will help, idk. Look around.

Belt tensioner assemblies are the same from 91 to 96. If you can find a How To: on a 96 it'll be the same.

alpine.adrenaline

A tension bolt on the back of the power steering pump will push that pulley closer or further from the rest of them to increase or decrease tension. You'll see a longer bolt than the rest pointing towards the engine on the back of the steering pump.

I think someone else mentioned that you need to replace your belt too. When it cracks like that its time for a new one. And yeah, that pulley is beyond toast.