I picked up a cheap ($35) alternator from a junkyard as a temporary fix after mine crapped out in between paychecks. Upon closer inspection, I realize that the guy had given me an alternator out of a 2002 grand Cherokee, not the 2000 Cherokee I had asked for. (They had advertised an alternator for a 2000 Cherokee, which was supposed to fit my 1999) When I spoke to my friend who also owned XJs, he told me that the alternator for my grand Cherokee won’t fit on an XJ, because they’re in different positions on the engine. Can anyone confirm or debunk this for me? I need to put it in tomorrow and get my XJ back on the road, but if I have to take it back to the junkyard and trade it for the correct one, I need to know.

 

You can use a Grand Cherokee alternator, just not a 99+ Grand. It has to be from a 98 or older grand. If it looks like this, it'll work.

 

I think I have a problem, if that’s the case:

 

Thanks for showing me that alternator. The one they had given me was half again as big, and was never gonna fit.

Luckily, they traded me for the right one, and Fiona is once again in one piece.