First post! I just picked up a 99 Cherokee Sport for the winter that I am fixing up. I had some RPM dependent engine noise and I replaced the serpentine belt and idler pulley. Noise is gone, but for some reason the belt will not run fair between the A/C, water pump and power steering pump. The belt is rubbing against the front of the engine, it is not shredding or smoking but I am worried it will wear something out or break and leave me stranded. There doesn't seem to be any front / rear adjustment other than the AC compressor has one more groove and I have tried it front and read. The only thing I've changed is the idler pulley. I tried putting the old belt back on and that rubs as well. Has anyone had this problem?

 

the pulley in the front of the pic looks two wide for the belt?

 

this could cause the belt to ride funny on thye other pully

 

^what he said, looks like the A/C compressor isnt original

 

I did a poor job explaining that in the first post. There is one extra channel on the A/C compressor than there is on the other pulleys. I have tried moving the belt closed to the front and closer to the back on this pulley and it still rubs on the engine. The part that is confusing is the old belt rode on the center of the water pump pulley and the only change is the idler pulley. Is it possible it just needs to be tighter? I am doin the "twist to 90 degrees" test, but have read the serp belts need to be pretty darn tight on the 4.0.

 

you can see the ac compressor is not lined up if you tighten the belt to tight it will cause prmeature bearing wear on the bearings on the pulys and water pump

 

Gotcha. Is there a way to adjust the compressor? Here is another pic. The belt is loose but it is riding in the forward groove now, yet still off the back of the water pump.

 

Does the A/C Work?

 

you pic are so close and so big its hard to see any thing it looks like the wrong pull is on ac count the grooves on ac pully and on a nother pully with grooves power steering should be good see if there the same

 

The A/C Compressor does have an extra groove.

 

Just wanted to close this one out - The keen eyes on the forum were correct. It seems like the previous owner put the wrong compressor in. Only 2 of the 4 bolts align to the bracket and the pulley is wider and about half an inch out of alignment.

Thanks for the help.