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Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go hereXJ (84-01)
All OEM related XJ specific tech. Examples, no start, general maintenance or anything that's stock.
Hi folks. I'm trying to swap my alternator and I can't get the old one out.
Bleepinjeep on YouTube made it look so easy and took about 15 seconds to maneuver the old one out through the fan area right in front of the alternator housing brackets. I have been turning my old alternator over and over in the little area trying to get it out and it won't seem to fit any way I try.
Do I need to remove the fan or something? What the heck?
By the way : 1992 Cherokee Laredo, 4.0, AW4 trans. I believe the old alternator is the stock one, it looks about the same as the one I pulled from a 98 in the junkyard.
Remove the bracket bolted to the timing cover. Or position the alternator between two fan blades, letting the fan spin as the alternator rides its way out between them. Pulling the fan works, too. Whatever works best for you.
Are you taking it out from the bottom? In my '00 I take it out from the top. Of course you do have to remove the battery box but IMO worth the extra work. And since I have a front skid I have no choice anyway. Easier for me to do it that way instead of removing the skid. The skid was pretty heavy, at least I think so, and was not easy for me to get on by myself when I first put it on.
I had the same prob when I did mine. Ultimately, I ended up removing the entire alternator mounting bracket (several fasteners). I spent WAY too much time trying to get it out before doing the bracket, I should have just started with that. After the fact, I remember thinking that if I had put a block of wood under the oil pan and lifted the motor by about 1/2 inch, I might have been able to sneak it out. But I never got to test that theory.
I've removed the battery and the battery box to try getting it out the top and it still barely won't fit, got a metal pipe coming from the radiator making the gap just too small. I think if I remove the top alternator bracket like a previous reply suggested it will give me enough room. I'll find out today!
Thanks guys, this community is awesome. I would never have bought a messed up 92 if this forum wasn't around as a resource.
I've removed the battery and the battery box to try getting it out the top and it still barely won't fit, got a metal pipe coming from the radiator making the gap just too small. I think if I remove the top alternator bracket like a previous reply suggested it will give me enough room. I'll find out today!
Thanks guys, this community is awesome. I would never have bought a messed up 92 if this forum wasn't around as a resource.
Guessing '96 down is different then '97 and up. Once you remove the belt and battery box comes right out.
On my 96, the AC lines are in the way. It was tantalizingly close to coming out, but just couldn't. I tried every conceivable orientation and route. That's why I said I bet if I had lifted the motor by even 1/2" it probably would have worked. But I ended removing the brackets instead and never got a chance to test the other approach.
I removed brackets from underneath on my 95. I also removed the fan clutch (easiest to do when the belt is still on so it doesn't spin when trying to break the bolts free). I had plenty of room without that bracket and fan in the way.
remove it from the bottom.
you will still have to twist and turn it as you lower it out, but it will come out a lot easier from beneath. almost impossible to remove from above. i've done many, even while on the trail.
the new one will go in the same way, but it is usually a lot easier to get it up and in. takes both hands, but should go pretty easily.
Trouble swapping alternator
