Changing Serpentine Belt

[philsky]

I have a 1999 4.0L 6 cylinder that needs to have the serpentine belt changed. Any tips, tricks, or suggestions to avoid unforseen problems would be greatly appreciated. Some say this is an easy job, others have said it is best to have a shop do this. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance.
P

 

[avyoung]

J

5 minutes tops. Make sure you look very carefully at how they are routed. You may evern want to draw a picture. Somewere on your idler pulley there will be a nut or a hole for a 1/2 inch ratchet to go in you just twist it and the belt will loosen. Then with the other hand you pull the belt off of a pully. Off it pops and you put the new one on. I have not done one on a jeep so I am not sure which way to twist the pully. Just make sure you get it on right. If you don't you will know very quickly.

 

[jeepinstien]

If a 99 model is like a 91 model pack a lunch. You have one long bolt under the alternator ( I think it's the alterator). Loosen the nut and the bolt for the pivot point. I found that an air ratchet works best. It's a knuckle buster by hand. There is no belt tensioner like the rest of the world. Be careful not to over tighten belt because it puts additional pressure on the water pump and cause the bearings to fail.

Did this design change with the TJ's? :?:

 

[jay79cj7]

I just did this on my 2000 Cherokee with the 4.0 last week. I assume a '99 TJ would be the same. It was really easy. It was not quite like my Haynes manual... It said I had to move the power steering to loosen the belt, but actually there is a tension pulley right next to it that you move. If you look at it, you will be able to figure out how to adjust this pulley very quickly. Just loosen the center bolt and turn the adjusting screw. The whole job took me 5 or 10 min, but I dropped a socket into my fan shroud and spent 30 min trying to fish it out. Be careful there. I would say that if you are capable of changing your spark plugs or other similar tasks, don't pay somebody to do this.

My mechanic buddy recommended the Gatorback brand, by the way. It was a little over $25 at the local Autozone.

 

[Snitty]

the tensioner bolt is on the power steering pump... on my yj at least... the 2 rear bolts have to be loosened up, and the bolt securing the tensioner bolt down below should be loosened up... each is a 1/2 inch head... then loosen the 1/2 inch tensioner and tap down on the power steering pump.... that will loosen the belt... had to do it yesterday to change my thermo

 

[PASmokeater]

TJ's also have the long bolt under the alternator...just did this on mine earlier in the year.



Rob 8)