Idler Pulley Replacement

[legalfee]

I have a 96 5.2 Grand Cherokee Ltd. my idler pulley is shot and has tore up my belt. How hard is it to replace this pulley? Thanks for any input. SJ

[dksob81]

The pulley is very easey to replace. If you have Changed a tire before then you can change the idler pulley.

Loosen and remove the belt, then unbolt the idle pulley. The belt tensioner has a 15mm bolt, just place a 15mm wrench on the bolt turn it clockwise and remove the belt, then using a 14mm wrench on the idle pulley bolt loosen it (counter clockwise) and remove..... see easy....lol

[legalfee]

Well not quite as easy as changing a tire. Had to remove the alternator wiring harness and had no deep well 14mm socket so I'll get one tomorrow. I think lug nuts are a lot easier to get to. SJ

[mateo540]

where did you find the belt tensioner? is it on the bottom/around the power steering pulley? thanks

[dksob81]

On the 4.0L engine the belt tensioner is on the bottom side of the Power Steering Pump you will see a bolt going into the side of the power steering pump. On the 5.2/5.9L engines, the belt tensioner is right under the Alternator.



Legalfee:

Why did you have to remove the Alt. Wiring harness and Why do you need a deep well socket?
All you should need is a 15mm wrench and a 14mm socket (shallow or deep, doesn't matter) and a ratchet, you could use a 14mm wrench but would just be more work. The hardest part of this is just getting around the Fan Shroud (getting your hand down between the fan/fan shroud and engine).

[legalfee]

Needed deep well 14mm because of a long top bolt that had a 12mm(?) nut that holds 3 ground wires. The wiring harness goes right of top of the middle nut and there's no way to get around it.

[dksob81]

Are you removing the Belt Tensioner?

I think I know what you are talking about, but you do not need to remove the tensioner, on the tensioner if you look in the center of the pulley there is a 15mm bolt, just put a wrench on it and turn it clockwise and hold while you pull the bolt off.

[legalfee]

Correct belt tensioner - not idler pulley. Anyway the tensioner I bought had a mounting bracket and I could have taken it off but it'd been just as much trouble. For anyone out there that needs to replace a belt tensioner here's what you do:

1. Remove the belt by turning the tensioner clockwise with a 15mm ratchet.
2. Remove the battery hold down and battery
3. Remove alternator wiring and AC sensor wire
4. Remove dipstick hold down bolt (to get to middle 14mm nut)
5. Remove 12mm nuts (2 - top and bottom) and ground wires
6. Remove tensioner mounting bracket (3 - 14mm nuts)
6. Remove coil wires
7. Remove coil / coil mounting bracket and tensioner / tensioner mounting bracket
8. Installation is reversal of this procedure.