'94 Grand Cherokee Serpentine Belt

[pete44]

Hello...Have a '94 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo (with AC) inline 4.0/6 cyl....tried changing out the serpentine belt yesterday..have a Haynes manual and it stated "some Jeep Cherokee models have an automatic tensioner / some do not"...I looked for a tensioner...did not seem obvious..Haynes described another method of the loosing of 2 rear bolts retaining the power steering pump resorvoir and another "adjustment" nut below resorvoir..tried that...resorvoir "stuck" . ..was afraid to force it too much..pry bar maybe????......thinking about letting an express oil change do it for me....Any help appreciated...Thanks,Pete44

[bringselpup]

That power steering adjustment can be a real stinker. It's a tight spot for my hands. Use plenty of penetrating oil. Locking nut is on the lower front of the bracket if I remember. The adjuster is under (facing it) on the right side.

[hardisk_c]

It's not that difficult, just time-consuming. There are 2 nuts behind the power steering assembly that need to be loosened, but not removed, after that, there's an adjuster screw below the reservoir that is facing toward the driver's side. . . it's really long (compared to most fasteners on the thing) and may take a bit before you can release any tension (I got about an eighth turn's worth of clearance w/ my rachet). After that, its fairly straightforward, R&R the belt, and retighten the tensioner until the belt has about 1/4 in's worth of play (i tested between the power steering assembly & the fan as a reference) and then lock the two nuts back down behind the PS bracket.