Alternator on its way out?

[jeeper4life]

So I'm having pulley noise, The belt is fairly new, as i replaced it when I did the water pump about a year ago. I'm gonna replace my tensioner, but i think the alternator pulley is making noise also. At night when you have the headlights on and the A/C compressor kicks on, or you roll a window down the lights will kinda dim, but not much just noticeable though. I think even sometimes they will do it for a split second on their own. As far as I know the alternator is factory. My jeep is a 04 with 117K on the clock..The tensioner is factory too I believe. Thanks for any help!

 

[dude1116]

So I'm having pulley noise, The belt is fairly new, as i replaced it when I did the water pump about a year ago. I'm gonna replace my tensioner, but i think the alternator pulley is making noise also. At night when you have the headlights on and the A/C compressor kicks on, or you roll a window down the lights will kinda dim, but not much just noticeable though. I think even sometimes they will do it for a split second on their own. As far as I know the alternator is factory. My jeep is a 04 with 117K on the clock..The tensioner is factory too I believe. Thanks for any help!

The lights dimming is normal. Most of our Jeeps do that under electrical load. My guess is the AC pulley. Pull off the serpentine belt and spin the pulleys by hand to see which one makes noise/is harder to spin. The alternater is a heavier pully than the rest of them (at least it seemed that way on my friend's Mustang).

 

[jeeper4life]

Ok I see, however even with the A/C off it still squeaks... When the wife gets home from work I will look at it. She didn't want to drive the TJ today..:hands:

I was gonna replace the tensioner and go from there.. kinda slowly narrow it down..

 

[dude1116]

Ok I see, however even with the A/C off it still squeaks... When the wife gets home from work I will look at it. She didn't want to drive the TJ today..:hands:

I was gonna replace the tensioner and go from there.. kinda slowly narrow it down..

I wouldn't replace if I wasn't sure it needed replacing. It takes 5 minutes to pull off the belt. And the A/C doesn't have to be on for the A/C pulley to spin, silly!

 

[tjkj2002]

Try a new tensioner and a new EPDM belt like from Gates or a '02 3.7/4.7 OEM belt.If it is the tensioner the belt is done since that slipping under a load has glazed the belt and may still do it after a new tensioner is installed.

 

[jeeper4life]

Looks like I can get a gates belt at oriellys auto parts. That the right one?

I made a video of me spinning each pulley, I think I was turning them in the right direction they normally rotate. I spent the water pump both ways because its the only one I could kinda get a weird sound out of but for all I know it could just be normal. Turn your volume up!

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[tjkj2002]

That bottom tensioner pulley is bad and the top one is not that far behind.I bet they are screaming under a load.

 

[jeeper4life]

So you think thats my main problem?

 

[dude1116]

That bottom tensioner pulley is bad and the top one is not that far behind.I bet they are screaming under a load.

x2 they both seemed the most...off. They're commonly replaced pulleys so I wouldn't put it past them.

 

[jeeper4life]

Ok, thanks guys, I'm gonna park it until friday when I can replace it and we'll just have to take the TJ everywhere until then.

 

[jeeper4life]

What should I torque the new tensioner too?

 

[tjkj2002]

What should I torque the new tensioner too?

It's not much,like 30lbs/ft.Make sure you use antiseize on the bolt threads as the one in there may not want to come out.Might have to warm up the engine 1st to aid in loosening that bolt.Make sure you use a 6 point socket,no 12 point junk.

 

[jeeper4life]

cool thanks! The old bolt came out fine, Did everything else you suggested. Thanks for all your help.

jeeper 'no more squeaky jeep' 4life