| One of the more vulnerable points on the | | | | you will likely have to raise the engine slightly. The |
| otherwise very reliable Jeep Cherokee is the | | | | easiest way to do this is with a jack under the |
| alternator. The alternator is located very low on | | | | engine oil sump. Be sure to spread the load with a |
| the engine and is susceptible to damage from | | | | block of wood to avoid damage to the sump. |
| mud and water during off road conditions. | | | | 8. You may also have the slightly bend the AC |
| Usually the first indication of an alternator failure | | | | lines if they interfere with removal of the |
| will be the check engine light. The ECU controls | | | | alternator. |
| the alternator and will detect when it is not | | | | 9. Install the new alternator in place. |
| responding properly to its commands. The second | | | | 10. Lower the engine back into place and reinstall |
| indication will be a drop in voltage. | | | | the mounting bolts. |
| To replace the alternator: | | | | 11. Tighten the bolt beside the mounting bolt if |
| 1. Remove the battery and battery tray. | | | | you loosened it earlier. |
| 2. Remove the air box and loosen the bolts on | | | | 12. Replace the control wiring harness. |
| the power steering pump to loosen the belt. It is | | | | 13. Replace the main wire. And reposition the |
| not absolutely necessary to loosen the belt to | | | | cover. |
| reinstall the alternator but it make sit a lot easier. | | | | 14. Tighten the belt. |
| 3. Working from under the Jeep, remove the | | | | 15. Tighten the power steering bolts and replace |
| main power wire from the alternator. This will be | | | | the air box. |
| the large wire with a cover over the bolt | | | | 16. Remove any wrenches that you may have |
| 4. Next remove the control wires. On some older | | | | left lying around. |
| models these are held in place by a somewhat | | | | 17. Reinstall the battery tray and reconnect the |
| unusual 7mm bolt. There are four bots total | | | | battery and give it a test run. |
| holding this connection in place. | | | | 18. The check engine light should be gone |
| 5. Now, working from the top, remove the upper | | | | immediately and the battery voltage should begin |
| and lower mounting bolts. | | | | to climb. |
| 6. Note the stamped steel stiffener on the front | | | | Note that if you allowed the battery to discharge |
| of the engine that the alternator bolts to. Loosen | | | | before you replaced the alternator, it is a good |
| but do not remove the bolt next to the alternator | | | | idea to charge the battery from a different |
| bracket. This will help get space to reinstall the | | | | source before installing a new alternator. The new |
| new alternator. | | | | alternator can be permanently damaged by placing |
| 7. To get the alternator out of the engine bay, | | | | a high charging load on it at its initial startup. |