Bad belt tensioner? bad Alternator decoupler? Video Example!

painemann · **Joined:** Sat Dec 20, 2008 7:02 pm **Posts:** 607

Well the CRD stated making a weird rattle or clank sound and it is worsened by the AC. The belt tensioner seems like it is moving around a little to much, what do you think? I will try to get a better video of the sound its making, it seems worse when its at amb temp so I'll let it cool and try it again. Thanks.

Videos are from my phone, so they might not be the best, thanks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_Ots4QHybs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ln9HrIdrC4c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XO6g8NqALoA - tensioner

nursecosmo · **Posted:** Sat Jun 27, 2009 10:40 pm

It sure squeaks like a bad alternator or tensioner pulley. What's up with that long cranking interval in the second video? It should never take that long to catch.

painemann · **Joined:** Sat Dec 20, 2008 7:02 pm **Posts:** 607

nursecosmo wrote:

It sure squeaks like a bad alternator or tensioner pulley. What's up with that long cranking interval in the second video? It should never take that long to catch.

That one was just to show the alt pulley, I pulled the injectors fuse.

yeah that squeak is driving me crazy, but it stop along with the tensioner movement when it is at anything above idle rpm. I had the belt off a few hours ago and all the pulley seem alright, one idler pulley had a very slight bearing noise but it had little to no play. I wish I had another CRD around to compare the tensioner movement too.

Here is a video from about 20 min ago, its dark out so its only really good for the sound. My girlfriend is in it starting it and after she shuts it off and turns it back on (she confused me asking her to turn the AC on with Turn the Jeep off) she turns on the AC and it makes more noise. I'm stumped, Need some help.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H58dyB7EBhU

Want to buy a CRD?

RTStabler51 · **Posted:** Sun Jun 28, 2009 12:19 am

mines made that little chirping noise in the last video for probably 30k now.

KJ 119 · **Posted:** Sun Jun 28, 2009 3:00 am

I've had mine chirping FOR EVER now!
Had belt tentioner changed twice under warranty,only to stast chirping a week after install. :evil:

Worked on Shaggyislandboy's CRD today and was envious of his purring without that dang CHIRP.

I'm looking to replace it again (no longer under warranty-Should be a dang RECALL!).
Anyone know where's the cheapest place to get one?I kinda remember the Aussie guys somewhere saying that there are a few non-VM replacement's that are way cheaper.Toyota and some other one.
Anyone heard of this?

Feel yer pain painemann,that dang chirping makes you not want to use the AC.

wolcott · **Joined:** Thu Nov 10, 2005 4:16 pm **Posts:** 108

Based on the appearance of the alternator decoupler in the photo, I'd say this is your problem. I replaced one at 60,000 miles that had started to chirp, and it was in better shape than yours. I wouldn't let it go, lost members have had trouble with belts flying off or breaking and taking out some expensive items if it is not replaced. It takes about an hour to replace. There are several discussions on what is involved in replacing them on this website. A new one is about $65 from IAT, which is a New York firm that stocks parts for rebuilding alternators.

kccrd · **Joined:** Thu Mar 08, 2007 10:35 pm **Posts:** 267

I replaced mine about 40k ago. Part # was 53013554 AE Pulley- Alt list $74.40 net $53.00 Aug of 08. easy swap but do not let the belt slip off the crank shaft pulley tie it up to keep tension on it. I used a socket on the tension er to take a little pressure off the belt then slipped it off. I took the alternator off the jeep to remove the pulley. Good luck.

RTStabler51 · **Posted:** Sun Jun 28, 2009 11:47 pm

kccrd wrote:

I replaced mine about 40k ago. Part # was 53013554 AE Pulley- Alt list $74.40 net $53.00 Aug of 08. easy swap but do not let the belt slip off the crank shaft pulley tie it up to keep tension on it. I used a socket on the tension er to take a little pressure off the belt then slipped it off. I took the alternator off the jeep to remove the pulley. Good luck.

Did you use the Miller tool?

painemann · **Joined:** Sat Dec 20, 2008 7:02 pm **Posts:** 607

thanks for the info, I'll give it a try. I just cant find anywhere to buy the parts, attempted to search for the site you mentioned but no luck. Where do you guys buy parts?

liberty2.8 · **Posted:** Mon Jun 29, 2009 8:08 am

You should read the following thread. There are a couple of links to places where you can order a new decoupler if that is what you need. I replaced mine a few months ago for around $66. Job took about an hour.

http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=39287&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

painemann · **Joined:** Sat Dec 20, 2008 7:02 pm **Posts:** 607

liberty2.8 wrote:

You should read the following thread. There are a couple of links to places where you can order a new decoupler if that is what you need. I replaced mine a few months ago for around $66. Job took about an hour.

http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=39287&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

Nice, just what I needed! I couldn't find anywhere to buy the darn thing. I was worried that it was going to be more money, I did a search at www.moparpartsamerica.com and can't find anything on that site. Looks like I will have to use the IAT site.

Liberty2.8 did you happen to check out the youtube stuff I posted? Do you think thats the problem?

Thanks again man! You just saved me a lot of searching.

CATCRD · **Posted:** Mon Jun 29, 2009 9:28 pm

All that red dust is a sure sign that your alt pulley clutch is toast. Luckily replacement is a snap with air tools.

liberty2.8 · **Posted:** Mon Jun 29, 2009 9:38 pm

Quote:

Liberty2.8 did you happen to check out the youtube stuff I posted? Do you think thats the problem?

Yes, I did look at the videos but I didn't hear the characteristic squeal in your video but pulley definately had issues of nor turning true. With the short history of those decouplers, I would bet that is the problem.

painemann · **Joined:** Sat Dec 20, 2008 7:02 pm **Posts:** 607

CATCRD wrote:

All that red dust is a sure sign that your alt pulley clutch is toast. Luckily replacement is a snap with air tools.

yeah, that stuck in my head when I pulled the cover and a bunch of rusty dust fell out. I didn't think much of it at first seeing as I haven't seem a decoupler used on an alternator before. But you can't miss the wobble it has, I just saw then tensioner bouncing and figured it was that at first. Once again thanks to you guys on this forum, I saved some time, money and headache. I just hope that it will fix it up so I can deal with the CEL that came on about the same time! I was also thinking about replacing the idler pulleys since they have some miles on them! Thanks!

painemann · **Joined:** Sat Dec 20, 2008 7:02 pm **Posts:** 607

Ok, well I ordered the decoupler ($79) so we will see if thats it, Thanks again for your help everyone.

bbertram · **Joined:** Mon Dec 19, 2005 4:17 pm **Posts:** 144

You should hear my jeep, its got a bit more noise than yours, lol. If this fixes your problem I may look into do this also. Thanks.

ChileanKJ · **Posted:** Wed Jul 01, 2009 10:25 pm

My belt tensioner start to break two monts ago, as the part was $600 in Chile I bought from a dealer in the states, arrived today

, since the first failure I built a piece to keep the tensioner from separating while the part was flying to Chile, but once in a while the belt get loose, one of those times I leave the belt out until I get to home and I keep hearing the whining sound, try these, take the belt out and start the engine, the water pump is attached to the timing belt so no problem to keep the engine runing without the belt. So these weekend I will check the timing belt too, the whining must be there.

painemann · **Joined:** Sat Dec 20, 2008 7:02 pm **Posts:** 607

The decoupler came in yesterday and I just put it on tonight! I read on another post that a 10mm socket and an impact wrench would get it off, so I tried it and I rounded off the 10mm hex head on the alt shaft. I guess I misunderstood, I needed a large allen socket for just impact off the decoupler. As anyone who has replaced it might know the allen socket is large, I didn't have one that big at home so I had to take a ride up my my work. I biggest one we had was a 17mm and it was a perfect fit, thank god.

It seems like it fixed all the issues with the noise and tensioner bouncing. The noise was most evident on hot days and the AC made it even worse, at idle the thing was almost embarrassing to come up to a stop light next to someone. All seems good now, but it was a cool day so to say for sure I'll have to wait for a hot day. Seeing as the tensioner is 90% smoother then it was before, my guess is that was the issue.

THanks to All that replied and helped with this, I would have never thought to look there first. I was looking hard at the tensioner until I heard from you guys. I owe you all a beer for my saved cash/time.

THANKS.

-Chris.

Bad belt tensioner? bad Alternator decoupler? Video Example!

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