Alternator clutch pulley warning

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

How does the tensioner move? On this diagram, left, right, down? I'm going to attempt this tonight.

CATCRD · **Posted:** Thu Jul 09, 2009 3:13 pm

The tensioner pulley is #7 and its pivot point is to the left and just down, at about 8 o'clock. So you have to put a wrench on the pulley nut and move the pulley down by pulling clockwise on it.

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

CATCRD wrote:

The tensioner pulley is #7 and its pivot point is to the left and just down, at about 8 o'clock. So you have to put a wrench on the pulley nut and move the pulley down by pulling clockwise on it.

Thanks, I'll give it a good try!

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

Got the belt off and back on however that decoupler on the alternator would not come off. I stripped the dealers tool, broke my 1/8 drive socket wrench, broke a 10mm socket. Tomorrow I'm going to find myself a very high strength socket that is 1/4 drive. That sucker must be rusted on or something.

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

I found out after my home made decoupler removal tool did not work, that the best bet is to follow another lost suggestion and use an impact wrench with a 17mm allen bolt socket to remove the decoupler. A 17 mm allen bolt socket can be made up by cutting up aa 17mm allen wrench and using it with a 17mm impact socket. You have to remove the alternator to do this, but this only takes about 15 minutes at most.

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

You know what..........it helps to turn the wrenches the correct way, lol. I still broke a 1/4 drive socket wrench though turning the correct way. Got the pulley off and the new one on and its soooooo nice not to have a bird chirping away in my engine. Thanks for the help guys, its a super easy job once you do it. I could probably do it in 15 minutes now.

damo4runner · **Joined:** Wed Aug 01, 2007 7:07 am **Posts:** 100

Ok guys how do I order one of these pulleys from your side of the world from a company that will post to AUSTRALIA cause the stealerships here want $245.00AUD which is about $191US dollars. Seriously I don't need to buy shares in the company I would just like the chirpping bird under the bonnet to go for a long sleep. Moparpartsamerica says they only ship to US addresses. So does anyone know of a parts mob over there that would ship internationally. Thanks heaps from down here in AUSTRALIA

tomasnc · **Posted:** Thu Aug 13, 2009 8:01 am

I have found this post very helpful.

I use an alternator/starter rebuilt shop quite frequently to repair our equipment. Their opinion is that the Linten style de-coupler is it is junk..... these guys see too many failures.
Not to mention you don't see this type on other diesel equipment.

I'm having them replace my de-coupler with a solid pulley.

I'll report my findings.

Tom

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

I tried that to with a solid pulley, you will notice that the tensioner will jump around a lot and there will be a lot more pressure on the alternater shaft when starting and shutting down the engine. I guess that is why they redesigned the original part. I replaced the solid pulley in about 1 week with the new part # 53013554 AE cost at my jeep dealer was $53.00 also replace that cap that covers the front of the pulley. The alternater shaft if left hand thread so I just hand tightned mine and reinstalled the belt. 1 year and no noise and no chirping 25k so far.

CATCRD · **Posted:** Thu Aug 13, 2009 8:49 am

tomasnc wrote:

I have found this post very helpful.

I use an alternator/starter rebuilt shop quite frequently to repair our equipment. Their opinion is that the Linten style de-coupler is it is junk..... these guys see too many failures.
Not to mention you don't see this type on other diesel equipment.

I'm having them replace my de-coupler with a solid pulley.

I'll report my findings.

Tom

When the clutch seizes up you DO have a solid pulley. The noise is raucous and the stress on the belt and accessories is much greater. I predict you will not like the solid pulley.

tomasnc · **Posted:** Thu Aug 13, 2009 9:18 am

CATCRD,

You make a good point

Thanks

Tom

tomasnc · **Posted:** Fri Aug 14, 2009 12:44 pm

I picked up the alternator from the rebuild shop, got home and re-installed.

Started the car up and 5 seconds max. the nut holding the new solid pulley backed itself off and threw the belt.

Long and short of it.... I couldn't find the nut that holds the pulley on so I was S.O.L.

Not the mention that there aren't enough threads to hold the solid pulley.

The owner of the shop that sold me the pulley looked at his repair and said " you know there aren't that many threads after all"

He had initially said that he had converted several of this type.

Anyhow, CATCRD was right on point and I should have replaced with the decoupler.

I'll have another decoupler tomorrow from the Jeep dealer for $66.32

Their first price was $80.00 something, I mentioned the internet price. She did a little better and that number is freight allowed.

I called another dealer and his list price was $96.00 :shock:

I mentioned the internet and "would you like 10% of something or 100% of zero." He got zero!

Thanks guys for all your help.

This forum is great.

Tom

ttarbox · **Joined:** Wed Feb 10, 2010 12:13 pm **Posts:** 11

Fantastic information here..Thanks to all..

I've been chasing this one for a few years; basically every oil change, they've been replacing the idler and tensioner pullys; it is quite for about 500 miles, then the chirp/rattle is back; I suspect the noise would go away briefly with a new, tight belt, then as the belt loosens a little, the noise comes back.

My symptoms are also similar as described: Chirp and rattle at idle; Going from park to drive the rattle/chirp gets louder until you give it some gas..anytime the rpms increase by about 500 (either accelerating or a slight rev up while in park) the sound goes away..

I've had an appointment for a few weeks to get it in again, but it has been delayed due to recent snow events (putting the dealership behind); I just got off the phone with the service manager and told him what I've learned from here and one other site about the alternator clutch pully; he's going to replace it along with the usual idler / tensioner combo..I'm in my last few thousand miles of my 100k extended warranty; we've got to get it right this time..

Thanks again to all who have contributed.

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

I am at 125K and have only replaced the decoupler once. When I hear a little chirp I put some silicone grease on the under side of the belt and that takes care of the chirp or when it is running you can rub a candle on the ribbed side and that will quiet it down also. I am still on my original serpintine and it is very tight, that is when you do the twist test.

ttarbox · **Joined:** Wed Feb 10, 2010 12:13 pm **Posts:** 11

Well...picked it up today..they didn't replace the alternator decoupler..they just replaced the idler and tensioner pulleys again..5th set in 2 years..drove it 30 miles home..rattle is coming back..

I would pitch a fit except they didn't charge me anything..

I called the service manager and told him..he was going to contact Chrysler and see if they can figure something out..

I think it would be easier to just try the decoupler..I guess that will be something I have to do myself.. :roll:

Thankfully, there is some good write-up in this thread on how to do it..

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

It's not hard to do but when you release the tension on the belt and remove it from the alternater make sure you have someone there to keep the belt up so it does'nt fall off the crankshaft pulley I just zip tied the belt to something on top of the engine. Then I removed the alternater so I could remove the decoupler. It is not a hard job at all. While I had the belt somewhat loose I removed the idler pulleys and put some high temp grease on the inside of those pulleys. 70k later and all is very quiet and running very smoothly. The decoupler should not be much over $ 65 good luck.

CATCRD · **Posted:** Fri Feb 19, 2010 11:28 pm

ttarbox wrote:

Well...picked it up today..they didn't replace the alternator decoupler..they just replaced the idler and tensioner pulleys again..5th set in 2 years..drove it 30 miles home..rattle is coming back..

I would pitch a fit except they didn't charge me anything..

I called the service manager and told him..he was going to contact Chrysler and see if they can figure something out..

I think it would be easier to just try the decoupler..I guess that will be something I have to do myself.. :roll:

Thankfully, there is some good write-up in this thread on how to do it..

That's unbelievable that they wouldn't replace the dang pulley!! Do they even know that it's not a conventional solid pulley and that it has a one way clutch inside it? Pop the little round cover off the front of it and see if it's full of red dust. I GUARANTEE it's the alternator pulley!

JIMMY JEEP · **Posted:** Sat Feb 20, 2010 8:08 am

When my alternator pulley wheel started getting noisy i replaced it ,didnt know the Miller tool existed so i removed alternator from car(limited access for air tools) placed it on a bench and used an air impact gun to whizz it off, i think it the speed and shock of the air wrench that allows it to come off. Worked for me anyways thought i was going to have to split alternator down and hold/lock the shaft to get it off but was really easy using this method ,would have been even easier if i were able to do it in situe but there isnt enough room.

Drewd · **Joined:** Mon Feb 06, 2006 12:24 pm **Posts:** 902

How easy is to move the belt tensioner and is a special tool needed? I need to replace my belt, its in fairly rough shape.

Thanks,
Drew

JIMMY JEEP · **Posted:** Sun Feb 21, 2010 7:02 pm

You dont have to remove the tensioner to remove the serpentine belt ,its spring loaded and if you place a spanner on the nut and apply pressure you'll be able to slip the belt off and new one on.

Alternator clutch pulley warning

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