[Zew]

Originally Posted by SnatchBlock

Here is the Durango alternator intalled in the Jeep. It has an extra groove in the pulley so I didn't use the farthest groove.

aren't you worried that the belt will slip outward causing a misalignment then go flying off?

[crusher242]

No one has posted any trouble with it yet. I've been running mine like this for 6 months now and haven't had any problems. No irregular marks on the belt either. I would only worry about it if you're revving it crazy high for whatever reason.

[SnatchBlock]

Originally Posted by Zew

aren't you worried that the belt will slip outward causing a misalignment then go flying off?

No. I have about 3000 miles on the durango alternator so far and no problems. I have had the engine bounce off the the rev limiter for a short period of time and there is no evidence of the belt fluctuating or excessive wear.

I am not aware of any way to align the belt on the TJ. There was not evidence of misalignment before I did the swap, so misalignment should not be an issue after I did the swap. The alternator just bolts onto the mounting surface. If alignment is good before you replace it, it should be good after.

I just kept it simple and left the durango pulley on.

[GREASEMONKEY]

I'm not trying to say it's gonna happen, only that having an unused groove on the pulley leaves the posibility for misalignment. The most common pulley to have misaligned is the power steering pulley. I was only fore warning of the posibility! It is possible, and can happen. Not to mention it only takes about 30sec to swap pulley's!
From a technician's point of view, it's impending doom. I see sutch a variety of things go wrong, I carry lots of spare parts & tools.

[SnatchBlock]

I knew what you were saying in your first post and I wasn't trying to prove you wrong. You brought up a valid point about alignment.

I was just stating my experience with the durango pulley on the TJ and there doesn't appear to be an issue with alignment and I haven't had a problem with it and it is not something that worries me.

I know what you mean, when you say it is possible for it to become misaligned but if the belt is tensioned properly I would have a hard time seeing how it could flucuate or jumpoff.

[Ejunior2]

Originally Posted by B_faster

So for us 03 and up guys, specifically 06, which seems to be different in the Autozone system what alternator options do we have. I found the 165 A unit from Load Boss, but it only states up to 05 model year.

Bump for this question. I have an '06 as well with the 4.0L.

[GREASEMONKEY]

Originally Posted by SnatchBlock

I know what you mean, when you say it is possible for it to become misaligned but if the belt is tensioned properly I would have a hard time seeing how it could flucuate or jumpoff.

To see what I am talking about (be cautious) stat the jeep, park brake, and park or neutral, and let it idle out for a min. Pop ya hood, watch the idler pulley, and reach over to the throttle body, working the throttle. You will see how the idler actually fluctuates a bit from various things like the AC compressor clutch going in & out, and the drag of the cooling fan as the fan clutch goes in & out. The drag of the alternator charging actually causes it's own bit of fluxuation, as does a power steering pump.
The tensioner nothing but a spring loaded arm with a pulley on the end. It is constantly moving to compensate, and keep tension on the belt. It's not a big movement, but think of the depth of belt grooving, it's not very deep. That little bit of fluxuation as various belt driven systems cause drag, and release tension. That's where your possibility for jumping a groove comes from.

Looking at the pic, the outter groove is unused, and if it were to jump to that outter groove, the reaction of the belt woud be minimal, and most likely unnoticed to begin with. It would/could cause the belt to be misaligned as it is leaving the last pulley, and entering the next pulley. That would cause the wear on the shoulder of the belt. The center belt grooves would wear as it crossed the alternator pulley, leaving the possibility to slip back into alignment, or run off one of the other pulleys.

Does that make more sense?

[Gary2]

I don't think any one didn't understand your concern . Some are just not as concerned as others I'd say .

[TJamz]

Originally Posted by epeck87

i have a 2000 tj with the 4.0... what vehicle should i look for at the junk yard to pull an alternator out of. i read through this thread already and i either missed it or it wasnt clear what i need to look for. what year durango or other vehicle? does it have to be a v8? with a/c? anything else? thanks

Same question but for a 2001 4.0. Or are they the same? I found a alt off a 02' 5.9L Durango. What's plug and play for these years?

[EaglesSJ]

So what alternator will work with the 03 and up jeeps? I am wanting to upgrade mine as well. I am looking for a direct bolt on type thing though. Not a bracket fabrication project.

[crusher242]

A good way of finding out is going to Autozones site and bring up different years of dodge v8 alts and look at the pictures. This will give you an idea of the connectors involved. I found mine through trial and error. A 98 Dakota 5.2 and a 98 GC 5.2 have different connectors, so you could probably start there.

[Richd1963]

I am also interested in getting a bigger alt. Anymore folks out there have success with this? My 05 4.0 needs more juice. The sterio bumps and dims the headlights.

[dbbd1]

See my post #17

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f9/update-hi-amp-alternater-swap-918908/index2.html#post8742021

[dbbd1]

I could not find one in a junkyard, besides for the price a new one with warranty...



I went with new.

[arveetek]

I'll have to do some research for my '97 2.5L. I don't have the plug connector, but instead a flat bar connector that's bolted onto the back of the alternator on two small studs.