How do you replace a belt for a 1996 grand Cherokee jeep?

Answer 1

The serpentine belt has an idler pulley along it's path that has to be detensioned in order to easily put on a new belt. The idler should be near the top of the front of the engine. In order to loosen the tension you will have to get either a large socket (preferable) or a good sized adjustable wrench to put on the bolt in the center of the pulley. I believe that you turn this in a counterclockwise direction and it will ease up on the tension. You should have a sticker on top of the radiator that shows the routing of the belt. Put the belt around all pulleys per the sticker and then with one hand loosen the tension on the idler and slip the belt over the idler pulley. There is no tension adjustment other than what is provided by the idler pulley spring which is built in. After you do this once you'll find it to be one of the easiest repair jobs you can do and the belt is available at any auto parts store.