So my Alternator Died...

"Viggen" (viggen37) 12/14/2014 at 17:52 • Filed to: None

1

15

Went off roading with my friend who's got the bright green 1980 CJ7 again. Actually got the XJ dirty today. Hit some pretty good trails today. Still amazed at what a stock Jeep can do. I even lost my muffler! She sounds so much meaner now.

But after we washed down the Jeeps and got some lunch at Taco Hell Bell, my Jeep started to lose power. Gauges and radio started to flicker. Engine began to sputter. Jumper cables didn't solve the problem, so it was decided amongst the six of us there that it was my alternator. Probably the original anyway.

I'm so glad it died on an actual road and not on the trails.

A trip to O'Reilly's for a new battery and alternator it is. Also buying D Rings and a tow hook.

blacktruck18 > Viggen 12/14/2014 at 17:59

1

I hate you for living in a state that doesn't require front plates. But, props for using your keep as intended and good luck getting everything fixed.

Viggen > blacktruck18 12/14/2014 at 18:02

0

She's probably going to have to wear front plates come 2018 or 2019 if I choose to return to Massachusetts.

JGrabowMSt > Viggen 12/14/2014 at 18:05

0

Get a new serpentine belt while you're at it, no sense to re-use the old one, considering most belts are only $15-20.

desertdog5051 > Viggen 12/14/2014 at 18:05

0

Love those XJ's. They give a CJ a good run. We do the big arroyos at high speed in my friends. What fun is had.

Tohru > Viggen 12/14/2014 at 18:26

0

>voluntarily moving to Taxachusetts
>2018/2019

Viggen > Tohru 12/14/2014 at 19:02

0

It's my home! I miss the North Atlantic and snow and lobstah roles and chowdah.

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > Viggen 12/14/2014 at 19:06

0

You'll find that the alternator sits pretty low in the engine bay. It doesn't take much of a muddy splash to do it in, although the front skid plate (oem or aftermarket) helps in that department a bit. Also, I'm pretty sure that the '96 still uses the power steering pump as a serp belt tensionner. Don't unbolt an idler!

One thing about tow hooks... even the factory mounts aren't brilliant. I've seen a couple bent frame horns because of that. It's always best to tie the two together with a solid bumper (not the thin oem ones) or a trailer hitch or something. Even with HD tow hook brackets on my MJ, I had them bend in a not-perfectly-straight-ahead pull. Another thing; the "frame" is a couple layers of stamped steel, so it's a BAD idea to weld to it. You'll just pull off the top layer. Bolting is always the way to go, so long as you can evenly distribute the load with some kind of backing plate.

Viggen > gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee 12/14/2014 at 19:18

0

I'll be at work, so a friend of mine will be doing it. Beer is the best form of cash. My XJ's a '95 so it probably does still use it. I'll let him know that.

That's all the frame is? That's going to make replacing my right rear shock mount interesting. I was planning on having a new one welded on. Yes, I've been offroading on only three shocks.

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > Viggen 12/15/2014 at 00:41

0

It is a unibody, after all. The shock mounts are likely more reinforced than that, and you can probably get away with welding them back on. That said, it may still be better finding a used mount at a wrecker, but you never know. I don't really know how the XJ's rear end is set up, though, as it's completely different from the MJ. Doors forward they're identical, but the back? Not so much.

Three shocks = better articulation. Or so they say. It seems like everyone has some part of the suspension they pull off for "better articulation". With a history of FSAE suspension, I want to yell "NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!" every time someone says that. Sway bars, maybe so long as you're not on the road, but the other day someone took off one of the upper control arms, and expects the other one to hold up under almost twice the load. Not to mention he now has basically no caster control on that side at all... SMH. But I digress. Either way I can guarantee you're not the only one who's knowingly set out on incomplete suspension.

Viggen > JGrabowMSt 12/18/2014 at 00:00

1

Ended up having to get a new one. Mine was really dry rotted.

JGrabowMSt > Viggen 12/18/2014 at 00:01

0

One less thing to worry about now!

Viggen > JGrabowMSt 12/18/2014 at 00:03

0

Pretty sure it was the original. Alternator was. 170,000 miles and both were still working. This solved my starting issue too.

Viggen > gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee 12/18/2014 at 00:04

0

So, that serpentine belt was a pain in the ass!

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > Viggen 12/18/2014 at 00:34

0

Yeah, it can be a bit annoying the first time. I've done mine twice now. It was MUCH easier the second time.

Just be happy it's not as bad as a Cobalt's... the official procedure involves the removal of a motor mount...

Viggen > gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee 12/18/2014 at 00:39

0

Hopefully a friend of mine will have sold his Cobalt SS before that happens.