🔧 Grand Cherokee - Serpentine Belt Replacement

The serpentine belt drives the alternator, A/C compressor, water pump, and other accessories. On your Grand Cherokee, you’ll remove belt tension with the automatic tensioner, slip the old belt off, then route the new belt exactly the same way.

Difficulty Level: Beginner | Estimated Time: 1-2 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• Engine must be completely off and cool before starting.
• Keep hands, hair, and clothing away from the belt path and pulleys.
• Do not pry on the tensioner with a screwdriver; use the correct wrench or breaker bar.
• If the belt is cracked, glazed, or missing ribs, replace it right away.
• No battery disconnect is required for this repair.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• 3/8-inch drive breaker bar
• 15mm socket
• Ratchet
• Belt routing diagram
• Safety glasses
• Mechanic gloves
• Wheel chocks
• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Serpentine belt - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground.
• Set the parking brake.
• Let the engine cool fully.
• Open the hood and locate the belt routing label under the hood or near the radiator support.
• Take a photo of the belt routing first.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Locate the belt and tensioner

• Open the hood and find the serpentine belt at the front of the engine.
• Find the automatic belt tensioner. It is the spring-loaded pulley arm that keeps the belt tight.
• Use the belt routing diagram to study the path before removing anything.

Step 2: Release belt tension

• Place the 15mm socket and 3/8-inch drive breaker bar on the tensioner arm bolt.
• Rotate the tensioner in the direction that unloads the belt.
• Slip the belt off one easy-access pulley while holding the tensioner back.
• Keep a firm grip on the bar.

Step 3: Remove the old belt

• Slowly release the tensioner with the breaker bar.
• Remove the belt from all pulleys by hand.
• Inspect the belt for cracks, glazing, fraying, or missing ribs.

Step 4: Inspect pulleys and tensioner

• Spin each accessible pulley by hand.
• Check for roughness, wobble, or noise.
• If the tensioner feels weak or jerky, it should be replaced before installing the new belt.

Step 5: Route the new belt

• Compare the new belt to the old one to confirm length.
• Route the new belt around all pulleys except one easy-access pulley.
• Make sure the ribs sit fully in the grooved pulleys.
• Use the belt routing diagram to confirm the exact path.

Step 6: Install the belt on the last pulley

• Use the 15mm socket and breaker bar to rotate the tensioner again.
• Slip the belt onto the last pulley while the tension is released.
• Slowly let the tensioner return to its stop.
• Double-check that the belt is seated correctly in every pulley groove.

Step 7: Final inspection

• Inspect the entire belt path by eye.
• Look for belt ribs centered in the pulleys.
• Make sure the belt is not twisted and nothing is misrouted.

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✅ After Repair

• Start the engine and watch the belt for 30-60 seconds.
• Listen for chirping, squealing, or slapping noises.
• Turn the steering wheel and switch the A/C on to confirm normal accessory operation.
• If the belt walks off a pulley, shut the engine off immediately and recheck routing.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $140-$260 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $35-$85 (parts only)

You Save: $105-$175 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 0.8-1.2 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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