How do you change the serpentine belt on a 1997 Jeep Wrangler 6 cyl. with AC?
I can't remember if this has a spring loaded tensioner or a screw type tensioner. If you look at it you can easily tell. A spring loaded tensioner will have a pulley mounted on an arm that swings forward to release the belt and the screw type will have a bolt front to back that you must loosen to release the pulley inside a channel up and down and another screw that you will turn to move the pulley down to release or up to add tension to the belt. With the spring tensioner, you will need to check that the tensioner is holding the belt firmly on and the pulley turns freely. To check the tension, try twisting the belt around so the ribs face outward. You should be able to turn it some (45-90 deg) but not all the way upside down (180+ deg). If you can, the tensioner must be replaced. If it is the screw type tensioner, you need to add tension until you have the belt so you can turn it no more than 90 deg, then tighten the center screw. In either case if the tensioner pulley will not turn freely when you have the belt off you will have to replace the tensioner.
