Need to know the physical size of a battery for a 1996 Cherokee.

Use this site http://www.atra.com and enter Year,Make and Model it gives you Engine,Transmission,# of Speeds.Yes, you are correct looks like you have 44RE.

1. If you have the light switch in the wrong mode the lights will not operate when you open the door.

2. If the interior lights do not operate at all (ie you cannot switch them on and off manually)then you need to check the fuse for the interior lights.

3. When set to the correct mode, the interior lights will operate from a door operated switch so if the switch has failed the lights will either stay on or not operate at all when you open and close the door. Eventually these door switches fail with repeated use and need to be replaced. (Consider how many times the small door switch has been operated since 1996).

Take the old belt off. Place a piece of string around the pulleys in the correct routing location. The length of the string is the length of the belt you would need.

you have to go with the same physical size that you have so it will fit. BUT, get the highest cold cranking amps you can for that physical size. more cold cranking amps in cold weather reall helps at times

You need to use the same size tire that is now on your vehicle, the door label on a lot of Chrysler vehicles do not show the correct size, if your not sure the vehicle has the right size tires on it now you can ask your local dealer for a "options list" for your vehicle, they can get this with the 17 diget vin number off the door placard or the one on your dash visible through the windshield. If your vehicle is a all wheel drive you must have four tires the same size and tread depth, do not replace them one or two at a time.

The brand is of less importance than the battery specs

The battery should be the same group size,same physical size and same Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) as came with the vehicle when new
You sometimes can increase the CCA, after new products come out.
I would sugest the largest CCA Battery, that is the correct Group Size
Around 750 or more CCA

You are correct, you must remove the belt to take the alternator off.

the problem is the anti theft but exactly whats wrong?? i think it would need the dealers machine to put it right

I believe that the general size classification is 24. The next number indicates the position of the terminals. just write down where they are on the batery (such as (+) on the right, away from you when carrying the battery) Most shops have a chart and can tell you which battery is correct. Unless you are planning on selling the vehicle, buy the battery with the highest cold cranking amps (cca) that you can afford. generally they have the longest service life and perform better in hot and cold weather.

front - 6.5" by 6.5" depth- 3"

in dash - 3.5" depth- 2"

back- 6.5" by 6.5" depth- 3"