Approximate cost to replace 92 Q45 alternator?

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Valmon
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Car: 1992 Q45

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Does anyone have an idea of how much it would cost (parts & labor) to have an alternator replaced?

I am hoping it just the battery that has died, but I would like to be prepared, just in case.

Thanks All!

Linda


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ceningolmo
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Recently had mine replaced with a "lifetime" guaranteed non-oem unit and a non-dealer mechanic. Was $650 with parts and labor.

I suck... I should have done it myself.

bmwkiller
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Car: '90 Q

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My labor guide lists 4.3 hours. Multiply that times the hourly rate, and add the cost of the alternator.

Valmon
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Car: 1992 Q45

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Thanks for the info!!

Linda

superuber
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bmwkiller wrote:My labor guide lists 4.3 hours. Multiply that times the hourly rate, and add the cost of the alternator.
Thats nuts! I did mine in less than an hour! I also had a lift.

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lino
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I got the dealer to agree to the do it in 2.4 hours. I signed the form and so they were not able to charge more. The car went in at 9:00am and didn't finish until close to 6:00pm. It took the mechanic most of the day to do the job, because he had never did one before and went by the book for the procedure. He didn't take any shortcuts or take any other parts off to make the job easier. I had to pay $70 for the flatbed to deliver the car to the dealer and here is my receipt in Canadian dollars:

*I kept my old alternator (core) and that cost $65 as seen on the receipt


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Q451990
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Just out of curiosity, why did you keep the old one and pay the core charge?

Heath

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lino
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I thought I'd test this one to see what failed and maybe rebuild it too when I get chance. I've rebuilt alternators in the past for 30 days as a volunteer at a shop.

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Q_SHIP
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JESUS!! You got raped!

superuber
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Q_SHIP wrote:JESUS!! You got raped!
Raped is such a harsh word.......we prefer to say victimized!

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lino
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Q_SHIP wrote:JESUS!! You got raped!
I was over 800 miles away and my mother was driving the car when it broke down. I had no choice.

mudpie
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superuber wrote:Thats nuts! I did mine in less than an hour! I also had a lift.
Big difference between what the labor guide calls for and what it can actually be done for. Thats how the shops (and the mechanics) make money.

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Q_SHIP
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The job looks like it would take a half an hour with a play school tool kit.

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elwesso
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Q_SHIP wrote:The job looks like it would take a half an hour with a play school tool kit.
on a Y33!

superuber
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mudpie wrote:
Big difference between what the labor guide calls for and what it can actually be done for. Thats how the shops (and the mechanics) make money.
It would be nice if shops would charge the labor hours it actually took!Thats what we do here. Yes you can still make money, honestly!

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Q451990
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Q_SHIP wrote:JESUS!! You got raped!
Note that his invoice was in Canadian $$ not USD.

Heath

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elwesso
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i dont think its outrageous... $370 +65 core for a remanned alternator here in the states (list price, 320 at joes price).... Stuff in canada is a lot more expensive....

Tax is what is outrageous.... something like 15%

bmwkiller
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superuber wrote:It would be nice if shops would charge the labor hours it actually took! Thats what we do here. Yes you can still make money, honestly!
That would be nice, if you finish every job in less time than the guide book. If you go over, how are you going to justify that to a well informed customer? Or, even if the customer doesn't have a clue, the next time he/she is at another shop (or on some car forum) someone is gonna say "They charged you HOW MUCH!?" Of course the other option is to not charge more than the guide rate, and simply pay your mechanic for 8 hours of labor when he's only billing 6, just as an example. A car from the northeast with a few well placed rusted bolts in places you can't easily reach can be enough sometimes to put you behind. Personally, when I do side work I go by the book. If I go over, that's my problem. If I finish in less, then good for me. It's fair all around though. There are a few exceptions of course. The labor guide I use calls for something like 19 hours to do timing chain guides, but that includes removing the engine. Obviously thats not necessary.

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Jeff Williams
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Lola's new alternator cost $550.00 installed, and the shop kept the car for 2 days. Tony is about 6' and 320#. He was not happy when I came back ot get the car. I told him I pick my battles, and the alternator was definitely not one I wanted to fight. I am 6'-3" and 260#

Q45tech
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It's all about how many Q alternators a tech replaces each and every month vs an entire shop which might not do 1 per year.

superuber
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Q45tech wrote:It's all about how many Q alternators a tech replaces each and every month vs an entire shop which might not do 1 per year.
It's true, the more we do a job the faster or better we get.

As far as going over time, I don't know if I could. Even with factors like tight bolts the time guide has always been way to much. When you wrench every day for 20 or 30 years you get good. We can look at a job before we do it and pretty much say it's gonna take this long. It's one thing to do 50 sets of brakes (DIYer) it's quite another to do 50,000 sets. You get good, it's just how it is. Example: Cavalier front pads, rotors, with a lift and power tools job done in 15 to 20 minutes, correctly with sliders cleaned and hubs cleaned and torque specs. Time guide? A lot more than 15 minutes. As you can see if you know the car and the job, money can be made without going over time guides honestly!

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T45
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If possible, could someone cross reference the Q45 alternator with one from a Mercury Villager or Nissan Quest? I know the amp output is the same but not sure about the casings. If so, this may be a viable alternative.

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DrewQ45
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elwesso wrote:
on a Y33!
AMEN! G50s are a bit*h to do. I learned from a T3 mech that the easiest way is to remove the passenger side tension rod, drop the AC with lines still connected then contend with the hard to reach bolts on the alternator. I cussed a lot but I got it done!... OEM is the only way to go on this job if DIY'ing is your thing. Not something you want to repeat.

...Drew....


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