alternator - which to buy?
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100Dollar240
- Posts: 39
- Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2004 5:48 pm
- Car: Better than yours.
alternator - which to buy?
I think the alternator on the $100 special has pooped out, although the dash light never came on. Nonetheless, I've scanned all the internet discount joints. Funny how so many are EXACTLY the same price. I did find one supplier who was about 10 bucks less than the rest. There seem to be three brands of re-manufactured units offered by all of them. Bosch, Advantex & Denso. All are close in price.Is there any compelling reason to buy one vs. the other? I'm not looking to exceed OEM specs.Thanks in advance - Ron.
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ricebike
- Posts: 3381
- Joined: Sat Feb 15, 2003 7:03 pm
- Car: 1989 240sx se 5spd (donated to my brother in law)
2002 Quest
2005 Altima - Location: CNJ
exceed OEM specs??? nah, those manufacturers will only meet the specs & do a few design mod improvements; that's about it... just get 1 w/ a lifetime warranty & save receipt in a safe place.
stop by @ your local autozone or fav parts place to have them bench test it fo' free before leaving w/ a rebuilt unit. If u have the time, have them test the rebuilt unit as well, just to see how many amps the rebuilt ones are close to specs... <i miss playin' w/ those testers>
i've seen about 10% of some crappy pepboys brand that fail d/t poor reassembly or just d/t shipping, it seen some abuse...
now, if you want a higher-output alternator d/t some whoop-@$$ sound system, or such,... then look for your local auto specialist.
PS: I just recently joined a wholesale auto parts co. that sells Excel alt/starters... i can get 'em w/ my employee discount, but shipping the item & u shipping the core to me would probably kill the deal.
stop by @ your local autozone or fav parts place to have them bench test it fo' free before leaving w/ a rebuilt unit. If u have the time, have them test the rebuilt unit as well, just to see how many amps the rebuilt ones are close to specs... <i miss playin' w/ those testers>
i've seen about 10% of some crappy pepboys brand that fail d/t poor reassembly or just d/t shipping, it seen some abuse...
now, if you want a higher-output alternator d/t some whoop-@$$ sound system, or such,... then look for your local auto specialist.
PS: I just recently joined a wholesale auto parts co. that sells Excel alt/starters... i can get 'em w/ my employee discount, but shipping the item & u shipping the core to me would probably kill the deal.
Sure, you can get one with a lifetime warranty. A coworker did just that. Got a Prostart brand, and put it on his Datsun. It failed within a month. Got another one for free. This one also failed within a month. Got a 3rd. This one failed in a couple weeks. He then went out and bought a factory one that has lasted several years now. The extra $100 you spend might be worth *not* having to futz with the damn thing repeatedly. I have only heard bad things about Prostart. I can't comment on any other brand, except factory replacements haven't failed on me yet.
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ricebike
- Posts: 3381
- Joined: Sat Feb 15, 2003 7:03 pm
- Car: 1989 240sx se 5spd (donated to my brother in law)
2002 Quest
2005 Altima - Location: CNJ
LOL D... Prostart...yup
I heard it depends on the people who rebuild them in the warehouses... just like when chrysler/dodge had mexicans build some of their crappy lineup in the late 80's-90's...my bro had one of their dodge shadows that were built in mex & it was a total LEMON...
some 10% of the product they stock might be bad just d/t shipping mishaps; heck i know some of those workers would just throw them into the truck & damage the internal components/rectifier bridge/solder joints from the wires to the casing/etc...
when some customers walk in & it tested out good, I would sometimes just exchange it for a newer unit, just to keep them happy <would test that one on the bench as well> & notify that if it's still not working, to trace the wiring & bring in the battery for a free test as well...
It's a crapshoot; but as long as u get it tested on the bench & turns out ok, you're fine.
I heard it depends on the people who rebuild them in the warehouses... just like when chrysler/dodge had mexicans build some of their crappy lineup in the late 80's-90's...my bro had one of their dodge shadows that were built in mex & it was a total LEMON...
some 10% of the product they stock might be bad just d/t shipping mishaps; heck i know some of those workers would just throw them into the truck & damage the internal components/rectifier bridge/solder joints from the wires to the casing/etc...
when some customers walk in & it tested out good, I would sometimes just exchange it for a newer unit, just to keep them happy <would test that one on the bench as well> & notify that if it's still not working, to trace the wiring & bring in the battery for a free test as well...
It's a crapshoot; but as long as u get it tested on the bench & turns out ok, you're fine.