Parts store 3G

[HISSIN50]

Hello guys,

I need some feedback. The alternator in the 88 GT vert seized today. Horrible noise and then it tossed the belt. Grrr. Oh yeah, the pulley cut itself off from the alternator. LOL. No sense in trying to fix this POS, right? The previous owner had it installed (generic alt) about 3 years/7K miles ago.

What are your experiences with parts store 3G's? I really dont want to be w/o the car for a week-plus, while waiting for a mail-order alternator to arrive (I am doing work on the 94 as well).

I think I might end up doing mail order anyhow (alterstart or PA) - are there others which are decent? But has anyone had luck with parts store reman'd stuff (Duralast, etc)?

Thanks for any thoughts.

 

[Mustang5L5]

My alt is a reman Pep Boys 130AMP 3G alt for a '94 Mustang.

Been on the car for at least 3 years...no problems.

 

[8950HO]

From what I`ve heard and read in the past,the "parts store" alternators are rebuilt as cheaply as possible and tend to have a higher failure and return rate.
Try a local rebuilder where you can ask about the quality of the parts used and possibly have one built with better parts.
I`m not 100% sure on this but I think that there are three quality levels when it comes to alternator parts,eg,low budget,OE,and heavy duty top of the line.

Is this a 75amp unit?If it is consider doing the 3g upgrade instead.

 

[HISSIN50]

Yeah, it is a 2G and will be a 3G.

I spoke too soon - I looked up some parts store prices. I might as well just get a good unit from PA, etc (new 3G's here are listing for ~$185 bucks at parts stores).

Mike thanks as always for the input. I checked the service records - the existing unit appears to be a Pep boys special. I have had bad luck with parts store alts before, and I really think it just comes down to luck of the draw on whether you get a good one.

So with the thinking that I will get a 3G online, the options are PA and Alterstart? I cant even find the latter on ebay (noted for having good ebay deals). I did find units like this on their site:

http://verizonsupersite.com/4alters...n/sitesearch.nhtml?query=mustang&catuid=10013

I appreciate any thoughts or feedback (my recollection was that Alterstart units have a lifetime warranty, might include wiring upgrade kit and are pretty cheap).

Jason is the only one I can think of who runs on (I think). Hmmm, might have to PM him.

I appreciate any thoughts or feedback.

 

[The Shape]

Sorry to hear your alternator shat the bed JT , but atleast it means you have a reason to upgrade. I would say you are doing the right thing with the mail order unit. In my experience the parts store units are very hit or miss. The one on my 5.0 came from advance auto and has worked perfectly for over a year. I bought one recently for the 4-popper and had to make 2 trips back to the store to get one that would charge. Both of these were stock replacements.

 

[Michael Yount]

I was extremely pleased/impressed with my 95A 2G model and installation kit from www.pa-performance.com. Great customer service, idiot-proof instructions, all new components -- great value in my opinion. Most store bought units (your typical AutoZone unit) are mass-remanufactured units. The only thing bad about the lifetime warranty that comes with many of them is that it seems lots of people have to utilize it every year or two.

 

[HISSIN50]

Thanks for the reply Michael. I have pretty much written off using a parts store unit, given the prices.

PA is some pricey stuff. I might try out an Alterstart unit. The prices seem decent and it seems like folks like the units (I finally got a chance to search threads).

If money were no object, I would be getting a PA unit with the wiring kit. Right now it looks like I will be at about 150 shipped for the alt and then piece-mealing the wiring upgrade.

 

[Grn92LX]

I'm going on 3 years with my pep boys 3G. I returned the first one due to a noise I didn't think was normal. I agree w/o a doubt the PA performance unit is better. Only problem is you gotta order it and if you have a problem with it, you gotta return it for the warranty which means a good week at least of down time. I'd like to pick up a PA performance 3G and keep my pep boys 3G as a spare.

 

[BlackFox5.0]

My alt is a reman Pep Boys 130AMP 3G alt for a '94 Mustang.

Been on the car for at least 3 years...no problems.

Same here, but I actually use mine

 

[whitenblu89]

im using a junkyard one. ive had it on for over a year and its going strong. they yard gives a lifetime warranty. youll get another used one for free if it fails..

 

[trents99]

The parts store I went to took my '89 alt as a core on the 3G so it brought the price down $50

 

[Michael Yount]

JT - if you think about things in terms of 'best value' over the long term, then 'pricey' looks different.

 

[blown1989saleen]

its like any other repalcement part, depends on where you buy it, I myself would stay away from an alternator from Pep Boys

 

[Daggar]

Hiss-

If you're going to mail order anyway, then maybe one of PA's 130 or 150 Amp 2G replacements is in order? No bracket mods, just drops right in. You will only need to upgrade the the wiring.

 

[Mustang5L5]

Same here, but I actually use mine

True, but technically it still works!!

 

[TRWXXA]

Right now it looks like I will be at about 150 shipped for the alt and then piece-mealing the wiring upgrade.

I highly recommend getting the PA Performance wiring kit, even if you get the Alterstart alternator. Wiring is something you really want to get right on an alternator upgrade.

The "Mega fuse" holder alone costs something like $15 without a fuse (and don't skip putting an in-line fuse in the wire -- it's cheap insurance). I figure it would cost $45 just for the parts purchased separately, plus a few bucks for shipping the parts you can't find locally.

Since the kit comes pre-assembled from PA Performance I consider it a bargain.

 

[HISSIN50]

I am still figuring out which unit to get tomorrow. The Alterstart is a bit cheaper and they are closer to me, which is kinda cool.

Michael, I had told myself I would use a PA unit when the time came. But I am doing work on the pool right now, the freezer in the garage just took a poo poo (and smelled like it, LOL), etc. You know how it is - you have one car torn apart and are driving the other. Then the driver takes a poo....... I just want to get an alt tossed in there.

I am still figuring out what makes the most sense and I appreciate all the feedback guys.

 

[04sleeper]

I used a Duralast from Autozone. $109 with a lifetime warranty like mentioned. It lasted 5 years before it died, but just took it back and got a new one and was back in business in less than 10 minutes.

Eventually EVERY alternator will die or stop working. With PA you will have to mail your old one back and wait if it died. With the Duralast I just drove down to the parts store and picked a new one up. It's only 2 bolts and a couple plugs. 10 minutes tops.

Not too bad for 5 years.

Just my .02

 

[Insane3D]

You might want to see if any of your local stores carry new Bosch 130A units for the '94-'95. It will probably be the same price as a PA unit, but you might be able to get it faster...

 

[Insane3D]

I was extremely pleased/impressed with my 95A 2G model and installation kit from www.pa-performance.com. Great customer service, idiot-proof instructions, all new components -- great value in my opinion. Most store bought units (your typical AutoZone unit) are mass-remanufactured units. The only thing bad about the lifetime warranty that comes with many of them is that it seems lots of people have to utilize it every year or two.

I have the 95A 3G model as well, and it's a solid unit.

Hissin - Make sure to upgrade the wiring if you can, the stock wiring is scary...