Rebuilt alternators

COramprat · Jun 25, 2004

I'm wondering if anyone has ever had their alternator rebuilt at an alternator shop. Mine went out in my Expedition about 7 or 8 months ago and I removed it, brought it to a shop, where the replaced the electrical parts. Worked fine until my wife was on her way home from her mother's until, you guessed it, it went out an hour from home, in the rain and it was night. All worse case scenario's. SO I left work early last night to go pick her up...cussing the whole time because I don't believe the quality of the repair is up to snuff.

Have any or you had any experience with rebuilds? Not the remanufactures you get from Auto Zone and such but an actual shop the rebuilds them? I have a 1 year warrenty on the thing but if this just goes out again after 8 months I may as well just buy a new one.

Also does anyone know what parts they replace? Do they make a difference on each alternator or is it generic for all? I'm curious if they have different replacement parts for say a 130 amp alternator compared to 160 amp. My desire is to find out if maybe they used the wrong or inferior parts.

TripleBlk · Jun 25, 2004

My experience is that the rebuild shops cut corners. Lately, I have changed my policy on rebuilds, and will only install NEW water pumps, alternators, fuel pumps, etc. Of course, now I have to pay double or triple, but my time is money, too. If you are broken down on the side of the road, a lot of times it's a question of "How far do you need to go" and "how much money do I have to spend to get there ?"

COramprat · Jun 25, 2004

TripleBlk said:
My experience is that the rebuild shops cut corners. Lately, I have changed my policy on rebuilds, and will only install NEW water pumps, alternators, fuel pumps, etc. Of course, now I have to pay double or triple, but my time is money, too. If you are broken down on the side of the road, a lot of times it's a question of "How far do you need to go" and "how much money do I have to spend to get there ?"

I'm beginnning to see it your way. I don't buy cheap brake pads because they wear out too quickly. I don't buy cheap tools because they break easily (especially that Chinese made crap, I have 2 Craftman floor jacks sitting in my utility room now that barely lasted a year. No, Craftsman doesn't make all of their stuff in the US).

I guess I'll have to breakdown (pun inteneded) and get a new one. Although the reman I put in my Stang seems to be fine. It's been on for a year and a half with no problems.

Anyone else have these issues with rebuilt alternators?

Rebuilt alternators

COramprat

...I can take it. I think.

TripleBlk

Member

COramprat

...I can take it. I think.

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Rebuilt alternators

COramprat

...I can take it. I think.

TripleBlk

Member

COramprat

...I can take it. I think.

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