Are remanufactured parts junk? Stranded again

[euhysh]

Can anyone tell me how reliable remanufactured parts are? Something in my distributor died couple months ago, leaving me stranded. I replaced it with a remanufactured dizzy from Pep boys and it suddenly died on me at 70 mph last night after two months of use. Almost got into an accident this time. It's a 95 Honda Civic with over 150k miles.

I'm suspecting it's the dizzy since it died the same way. You guys think it's worth it to buy another remanufactured distributor? Or pay over $400 for a new one from Honda? I see many on ebay for around $150. I'm terrified to drive this car now after over 150k problem free miles...it fails me the worst possible way. Is there something else causing something inside the distributor to go bad? All advice appreciated! Oh yea, I would like to keep this car, since I'm short on cash.

 

[oilboy123]

I would feel better with new myself. I can't say whether anything would cause it to go out. Not familiar with your engine.

What brand reman? Are the ebay ones Honda?

 

[Quest]

For things like timing belt idler tensioner bearings, timing belts, water pumps, distributors, etc. I would only insist on brand new ones from dealerships or OE parts, period.

I've seen too many failures on ccrrapy reman parts to the point where for the same of my life and ultimate safety, I would rather spend more than having my life at-stake.

My 2'c s worth. You can go cheep if you like.

Q.

 

[Steve S]

What exactly failed ? could something else cause the distributor to fail?

 

[crw]

It's a tough call because, for some manufacturers (like VW) the reman parts are better.

 

[twentynine]

I bought a remanufactored alt. from AZ ONE TIME. Came with a free replacemnet warranty. I think I went through a half dozen before I got a good one. It was so bad that everytime I opened the hood on that old chevy the alt bolts would start backing themselves out.

 

[chief]

I bought a rebuilt distributor for my daughters Nissan Altima on a Sunday afternoon when everything else was closed but the big chain auto parts stores. It lasted about 3 months. Bought one then at the Nissan dealership and its still on the car and thats been several years ago. Also learned a good lesson with a fuel pump on the same car. I agree with the post Quest made above and add fuel pumps and thermostats to the list.

 

[Compman1988]

Look at it this way, even the new ones break sometimes, so how good can a reman. be?

 

[tom slick]

I think the fact that it is a reman for pepboys has something to do with it. They don't exactly have a reputation for the highest quality parts.

 

[Chris142]

We won't install a remanned Compressor or water pump at my shop. To much trouble with them.

 

[Jett Rink]

Not sure what kind of 1995 Civic this is (or if it matters), but looking at http://www.rockauto.com for the LX version, I searched for a distributor, and it looks like you can do alot better there than $400 from a Honda dealer. From $139 to $235.

If it was me, I'd check around on some Honda forums to see which, if any, of these brands somebody might have bought from them and see how they worked out. Or from some other online Honda parts supplier. I'd have more confidence in something that Honda enthusiasts have successfully used than whatever PepBoys is pushing.

The one they designate as new Honda part#30105P06A02 they have listed at $138.79.

 

[Cutehumor]

Originally Posted By: twentynine
I bought a remanufactored alt. from AZ ONE TIME. Came with a free replacemnet warranty. I think I went through a half dozen before I got a good one. It was so bad that everytime I opened the hood on that old chevy the alt bolts would start backing themselves out.


I got a new duralast alternator from autozone with lifetime warranty. that was 7 years ago. still on the same one (knock on wood)

 

[98LS-WON]

For the most part, I'd consider them junk. A lot of them are made in Mexico. Cheap labor, cheaper parts.

 

[Greggy_D]

Originally Posted By: twentynine
It was so bad that everytime I opened the hood on that old chevy the alt bolts would start backing themselves out.

 

[alreadygone]

Most remans give good service. My only personal failure was a/c compressor on S10 Blazer.

Also most remans have at least a 2yr warranty, many are lifetime. If replacement is free, I'd try at least one more.

Bob

 

[Buffman]

Sometimes you can't even buy new parts, only remans.

As for new being better than remans? Sometimes no, sometimes new. I had a bosch 100% brand new WP (said that on the box) on my Roadmaster. 11,000 miles later and it was weeping out of the hole. Pepboys or some customer put an F-car pump in the b-car box, so I couldn't get a replacement. I had been reading many guys had the pepboys remans going for at least 2yrs plus no problem. So I went with that and got refunded the difference. That pump has gone 20,000 miles so far (KNOCK on WOOD)

 

[ThirdeYe]

When it comes to distributors from Honda, I wouldn't really recommend going OEM. I've heard of lots of problems from other Integra owners and other Honda owners in general about their coils failing and leaving them stranded. I decided to take out my OEM Distributor and replace it with one I purchased from Distributor King on eBay with higher & lower temperature tolerances to try to avoid this problem altogether. It wasn't re-manufactured either, it was brand new. If I remember right, it was around $175. So far it's been great for the 14 months I've had it in there. I wouldn't buy a re-manufactured distributor, but maybe that's just me. I believe in OEM for most other parts though (Spark Plugs, PCV Valves, Timing Belts, Thermostats [although my Duralast has been great for 15 months thus far, I'll use OEM next time], Alternators [with the exception of AC Delco], etc.) And to answer your other question, the reason distributors seem to fail from what I've seen is that the coil fails because of temperature exposure. There may be other reasons, but that's what I've seen most.

 

[Gary Allan]

I don't think that we've even determined that the reman part failed in this case

 

[onion]

I agree with GA. Sounds to me like the distributor wasn't the problem in the first place.

 

[Donald]

A reman. alt. from a local rebuild shop should be fine, the lowest priced reman from AZ would be [censored]. The lifetime warranty one
from AZ might be OK.