Sigh.... Alternator died

[Nick R]

So, to add injury to insult, I was driving to work tonight, when all a sudden the lights and gauges dim, and the evil little battery light on the dash comes on. So I pull over into a nissan parking lot and I have to wait for my mom and dad to come out. She drove me to work and dad drove the car home. Literally pulled into the driveway and lost all power. Looks like the alternator finally bit the bullet. Dang..... Ugh.

 

[Pablo]

Probably not real expensive or super hard fix. Good luck!

 

[Nick R]

As an addendum, the options for a replacement seem to be Remanufacture Bosch, remanufactured Denso, a new one from NAPA (brand code is NNE (anyone know what that is?) or a new Remy. What would you pick? The reman units seem to be $50 cheaper with the core return. New ones seem to run $150-$180, reman is ~$100 with a $40 core charge return.

 

[Colt45ws]

New. Although it isnt hard to replace if you get a bad reman.

 

[wirelessF]

Not bad for 130K miles. The alternator on my 1997 F250 @ 138K showed signs of going bad (indie repair shop tested it) and recommended replacing it.

Sucks when you have to find out the hard way.

 

[tomcat27]

the alternator on a cav isn't too hard to replace. as far as rebuilts - starters are the worst. alternators - somewhat better. go new, or if you go reman, go with the one that has the longest warranty.

 

[Nick R]

Ah well. I knew what I was getting into. I've been anticipating it going for some time. I knew the alternators on these tend to go around this mileage, and it's been making noise (like an electronic whistling/whining) for the past 3k miles or so.

 

[Colt45ws]

Mine went at like 60k. For what its worth, it has a ACDelco Reman and it has been good.

 

[el_zorro]

I changed one on my GMC pickup last weekend (lasted 262,000 miles). $150 is good for a new one, so I would go that route if you can get one that cheap.

I paid $140 for a Delphi Reman (Duralast) but it has worked great so far and was an easy change (30 mins). Check your belt while you are at it, Goodyear Gaterbacks are awesome and last forever.

 

[Nick R]

I'm looking at the Bosch Reman (Delphi, with Bosch parts, I guess) or the new Delco-Remy one.

 

[Nick R]

Thanks for the offer, but for the moment I'll pass. My parents are going to foot the bill for this one (for the time being, anyway) but I may take you up on your offer in the near future so I have a spare.

 

[Nick R]

So I found out the new one that NAPA carries is a Rayloc Corp. alternator. Advance on the other hand carries a Delco-Remy new one. Of these, which would you pick?

 

[Stu_Rock]

I looked at the NAPA catalog, and all I find new is "NAPA New Electrical" and Delco-Remy. Can I read from your last post that Rayloc is the supplier of the NNE line?

Rayloc is NAPA's captive alternator/starter supplier, by the way.

Also from Rayloc, I find their premium reman units, sold as "Power Supreme."

I have bought those Rayloc remans. They have been excellent, and they came with roadside assistance (which I never needed).

Between the two new ones, either one is probably fine. Go with the cheaper, or the one with the longer warranty. See if the NNE has roadside assistance.

 

[MNgopher]

Used to like Napa Reman Alternators. No longer. I'm on my third replacement unit in my '99 F150. The last one didn't make it a year and less than 10,000 miles.

My mechanic has also stopped using Napa for alternators and starters in the last year, unless it is the only place that has one in stock...

Draw your own conclusions...

 

[Nick R]

My dad picked up the NAPA reman unit. The unit is identical to the old one (Delphi Automotive Systems) but it works, and the battery is charging up outside now.

 

[Drew99GT]

Originally Posted By: rudolphna
As an addendum, the options for a replacement seem to be Remanufacture Bosch, remanufactured Denso, a new one from NAPA (brand code is NNE (anyone know what that is?) or a new Remy. What would you pick? The reman units seem to be $50 cheaper with the core return. New ones seem to run $150-$180, reman is ~$100 with a $40 core charge return.


Reman with a lifetime warranty.

 

[mechtech2]

Bosch alternator and starter rebuilds are very good.
You pay for this quality.
I can't count how many times people bought cheapo alternators and starters and had to replace them. The exchange warranty from the auto parts store may be good, but what a pain in the derrier!

 

[Stu_Rock]

Originally Posted By: MNgopher
Used to like Napa Reman Alternators. No longer. I'm on my third replacement unit in my '99 F150. The last one didn't make it a year and less than 10,000 miles.

My mechanic has also stopped using Napa for alternators and starters in the last year, unless it is the only place that has one in stock...

Draw your own conclusions...


Thanks for the heads-up on that. I think it was 2004 when I bought one most recently. Are they at least still including roadside assistance if the alternator fails?

 

[Kruse]

Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
Originally Posted By: rudolphna
As an addendum, the options for a replacement seem to be Remanufacture Bosch, remanufactured Denso, a new one from NAPA (brand code is NNE (anyone know what that is?) or a new Remy. What would you pick? The reman units seem to be $50 cheaper with the core return. New ones seem to run $150-$180, reman is ~$100 with a $40 core charge return.


Reman with a lifetime warranty.


For an old beater that's easy to replace and you don't drive too far from home, yes. If it's a high demand, highly stressed environment, and hard to replace, no.
I'm not on a sales push here, but at a previous employer, we used to run a cheapie, chain store brand. (It's got the initials C & Q in the name. Cough, Cough) We had all kinds of starter and repair problems that we couldn't replace them fast enough. We then switched to Wilson branded starters and alternators. (Google the name) Combacks dropped to near zero. The company didn't have the same warranty, but it was no longer needed.
I'm not saying to buy this brand, but in some areas of auto repair, you get what you pay for.

 

[Kruse]

Originally Posted By: mechtech2

You pay for this quality.
I can't count how many times people bought cheapo alternators and starters and had to replace them. The exchange warranty from the auto parts store may be good, but what a pain in the derrier!


If you want to see something scary, take a cheapie rebuilt alternator and disassemble it. (I've had to do it to turn the rear case on GM alternators) The slip rings are built just good enough to get the customer down the road. On starters, I've seen them FILTHY on the inside with just a little bit of new paint on the outside. There is a big difference between brands.