Alternator Brand ??

[BigAssTim]

Ok gents, which brand to go with...

I've heard so many stories of each brand, I'm overly confused.

I'm tempted to just get an Autozone / O'Reilly with a lifetime warranty and call it done.

Unless someone has a better idea? I am shooting for the 95 -> 130A upgrade on my '94 - 4.0 Ranger.


Tim

 

[Dirtman]

Auto parts stores like advance and autozone usually sell remanufactured units which may say Ford or Bosch on them but they were rebuilt in china and they are a total crapshoot. They may have a warranty but how many times do you feel like changing the alternator before you get a good one?

If you buy new get a Motorcraft or Bosch. If they ask you for a core it's not new...

 

[BigAssTim]

Thanks Dirtman, I'd love to go Motorcraft, but cant afford 400-500. I'll likely give Bosch a try.

Thanks!

Tim

 

[Dirtman]

Personally I would buy an original one from the junkyard before buying a remanufactured unit from autozone/advanced. I totally understand not wanting to spend dealer money though. There are also USA based companies who will rebuild your current alternator if you don't mind down time while they do it. There is a local place here that will do an alternator for about $75 bucks and give you something back you can trust.

Again... if they ask for a core walk away...

 

[RonD]

+1 ^^^

When I need an alternator I hit the wrecking yards to get an original equipment one, you need to make sure its not a replacement

 

[holyford86]

I've always been partial to having them rebuilt locally, it seems like a local rebuilder is a dying breed though.

 

[Dirtman]

Yep... we still have a local starter and generator shop thats been around for almost 100 years. They will rebuild anything electrical and the work is better than factory. Not a common business anymore because people would rather buy something rebuilt in China off the shelf. Why, I have no idea.... my local guy does it for about the same cost.

 

[Blmpkn]

Every alternator I've ever known that got replaced.. got replaced with one from Napa, and I never heard any bad things about them.


Like talked about in another thread... people only leave bad reviews. For every crummy reman alternator, there's likely 20k good ones.

 

[holyford86]

Yep... we still have a local starter and generator shop thats been around for almost 100 years. They will rebuild anything electrical and the work is better than factory. Not a common business anymore because people would rather buy something rebuilt in China off the shelf. Why, I have no idea....

This local guy has built me two 200 amp large case 3g alternators through the years, cost me less than buying a reman 130 amp unit from the parts store. One of them ate a rectifier recently after almost 200k of use, I'll get new bearings, brushes, a rectifier and regulator and it'll be good for another 200k for under 100 bucks.

 

[Dirtman]

Every alternator I've ever known that got replaced.. got replaced with one from Napa, and I never heard any bad things about them.


Like talked about in another thread... people only leave bad reviews. For every crummy reman alternator, there's likely 20k good ones.

I worked at Advance. Those numbers are very wrong. I'd say the return rate was about 60% good 40% came back. Napa sells new though and doesn't deal with cardone on there remans so they are probably 80/20.

 

[Dirtman]

This local guy has built me two 200 amp large case 3g alternators through the years, cost me less than buying a reman 130 amp unit from the parts store. One of them ate a rectifier recently after almost 200k of use, I'll get new bearings, brushes, a rectifier and regulator and it'll be good for another 200k for under 100 bucks.

Yup i had my dude turn a bunch of alternators into gm 1 wire style over the years. No problem. Want more amps? No problem... local beats anything

 

[Blmpkn]

I worked at Advance. Those numbers are very wrong. I'd say the return rate was about 60% good 40% came back. Napa sells new though and doesn't deal with cardone on there remans so they are probably 80/20.

Ah, yeah none of us use advance parts. Napa gets our business due to proximity mostly lol.

 

[Dirtman]

Napa has "better" quality but still not enough that I'd go buying fuel pumps or alternators from them lol. Yea buying anything electrical from autozone or advance is basically gambling.

 

[rubydist]

Back in the day, the alternators on the early SHOs were notorious for failing, and after much trial and error I found that the NAPA lifetime warranty ones were actually quite good. The lower priced NAPA ones would fail just after the warranty was up just like the ones from the other parts stores, but their lifetime warranty ones were pretty solid.

 

[tinman_72]

As easy as the alternator is to change, I usually just buy the cheapest one I can find that has a lifetime warrantee.