Alternator Quesitons...

[SHOspazz92]

I know that the 94-95 SHO alternators are 130 AMP units and what not but the question I have is why do some of the remanufactured units cost more then new units? For instance Rock Auto list's a RSA new alternator (PN ALT1709) for 144 dollars when a AC Delco Reman unit is 150 Dollars (Plus a 50 dollar core charge). For 100 Dollars however I can get a Remaned alternator on a Ebay store (PN RCP7769). So, What should I be looking out for here? Are the ramns better then the "new" units for what ever reason? TIA.

-Sam

 

[itwonder]

Reman alternators are a crap shoot. Shipping costs are too high to send the things back and forth to a place like Rockauto if you happen to get a dud. ebay even worse. IMO, the best option is to have a local shop rebuild the one you have. Next best choice is to buy an exchange unit locally, from somewhere that provides a long warranty.

 

[93rev2sev]

Sam,

Get it local. You will want to be able to swap it when it dies under warranty without paying shipping...twice...three times total.

 

[NJSHO]

Reman alternators are a crap shoot. Shipping costs are too high to send the things back and forth to a place like Rockauto if you happen to get a dud. ebay even worse. IMO, the best option is to have a local shop rebuild the one you have. Next best choice is to buy an exchange unit locally, from somewhere that provides a long warranty.

I agree 100%. I went through 3 alternators from 2 different manufacturers from advanced auto before I bought a new perfectly working alternator from a mom and pop shop.

I think the difference in price is how much of the alternator they replace. Some place I think just replace the bad part (ie. just brushes or just bearings or just voltage regulator) while others replace all the internals at once. This is just a guess.

 

[93rev2sev]

I did, however have great success buying a low mileage USED alternator from fleaBay.

40 bucks +$12 shipping....I think...

I knew the seller, though and had purchased used items from him in the past...so I knew I could trust his description.

 

[Phoenix]

Reman alternators are a crap shoot. Shipping costs are too high to send the things back and forth to a place like Rockauto if you happen to get a dud. ebay even worse. IMO, the best option is to have a local shop rebuild the one you have. Next best choice is to buy an exchange unit locally, from somewhere that provides a long warranty.

X3 , Plus stay away from NAPA ones. Even if they has a lifetime warrenty.

Bring it to a real reman shop , the ones that only do that all day long , those are the ones that seems to last longest.

If you have some welding skills (welding on a circuit board) You can always buy a regulator kit + brushes at rockauto and do it yourself. There's like 3-4 pins to weld/unweld on the regulator.

 

[NJSHO]

X3 , Plus stay away from NAPA ones. Even if they has a lifetime warrenty.

Bring it to a real reman shop , the ones that only do that all day long , those are the ones that seems to last longest.

If you have some welding skills (welding on a circuit board) You can always buy a regulator kit + brushes at rockauto and do it yourself. There's like 3-4 pins to weld/unweld on the regulator.

welding on a circuit board = soldering?

 

[Shoaz]

welding on a circuit board = soldering?

lol, yeah.

The regulator on the 95 MTX is modular, i.e., it's not hard to replace and there's no soldering required. That's not Sam's problem, though, since it sounds like the bearings or something mechanical has gone awry.

But, yeah, a good shop that remans such things ought to be able to go through it.

 

[SHOspazz92]

lol, yeah.

The regulator on the 95 MTX is modular, i.e., it's not hard to replace and there's no soldering required. That's not Sam's problem, though, since it sounds like the bearings or something mechanical has gone awry.

But, yeah, a good shop that remans such things ought to be able to go through it.

And boy did it ever! The car is a paperweight until I can get a new one in there. Seized Alternator FTW!