Best (replacement) Alternator?

[SHOed_up]

Any thoughts on which model/brand alternator would be the best?

I seem to be in need of a new one. Batt light was on, and fiddling with the little sender wire didn't turn it off, cleaned it up with electrical contact cleaner, still on, took the alt in to autozone for a test and it failed all 3 of their tests.

I was looking at this one, and wondered if anyone had any experience with it:
http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductDetail.aspx?MfrCode=ATR&MfrPartNumber=A773961&PartType=11&PTSet=A
Seems a lot of parts are "100% new", but I'd like your thoughts. As well as other models you recommend.

Thanks.

 

[NoSHOAllGo]

I get a lot of my maintanence parts off of this website, they have almost everything. Check it out here: http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/catalog.php. You get what you pay for. They have good deals to.

 

[SHOed_up]

I looked at rock auto as well, saw some remy, some MC, some bosch, was just wondering if anyone had good experience with a specific brand, or if remans are all pretty much a crap shoot.

I don't mind the changing of the alternator so much (pretty easy job), but getting stranded wouldn't be good.

 

[Phoenix]

A good option too is to have it rebuilt in a alternator shop (the ones that only does that)

Whatever you do, don't buy a NAPA.

 

[luigisho]

All these are a crap shoot. I would not recommend getting one shipped because you might have to eat return shipping if it doesn't work properly. I would recommend a local rebuilder and if that fails go to one of the chains and put the new unit on the test bench before you leave the store. Nothing worse than repalceing that thing over and over because the rebuild quality is so bad.

 

[pitbull]

do not buy reman's.. get it rebuilt by a local shop, you will get the best quality job done, and it will be cheaper too!

 

[jelloslug]

A rebuild shop is the only way to go. It took 4 alternators to get a "rebuilt" alternator to last more that 2 weeks for me and then it only worked for about a year.

 

[SHOed_up]

Guess I'll check out the rebuild shops during the week, since neither is open on the weekend.

 

[SHOsFAST]

A good option too is to have it rebuilt in a alternator shop (the ones that only does that)

Whatever you do, don't buy a NAPA.

Word, I just pulled #6 from NAPA... i'LL NEVER DO THAT AGAIN! They kept saying there is something wrong with your car man, I said no your Alternators are pieces of crap (I used some different words, It was a heated discussion...) But they finally gave me all of my money back. NOw I have to buy another one from someone else.

 

[jelloslug]

Word, I just pulled #6 from NAPA... i'LL NEVER DO THAT AGAIN! They kept saying there is something wrong with your car man, I said no your Alternators are pieces of crap (I used some different words, It was a heated discussion...) But they finally gave me all of my money back. NOw I have to buy another one from someone else.

After alternator #2 from NAPA I started making them bench check them before I installed it. 2 of them never made it out of the store.....

 

[luigisho]

As this topic has been discussed over the years, I recall one or two members who worked in autoparts chain stores stated that the defect and return rate on alt.'s is incredible.

 

[93rev2sev]

Buy a spare for $20 or whatever and have THAT one rebuilt.

Then swap them and have YOURs rebuilt. You will have a spare or you will be able to get decent money for it.

 

[wood_e]

Local shops are excellent mostly. I had my SHOs alt rebuilt by the local shop in Ames. They did a fine job and it only set me back $75

 

[dantheman68]

i actually bought that same alternator from advance 1 year ago... and its still running like a champ... maybe i got lucky

 

[luigisho]

i actually bought that same alternator from advance 1 year ago... and its still running like a champ... maybe i got lucky

Those are hit or miss. I went through 5 alts from auotzone and pep boys at 3 different stores before I found one that worked. Worked great but 1:5 is a crappy ratio for a part right out of the box.

 

[SHOMON]

clean up your ground wires. i've had alt. rebuilt by a local shop still a crap shoot. just make sure even if the batt is new both should be replaced at the same time and bad grounds will make the alt work harder to complete the circuit