Do All These Crappy Reman Alternators Whine?

[JRA2000TL]

I replaced mine several months ago not too long after I bought my 89 in Feb, which BTW had a "new" AC Delco reman alternator in it. Well it didn't last long, so I bought an AZ Duralast one. Seems to be working fine and got rid of my battery light issue, but it has a high pitched whine that coincides with rpms. I didn't have this with the old alternator. It's definitely coming from the accessories and using a stethoscope I narrowed it to this.

Do they all do this? I wouldn't think so since the previous one didn't. I know remans have a high failure rate, so maybe it has some internals that are already shot. If so, I can go exchange it free, but it's a PITA to change due to that lower bolt being in the way of the hard a/c line.

 

[kevinspann]

My car whines pretty bad - I assume it's the idlers. I need to change my supercharger fluid, like the manual recommends.


If it's a crappy reman, you should probably just be glad it's even charging.

 

[jelloslug]

After 4 NAPA Gold alternators I just bought a good used one. It's been working fine for years now.

 

[SHOtime2511]

^Agreed.
With how ****** reman parts are now days I thing buying a used Motorcraft is the way to go.

 

[SeanMc]

^Agreed.
With how ****** reman parts are now days I thing buying a used Motorcraft is the way to go.

Yup, I went through 4 O'Reillys, and 1 Autozone bad alternators a couple months ago before just going with a Motorcraft. Been working great.

 

[JRA2000TL]

I am pro Motorcraft myself and was wondering why I didn't go with a MC one this past time, until I just looked on RA and found that they're $244.79 + a $60 core!

Pick your poison I guess. Pay half and get freebies for life but keep changing them or pay double once and have it last a long time.

 

[jelloslug]

I am pro Motorcraft myself and was wondering why I didn't go with a MC one this past time, until I just looked on RA and found that they're $244.79 + a $60 core!

Pick your poison I guess. Pay half and get freebies for life but keep changing them or pay double once and have it last a long time.

The worst part about the NAPA Gold one was that it was not cheap at all.....

Lifetime warranty does not mean jack if you have to swap it out every 3 months.

 

[sperold]

The reman alternators are OK, once you take them to your local shop and have them go through it. I had terrible luck with the little 90 amp alternators. The last one got a going-over by a local shop, and it has been OK ever since. They didn't change the bearings or anything like that, but they did work on that slider assembly where the brushes sit, and the voltage regulator.

 

[Shovert]

I could't agree more. Junk is all I can say. I know not SHO but. But my Mustang 4 "lifetime" alternator [1 the pulley came off and destroyed my hoodliner] 2 starters same car. Radiators + other hoses [lot of them on a 2.3 turbo] lasted 2 years and looked worse than the original Ford one I took off. Jeep 2 starters and 2 radiators. All from Advance. All this happen in a period of about 3 months. Used parts and O'reillys now. We shall see. Maurice
PS Thanks for letting me vent.

 

[Off Road SHO]

For myself, I take my bad alternators, startes and generators directly to the rebuild shop. They check everything and replace anything that is even close to being worn. The last SHO alternator cost me 135.00 and they even let me have the casings back so I could have them polished, before they re-assembled it.

Granted, they did make a mistake once and installed too narrow of a bearing, but they made it right for no charge. I think over the years I've had them do probably 20-30 units.

Tom

 

[frosho]

+1 for a local rebuild shop. I've never bought a starter or alternator.

 

[luigisho]

I am pro Motorcraft myself and was wondering why I didn't go with a MC one this past time, until I just looked on RA and found that they're $244.79 + a $60 core!

Pick your poison I guess. Pay half and get freebies for life but keep changing them or pay double once and have it last a long time.

I thought I saw a recent post about a Motorcraft one crapping early too.

 

[SHOclass]

Kind of a crapshoot on the quality of the reman units as said numerous times already, however when mine went I was working at NAPA at the time and saw how many were returned (gold). I purchased a reman Bosch unit, because of the ones we sold (less than the NAPA gold, due to price) I never saw a single unit come back "defective" or otherwise. It's been in my '95 for 4 years and 3 conventions.

 

[SHOtime2511]

I thought I saw a recent post about a Motorcraft one crapping early too.

Yeah MiltownSHO has been through 2 or 3 on a V8.

 

[rubydist]

I have found the NAPA ones with lifetime warranty last pretty good, but the others seem to die about a month after the warranty ends.

 

[K-Dawg]

You know what they say... like owner, like alternator. :angelnot:

 

[Whydah91]

I've had 5 in 20 years, including Motorcraft and Delco remans. They're all now remaned in Mexico. I've had an Advance on it for the last 5 years. First time I changed one out took a day, I can do it now in 45 minutes.

 

[Michelle]

Always have it tested before you walk out the door.

 

[Vnuk1]

Mine went out in my Vic a week after I bought it, it was Napa reman lasted 30K miles. Luckily I had talked with the shop that worked on the car while it was used as a Police Cruiser. They mailed me all the stuff to have it replaced. Gotta love Modular V-8's it takes 5 minutes to replace the Alternator. Always had good luck with Napa Alternators, like Michelle said always have it tested before you leave..

 

[jimtash]

I replaced mine with one bought from autopartsnerd.com. The brand is USA Industries and it's running perfect.

http://www.usaind.com/