Possible to refurb Alternator?

[rfiltz]

My alternators going I think (battery light coming on at low rpm/load). I was wondering if it's possible to rip into these and clean off the brushes, change other parts easily? Just wondering as the dealer wants $280 and the parts store wants $160 for an alternator!

 

[rangerj]

Find a local shop that rebuilds starters, alternators, and other electric motors. It may cost you $60 to $125 to get it rebuilt depending on the parts needed. You will find that the bearings are VERY expensive.

Can you do it yourself? YES. If you can find a source for the parts.
rangerj

 

[sdpatt]

You should shop around through your local auto parts stores and alternator service shops for the best price and warranty on an remanufactured unit. You should be able to greatly undercut the prices you stated and possibly get a lifetimw warranty along with it.

I tried the route where I replaced the brushes for just a few dollars and the hands-on labor and time to replace them. That lasted a "few" thousand miles, but an alternator as old as the 250,000 mile unit I was working with was more easily replaced with a lifetime warranted remanufactured unit from O'Reilly's for about $68. Even if it goes out, the alternator is so easy to replace that I won't cry about it.

 

[HopefulSHO]

Sounds about right depending on your SHO. A rebuilt unit from O'Rileys for the ATX is $180.

 

[jelloslug]

Find a local rebuild shop. It took 4 "rebuilt" alternators for me to get one that would last more than a week.

 

[DHMag]

most of the internals can be bought from Auto-Zone. if you have the know-how. IIRC, the cost for the internals cost around 55-60

 

[rfiltz]

I went ahead with a re-built. Still cost me like $175! At least I could get it within a day though.

THAT WAS THE WORST MF'ing SOB to get in and out EVER!!!!!!!!!!! I had to grind out a hole in my battery tray to get the pivot bolt out. Manual says to take the tray off, but that looked even harder to get at. Then, forget the other two bolts! No room for hardly a box wrench, much less a socket.

Took me like 3-hours to get the damn thing out and back in. FOr 3 stupid bolts! Should be a 1/2 hr job.

 

[Cobraii976]

That's why you REMOVE The tray then take the tin snips to the bottom bolt holes and slot them then tighten the bottom bolts back up just before snug and slip the tray onto the new post then put the top bolt back in.
I got my bolts out with a socket ratchet and a wrench. took 20 minutes. Now it takes 2 minutes.