Car Alternators?

[ArrogantAssclown]

Do they make these damn things to go out every 40,000 miles these days? I am having to put my third alternator in a Tahoe that is only 4 years old. Does Bosch have a damn service plan where I can get a FNing discount for alternator replacement. Shop is charging $358 plus tax to replace alternator, thats ********, but I have no other choice today

 

[swTXSU]

Had the same problem with my Tahoe. After the third one, I haven't had any more problems. I finally decided to do it myself and bought a heavy duty one with the free replacement lifetime warranty and no problems since.

 

[accuratehorn]

There are good brands, and there are poorly rebuilt brands. Most parts stores have two or three different grades of parts. Sometimes the only difference is the guarantee, though. They will just give you a new one when the junky one goes out again.

 

[ArrogantAssclown]

Accuratehorn

What are the good brands? I do not know enough about replacement parts to tell the repairman what brand or grade to put in. I always tell them to replace parts with a new part and not a rebuilt part, but I am not sure that all replacement parts are not rebuilt parts these days.

This alternator was replaced by PEP Boys(first mistake, but I now know they are ~$100 cheaper than Klingemanns on total cost to replace an alternator). The alternator, I believe, was a Bosch. I purchased it with a "lifetime" guarantee and of course I can not find the receipt and did not feel like destroying my home office looking for it. I had previousely stopped at Vans to have the battery checked. Battery was OK, so they tested the alternator and said the output was too low at low rpms. Said they had an replacement alternator. I went to Pep Boys since my wife works across the street and I could steal her car if I needed to run a errand or get back to the office. After getting my wife's keys I walked back over to the shop to give them some information and the Vans delivery truck pulls up and delivers an alternator. I thought that was odd that a auto parts store had to have a alternator delivered for another autoparts store.

What should I ask Klingemanns about the replacement part? Since you are in the business, can you give any recommendations on the best parts strores to use. ALine? Vans? Who do you "pros" use?

 

[sapo1495]

Texas Alternator Starter Service
9545 North I H 35
Austin, TX 78753
512-836-1371