I'm SOOOO &#*$@ tired of inferior parts

[dpuckett]

THis is a bit of a vent, aimed to AutoZone, Advance, et al, that sell crappy rebuilt (obviously by a 3year old chimpanzee) parts that fail in 6 months or less.



I bought a new alternator for my 91 in March or April of 03. I have put 25K on it since then. I had a belt jump its track and eat off a rib. So I got to checking, and danged if the alternator wasnt the culprit. As soon as it cranked, and the belt moved an inch, it jumped. So I took the belt off, and rotated the pulley, and it grabs about every 15 deg. Feels like the brushes or maybe a bearing. It doesnt turn nice and smooth like Mom's. This is supposedly a rebuilt alternator from Advance in ColoSpgs (at the time, I was under the delusion that my BS case here in the nation's buttcrack wouldnt go to trial, and got the part where it was in stock). I think it's more along the lines of a polished case, and make sure output is within spec. I'm darned near ready to pass this thing on to someone else- it runs ok, but the body is falling apart, and the interior is showing its age- but I'd be out more than I'd get to get something else as dependable for the money. Bargains aint always as they appear. Of course, if Kyle (kid that has my old 93) and I hadnt had a duck fart rice spanking party in town last night, it may help stuff last longer. Wouldnt think that'd affect the alternator, though.



Where can I get a kit to do the rebuild myself (i've torn into injector pumps with no ill effects), for less than a shop would charge to do it?



Daniel

 

[JLEONARD]

Daniel,

A friend of mine went thru 4 Advance Auto rebuilt alternators before he found one that worked on his Taurus. I've refused to buy rebuilt parts there for years.



Price a new alternator... . they really aren't that bad.

Or go to a private rebuild shop if you can find one.

Jay

 

[tugboatphil]

I'm not defending any of the above mentioned companys, but I did get a rebuilt alt from AutoZone and it did me good. They even swapped the pulleys for me. When I can't get a "real" part, I usually go to NAPA.



Dan, I recall reading a post within the last year about someone getting brushes from an odd source, but can't remember much else. I'm pretty sure it was in this forum, as I rarely read any of the others (it's just a better class of people here)



Good luck!



Phil

 

[CDegner]

Find an alternator/starter rebuild shop. You can either get the parts directly from them or have them do it for about $75. Most any decent sized town is going to have some type of business along those lines. I live in a community of less than 50,000 and we have 2.



I bought a new 120A alternator off Ebay here a couple months ago. Got new for $93.

Carl

 

[dpuckett]

THere are two auto electric shops here in town. Only poblem is, they are open 8-5, M-F. Since I work somewhere in the vicinity of 8-5or6, that wont do too well. GUess I could have Mom take it in. Second, we had her alternaotr rebuilt last summer to the tune of $140. OUCH. Seems to have done ok so far. Small towns are rip offs. Combine that with crappy wages, and it's a wonder anyone can make it. I'll do a search later and se what I come up with. Thanks for the ideas, guys.



Daniel

 

[JLEONARD]

I have seen new marine alternators for the 6b engines for $110 last summer. These are Delco with built in regulator... . either a 19 or 21 SI I can't remember right now.

Shop around.

Good luck.

 

[steveinaz]

ask yourself this,"when have you ever been in autozone or advanced auto parts and someone was not exchanging an alternator or a battery?"

 

[CDegner]

Good point!

Originally posted by steveinaz

ask yourself this,"when have you ever been in autozone or advanced auto parts and someone was not exchanging an alternator or a battery?"

 

[dan brooks]

I've had a lot of problems with starters and master cylinders - and now brake boosters - from Auto Zone, but never had an issue with their alternators. It doesn't surprise me that those have now become a problem, too. It seems that quality control in general - and not just at Auto Zone - has gone downhill over the past decade or so... it's become pretty common to have to return or exchange an item at least once to get a good one.



It might cost a little more, but going with a new instead of rebult from someplace like NAPA will probably be a better bet, and will likely last as long as the original. The chain stores count on people not keeping their vehicles very long and not having to warranty faulty parts, so they can usually get away with doing substandard rebuilds. For those of us that keep our vehicles for many years it becomes an issue - I lost count of how many starters I replaced on my Ranchero... and it wasn't even a daily driver.

 

[Scot]

In a former life when I sold auto parts, we had brushes, bearings and diodes. I do not remember if you could get the field coils or armatures.

 

[willyslover]

do a search. . I think Larry B has brushes for them ... I might be wrong

 

[OnlyCummins]

FWIW, I've never had a problem with any of the chainstore rebuilt stuff I've installed (knock on imitation wood). Have been sold the wrong part a time or two tho but now make a habit of taking in the old part for comparison (& core if reqd). The chainstores also sell 'new' parts but since I'm too cheap to buy 'new' can't comment on their quality (or lack thereof).



Sounds like a DIY R&R would be your best bet. Can't be any harder than doing an IP (famous last words).



Good luck.

 

[Greenleaf]

Welcome to my world....You guys have nothing to complain about!!!

I service/repair a fleet of school buses, I you havn't already figured that out.

A school bus is built as cheap as possible because schools have to buy from the lowest bidder. It's the law. Soooooooooooo that means the bus co. has to build as cheap as possible. It's scary when you think about it. Your child is riding around in a tin can built by the lowest bidder. Stuff that should last 500K on an OTR truck will not last 12K in/on a bus. Warranty is one year. Most buses don't get 12 K miles in one year. Many won't see 10!



A slack adjuster will not last 20K on a bus. Heater motors burn up after a year in service. I can go on.



Guess who has to service these things. Me! I have to do all the repairs on all the buses. Can't keep up. Stuff is simply junk!!!!!



The only saving grace is the Cummins and Allison trannies.



I never buy parts from Auto Zone or Parts America. A truck dealership or NAPA only.



Scott

 

[DJW]

Aside from mileage if a part fails find cause, otherwise you are left with the same problem and replacement will surly fail. If part has seen considerable service buy new replacement, then at your leisure fix or find repair shop then carry original as a spare. At 30,000 miles decided to change the Belt, will do it now before having to do so on the highway, and carry the used Belt as a spare. Motto "Fix it Before it needs It" Scrum Down

 

[dpuckett]

dan brooks- I've taken it from behind by NAPA a time or two. I dont even know if ANYONE can get a new anything around here, save dealer.



Greenleaf- there is no way I could keep my sanity working for someone who HAS to go with low bidder, regardless of quality, esp if I couldnt keep up with all the repairs.



DJW- I like you idea; might have to give it a try. Surely has to be somewhere i can get a rebuild kit.



You see, guys, around here, everyone is too "poor" (lazy) to buy new parts, so junkyards do a booming business selling alternaotrs, AC compressors, belts, etc, etc. If you go to a store for a reman part, you are living on the edge; ask for new, and you may get hauled away by men in white coats. And that's what gets me- they can have a brand new 1/2T gasser, put $7K in lift, chrome, exhaust, and all manner of gaudiness, but cant "afford" a new alternator. Guess I just have my priorities in line. If it dont make it go faster or use less fuel, or extend the life of the truck (i. e. a bug guard to save whindshield), I dont need it.

THanks for everything.

Daniel

 

[1stgen4evr]

rebuild parts for alternator

My uncle does starter and alt rebuild. The parts for this repair are not expensive at all. The main issue on rebuild is where to stop. Usually the bearings should be replaced if you have much time on the unit. Uncle G usually errs on the cheap side as most customers are cheap and want a low low price. I tell him to do it all while he is into it. That works much better. Still the cost are low. I had brushes installed once for seven dollars. Uncle priceing.



Because I had a problem with the pcm computer, I got an extra alternator from salvage and had it rebuilt with a piggy back voltage regulator. I ride the original with me. I would suggest that you get one so you can have the time to take it apart and get the parts for it. Usually brushes, bearings and diodes will do the job. If it is out of balance, the rotating part will have to be replaced. It will always cause problems. Don't overlook the possibility that you have another problem that is killing the alternator.



Let me suggest another tip for you guys with old trucks. Make a friend of a small town salvage guy. (The big yards don't have friends just cu$tomers) It will pay dividends many times over. Now I realize that there aren't too many first gen trucks in the salvage yards but some of the stuff is interchangable.



And don't forget the classified here at TDR. Lots of ctd guys have spares.



Double check the belt tensioner. Mine got off center and caused other problems. They are only good for around 175k. (My experience)



1stgen4evr

 

[dpuckett]

I'm running it for now. Tensioner is new (ok, <10K), as is belt. I may have just gotten a POS belt from Gates; now has a Gatorback on it. Who knows. What makes me suspect the alt is that the belt jumped off it IMMEDIATELY, and that the pulley has a considerable drag to it, like it is catching as you turn it. Also is magnetized- ratchet stuck to it as I was getting to the tensioner. I'm glad I dont have to go thru the PCM crap again, but factory intercooling and the updated pump would be nice. More money for more BOMBs needed. Donations being accepted.



Daniel