200 Alternator MTBF?

[OregonLC]

What is considered the useful life of the 200 alternator? I'm at 134k and will have the front end opened up (radiator and hoses out) for a water pump job. Alternators aren't cheap (~ $300) but they're a bugger to replace without tearing the front back apart. Just wondering if I'd be ahead by proactively replacing it now.

 

[kcjaz]

I was wondering the same thing so I searched the forum and found @Oregon 's question. Doesn't look like anyone answered. It must be a great question because I am wondering the same thing... Hey @OregonLC, what did you do? Did you replace it. I'm thinking I will buy the new alternator or an upgraded one and just hold onto it until I have issues. Will do some electrical testing on my existing alternator. I'm at 152K miles but will keep this LC forever.

 

[Dixon Santana]

I'm under the impression these alternators last a very long time. I've got a '08 sequoia with 250k in the family fleet and it is still on the original alternator. An upgraded alternator would be nice, especially after adding more electrical components.

 

[bentonrover]

I've also searched for this. My 08 LC has 202k on it. I hooked up to tech stream and the voltage was still at 14.

 

[Cruisin911]

When it comes time, rebuild it. Don't replace it. The OEM part you have now is significantly higher build quality than the replacement. There should be a small shop local to you that will rebuild it for a nominal fee. The large parts do not fail in an alternator. Usually a full rebuild is around 100 bucks and that includes all the bearings, cups, voltage regulators and a full bench test. You'll be good for another 200k. If you do source a replacement, I can almost guarantee that you'll be replacing it again at a MUCH reduced interval from the first.

 

[bloc]

A couple decades apart, but my 94 fzj80 had the original alternator with 280k miles on it, and both the brushes and wear bands on the armature were in great shape. I put new brushes in because I had already ordered them, but didn’t need to at all.

The alternator is really far down the list of things I’m worried about on this 200 as it accrues mileage.

 

[TeCKis300]

Unlike European cars that eat these for lunch if you so much look at them wrong...

I look at the 200-series unit as a lifetime part. Sure, may very well need replacement into much higher miles (or water/mud abuse), but I'm unlikely to pre-emtively change it. The failure modes and warning lights with the alternator should generally result in enough warning get to get home or get to a safe spot short of being way out on an expedition. Would be good to have a healthy battery that has solid reserve for more run-time if the alternator were to fail. And be ready to shed all possible accessories when that happens for again more run-time.

 

[kcjaz]

When it comes time, rebuild it. Don't replace it. The OEM part you have now is significantly higher build quality than the replacement. There should be a small shop local to you that will rebuild it for a nominal fee. The large parts do not fail in an alternator. Usually a full rebuild is around 100 bucks and that includes all the bearings, cups, voltage regulators and a full bench test. You'll be good for another 200k. If you do source a replacement, I can almost guarantee that you'll be replacing it again at a MUCH reduced interval from the first.

I would agree with this if I were to replace the alternator with a non-OEM alternator. If I buy an OEM alternator from a Toyota parts store or dealer why would it be less quality?

 

[Moby]

It is tough to find a good auto electric shop these days. The two that were close to me closed down. Really too bad, hate to see losing skills like this. I guess shops probably don't send out for rebuilds anymore, they replace with a reman or brand new off the shelf?

 

[bloc]

It is tough to find a good auto electric shop these days. The two that were close to me closed down. Really too bad, hate to see losing skills like this. I guess shops probably don't send out for rebuilds anymore, they replace with a reman or brand new off the shelf?

Usually.

If you live in a larger city there are often still alternator and starter rebuild shops but in my experience they are barely scraping by. I had to specify Japanese bearings and denso parts for an alternator I had rebuilt in the past.. they were gonna put Chinese-made junk in there, I’m sure in an effort to cut costs.

 

[Moby]

Last time I did an alternator rebuild was a significant upgrade but still effectively a rebuild. A place called DC Power Products took a new 3FE case and built the crap out of it. I think it was 175amps tuned for idle output with a custom smaller pulley (tough to get a v belt small enough but they found one much smaller than stock). Ran it with 1/0 welding cables (super flexy) and dual yellow tops. That thing rocked and ran long enough to know it was good quality before the truck was destroyed. This was pre-LED lighting days. I needed to really feed my upgraded stock and aux lights, in dash car PC, and big electric radiator and transmission fans at low speed and the stock alt just wasn't cutting it.

 

[auggafj80]

240k on my 08 LC. Original alternator. I was going to proactively replace it but reading the comments on here I’ll just keep plugging along. That original starter scaring me tho.

 

[Cruisin911]

I would agree with this if I were to replace the alternator with a non-OEM alternator. If I buy an OEM alternator from a Toyota parts store or dealer why would it be less quality?

Because you are not getting an OEM quality part. Simple as that. Even the suppliers to the dealerships are just pushing the cheaply rebuilt Chinese crap parts. I can nearly guarantee you will get a substandard replacement. All the large manufacturers are going the cheap reman route. Most places will have an alternator rebuild place. Worst case, do it yourself. It isn't any more difficult than taking it out of the car.

 

[Moby]

Because you are not getting an OEM quality part. Simple as that. Even the suppliers to the dealerships are just pushing the cheaply rebuilt Chinese crap parts. I can nearly guarantee you will get a substandard replacement. All the large manufacturers are going the cheap reman route. Most places will have an alternator rebuild place. Worst case, do it yourself. It isn't any more difficult than taking it out of the car.

That is super interesting and very disturbing...

 

[kcjaz]

Because you are not getting an OEM quality part. Simple as that. Even the suppliers to the dealerships are just pushing the cheaply rebuilt Chinese crap parts. I can nearly guarantee you will get a substandard replacement. All the large manufacturers are going the cheap reman route. Most places will have an alternator rebuild place. Worst case, do it yourself. It isn't any more difficult than taking it out of the car.

So your saying that a “genuine Toyota” from a Toyota parts store or dealership isn’t actually an OEM part made in Japan or wherever the JIS assembled vehicles got there original parts from?

I could see some cheapening of some parts with each model year and that the OEM alternator I buy in 2020 may not be exactly what I have in my 2013 but I’d think it would be pretty comparable to a MY2020 which should be better than a cheap Chinese knockoff or reman.

 

[bloc]

I’m not sure I buy in to this concept. Sightline wipers with a toyota logo aren’t even given the OEM toyota part numbers.. and original equipment is still available if you ask for it.

 

[40Man]

I’m not sure I buy in to this concept. Sightline wipers with a toyota logo aren’t even given the OEM toyota part numbers.. and original equipment is still available if you ask for it.

 

[OGBeno]

Because you are not getting an OEM quality part. Simple as that. Even the suppliers to the dealerships are just pushing the cheaply rebuilt Chinese crap parts. I can nearly guarantee you will get a substandard replacement. All the large manufacturers are going the cheap reman route. Most places will have an alternator rebuild place. Worst case, do it yourself. It isn't any more difficult than taking it out of the car.

I’d love to see some proof of what you are saying here.

You know: real facts.

Thanks.

 

[Cruisin911]

Maybe there is some misinterpretation here. Even some units sold as new will be remanufactured parts listed as new, fraud is rampant. This is huge business and there are zero makes out there that are immune to the substandard aftermarket units flooding the market. A quick search of failed replacement alternator will yield a week of reading.

Here is one link of the alternator industry at a glance. This was over 10 years ago, so interpretation is subjective.

Alternators

My "facts" are anecdotal at best and based on my own experiences. Do I have a link to show you that proves your specific unit will be rebuilt and sold as new? Nope. This video is pretty spot on my experience in rebuilding alternators.



My personal experience with my 4runner, Tacoma, and 911 all follow the same route. Replacement units all failed within 20k. All parts were purchased new, by me, from the dealership and local auto parts stores. All sold as OEM units. This includes a Bosch unit for my 911 that I paid nearly $900 bucks for, sold as new. The good news is that alternators are extremely simple units and complete rebuilds can be done in your garage in a few hours. The windings and stators do not go bad. Its the voltage regulator, the brushes, the bearings, or even the bearing cups letting moisture in. Upon opening them up and repairing them myself, you could easily compare the proper sourced parts to what was in the failed units as substandard.

Not until I had them rebuilt at a local place, or by myself, with genuine parts, did I get some longevity out of it. Even some rebuild shops use shoddy parts.

If you don't agree with my logic, feel free to delete my previous post. I stand by my experiences with dealerships and local parts stores. I take no offense whatsoever if you decide to delete it. These are my facts, weigh them as you'd like.

Just one example of a Toyota Dealership selling alternators. Took the screenshot this morning. Just because you buy from a dealer, that doesn't mean it isn't remanufactured, sourced elsewhere, or an OEM part by any means. Screenshots are from TRDParts4U in Dallas, one of the largest dealers of Toyota parts in the country.

 

[bloc]

I think we need to clarify some terms here. OE supplier sold at an auto parts store is still aftermarket, not OEM.

As for anecdotes I’ve installed OE supplier rebuilt alternators in probably a half dozen vehicles and not once had a problem. These were mostly from parts stores.