Alternator - OEM or aftermarket??

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keepit100

keepit100

10 Year
Joined
Aug 23, 2015
Threads
26
Messages
129
Location
Bozeman, MT
The alternator on my 99 LC took a dump. Initially I was going to go with stock alternator replacement but what does everyone think?
Aftermarket alternator offer higher amperage for less money. Anybody out there swap out alternators lately? What did you use? Thanks!
 
Personally, I’d go factory remanufactured. I have had lousy luck with aftermarket.

My $0.02.
 
denso 5.webp
 
Open the alternator and inspect the brushes. Most of the time, this is the cause. Get an OEM brush kit for about $18 from the dealer and install it. Apply dielectric grease to tje wire plug and drive another 100K miles. If you go with aftermarket, save the oem alternator because you will need that again.
 
94SRUNNER said:
Personally, I’d go factory remanufactured. I have had lousy luck with aftermarket.

My $0.02.
Click to expand...

Yes and yes. Local auto parts store remans are a high risk crap shoot at best. Toyota remanufactured their alternators with all new guts, the only part reused is the housing...quite diff than the aftermarket.

New Denso sounds like it would be a safe bet as well.
 
agree on avoiding the aftermarket ones. I have had bad luck on previous Cruisers, so I've stuck with OEM on the 100. Though they obviously go bad as well or we wouldn't be talking about replacing them, right? :lol: Both mine failed around 160K though, so I find that an acceptable service life, and I think they're a PITA to change, space-wise. While extra amps are sexy, unless you're running a fridge, tons of add on accessories, lights, amps, etc. etc, not sure what the real "need" is, it's only gonna draw what it needs to draw, right? I've muddled along just fine with OEM amperage for quite some time...
 
Thanks everyone! Can anybody connect me with a good website for reman Toyota alternators for a 99? I’m wondering what the price will be.
 
New DENSO is good. I always just go for broke and get OEM. Then I get the OEM rebuild kit and rebuild it so that I have it available for an excellent spare. It's probably overkill I know, but I like the feeling of knowing that it's good for another 100K without looking at it again.
 
You bought a Land Cruiser for a reason because it is over-engineered. I personally would replace any important mechanical parts with OEM. Kinda defeat the point of own a Cruiser if you're gonna piece if with aftermarket parts.
 
Amazon, I bought my DENSO reman for under $200 2yrs ago. Still going strong.

In my Land Rover I had nothing but trouble with part store remans, they only replace what is bad when it comes in and nothing else. So you might get a new regulator but the bearings are still used. Or vise versa.
I went through four life time warranty parts store alternators in two years before I bought a used one and that lasted four years.
 
Denso reman from Rock Auto cost $98 plus $34 core charge. Shipping was $10 to me plus $8 to return the core. Total net cost was $116.
 
Recently, my lc was making a loud bearing like sound for a few days and then my battery died. Turns out it was the alternator. I chose Denso reman from rock auto, so far no issues.
 
I got stranded in the middle of Oregon with a dead alternator and dead battery. Sunday night, nobody open but O'Reiley's. I really have no faith in the crappy Everlast alternator I was pretty much forced to buy, and I hate driving around with the feeling of waiting for the other foot to fall, but so far, so good. $170, since I kept the OEM alternator core. I figure I'll run it until it dies, warranty it to get a new one to sell on eBay (or keep for a spare), and buy a Denso. No fun changing it out in the parking lot on a hot Sunday evening, and it sucks even more when you're driving around in the middle of nowhere hoping you can get to town before the battery dies. Buy good parts.
 
Usually I am all about Denso but I had to get a Napa branded 130 amp alternator due to the original Denso dying while on a road trip. It has held up for over a year, about 10,000 miles on it.
If I had to go non-Denso, I'd go Napa due to their warranty and Napa's are all over.
I did keep the Toyota Denso one to rebuild but haven't got around to it yet.
 
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