Autozone Alternators no longer made in Mexico

[1tontoy]

What ever happened to taking your alternator (or starter, for that matter) down to the local automotive electric rebuilder and having them rebuild your unit with new bearings, brushes, etc for ~$70?

 

[CruisinFJ60]

FWIW, I think that what happened on the GM fuel pumps is that the OE plug was not capable of the amperage that the fuel pump took, even OEM new GM pumps come with a new plug. Either way yeah, they change stuff kinda all the time on some of the more common products like you say.

As far as the Automoan alternators go, man, I don't think id use one unless I was strapped for cash. you can return them for another sure, but after doing it tons of times on a few of my cars/trucks I got tired of dealing with them. I mean like I said, for the price, and if it is easy to swap and you don't mind it sure it's a decent solution.

I generally use O'Reily when I needs parts for something as I feel the quality is better even on the house brand stuff. But sometimes when you gotta have it Autozone is the only place to have it then thats what you do and just hope it is easy to change but hopefully you wont have to touch it. Their alternators specifically are notorious for problems I dont know how many my brother in law put on his F350 in just a single year much less the time he has had it. I used one on a Trans Am I had when I broke down 900 miles from home and 50 miles from the nearest town from a dead alternator, swaped it on the side of the road in the cold rain, but got lucky and didnt have any issues with it before I sold it.

What ever happened to taking your alternator (or starter, for that matter) down to the local automotive electric rebuilder and having them rebuild your unit with new bearings, brushes, etc for ~$70?

They are so few and far between these days and the time it takes and the distance to get to one it is oftentimes easier to just go 2 minutes around the corner and pick up another unit for close to the same price. basically convenience generally wins out for most people. heck a remanned alternator for some vehicles can be had for 70-90 bucks any way and it comes with a lifetime warranty.

 

[2GooniesFJ60]

... sometimes when you gotta have it Autozone is the only place to have it then thats what you do and just hope it is easy to change but hopefully you wont have to touch it.

That's the boat I'm in. My rig is my DD and I need it running. That being said, I realize the quality isn't quite the same. That's why I want to try my hand at rebuilding the alternator myself (I definitely didn't give them my bad one for the $15 core fee!). Since I have not rebuilt an alternator before and I have to order the replacement brushes, etc. I needed the quick AutoLite alternator to get the DD running in the mean time. I'll keep the rebuilt Toyota alternator for if (when) the other one kicks the bucket.

 

[1tontoy]

You should be able to replace the brushes for ~$12 without even removing the alternator. You need a soldering iron. But, I guess you can waste money on whole reman if you want.

That is usually the problem.

 

[fliphkd778]

I ran an Oreilly reman on my 60 a while. They offer two versions, a special order one(an actual OEM rebuild) for ~$180, and then the one they offer you first for ~120? The cheaper one has the regulator clocked close to the head. It's a pita to install because the regulator hits the head when your trying to give slack to the belts. The pulleys have to be swapped too. Mine lasted about a year and half maybe before taking a dump on the highway 120 miles from home. I actually made it the whole way on the battery alone. The unit seemed weaker than the crusty OEM one I replaced it with. In summary, the OEM alternator is really good.