Bought an 02 LX 470 with 80k miles last month with all svc records available to me. Today my alternator quit so now it's at Toyo dealership waiting for a new one to be installed. Should I replace with OEM or upgrade? Thanks everyone. I'm new to this site and a new 100 series owner.
Need alternator
- Thread starter DHP3
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
Definitely go with OEM. Aftermarket can't get it right. Been there, done that.
Toyota "OEM" parts counter sourced alternators = reman. Didn't work so long for me...Just beyond the 1-yr warranty. Currently using an O'Reilly lifetime warranty alternator...so far so good and 1/2 the cost. Sorry beno.
Just to add: AFAIK Toyota doesn't reman starters/alternators themselves; but relies on 3rd party remanufacturing shops...the same reman shops other parts houses source their's from too.
Also there is no real way to know how many/how few parts are swapped into the reman units...so it's a crap shoot what you're going to get.
Also there is no real way to know how many/how few parts are swapped into the reman units...so it's a crap shoot what you're going to get.
If you are planning on adding lights, winch, 5000 watt stereo, air compressor, electric cooler, etc. I HIGHLY suggest upgrading to at least a 200 amp alternator. My last expo vehicle was a 94 F350 Crewcab. Had 1200lb winch, 3 air compressors, dual batteries, 7 forward offroad lights, 2 lights each, left, right and rear for proximity lighting and a pretty kick'n stereo. I add a 200 amp alternator and never had an issue. I plan on doing the same to my Hundy as I move along with the build.
Beno, is there no way to order a "new" alternator or starter instead of a reman?
I have used the Toyota reman units in the past on my 60 and 80 series with no problems, but maybe they have changed the way they do things.
Also, I don't know that we should say that Toyota uses the same reman shops as the other parts houses, because we certainly don't know that to be true. Lots and lots of reman shops out there. I tried using reman air pumps for the 60 series from the local parts shops, and they were miserable. Toyota airpumps were the only ones that lasted, but they were significantly more costly. Mudrak started reman'ing them himself and seemed to do a good job.
Regardless, seems we need to find a solution that is as dependable as the orginal, "new" alternator.
Last edited:
The problem with commercial (in other words not done by yourself or someone you trust) reman alternators Toyota included: You do not ever know what components/parts were renewed. If the stator/winding tests OK on the bench then AFAIK it is not replaced. Ditto for the other components with the exception of brushes and bearings. Not even sure if the rectifier/regulators are replaced if they bench test OK.
Ditto for starters. I have nothing more to go on than what I and some others here have experienced: The virgin OEM starter and alternator that came from Toyota on the truck originally have out distanced, in life span both measured in months and miles, any reman alternator and/or starter; from Toyota or otherwise. For this I'll take the lifetime warranty as a hedge bet.
Further I guess a virgin new alternator (starter too) from Toyota would be prohibitively expensive...dunno.
Many of the high output after-market alternators are 100% new...at least the couple I checked out. And IIRC when I was investigating whether or not to adapt another Toyota model variant's alternator to my '99 some, including the then Sequoia were sold from Toyota parts as "new" not reman. But I think this also has changed lately to reman.
Ditto for starters. I have nothing more to go on than what I and some others here have experienced: The virgin OEM starter and alternator that came from Toyota on the truck originally have out distanced, in life span both measured in months and miles, any reman alternator and/or starter; from Toyota or otherwise. For this I'll take the lifetime warranty as a hedge bet.
Further I guess a virgin new alternator (starter too) from Toyota would be prohibitively expensive...dunno.
Many of the high output after-market alternators are 100% new...at least the couple I checked out. And IIRC when I was investigating whether or not to adapt another Toyota model variant's alternator to my '99 some, including the then Sequoia were sold from Toyota parts as "new" not reman. But I think this also has changed lately to reman.
beno, Sam, CDan: Wanna spill the beans?
Spressomon, I get it, and tend to agree on all points. I've just had really bad experiences with reman units from the normal parts houses, so they are very far down the list of my preferred options. "Lifetime" warranty meant nothing to me when I was having to replace components every six months. My time is more valuable than that.
I want a component that lasts, that I replace once, and am good for another 10 years. Even if we have to find a local reman shop that will replace all the internals, bearings, etc., I would rather have that than the unknown "rebuild" as you describe.
I want a component that lasts, that I replace once, and am good for another 10 years. Even if we have to find a local reman shop that will replace all the internals, bearings, etc., I would rather have that than the unknown "rebuild" as you describe.
^ Same here! I had a gen/alt/starter shop in Reno I used to use but even they won't do rebuilds anymore because its "not cost effective"...i.e. nobody wants to pay the price. I bought my supposed new Nippon starter from them a few years ago and so far it has outlived the former reman Toyota unit I installed as a PM hedge during my first 90K PM I performed...go figure.
Although I sounded like I was waiving the Kragen/Autozone/O'Reilly's/PepBoyz/NAPA/name your's here/ flag...this source for my last alternator was born out of frustration/lesser evil sorta thing and not a general referral to their likes.
Although I sounded like I was waiving the Kragen/Autozone/O'Reilly's/PepBoyz/NAPA/name your's here/ flag...this source for my last alternator was born out of frustration/lesser evil sorta thing and not a general referral to their likes.
Dan,
This guy has a shop in his garage in Oceano / Pismo Beach. He saved us during one dune trip rebuilding an alternator in a day. I then sent him my OEM FJ 40 one to rebuild since I did not want a reman from a store.
Super guy. Maybe he can do a 100% rebuild on a 100 series?
^ Thank you I will contact him. I have another related project that I back-burnered a couple years ago: I have a Mobi-Arc welder and want to resurrect it but need an external regulator and preferably an adjustable output external regulator (Odyssey batteries).
Go look at the link I posted earlier in this thread. You get, 2x more power, a longer warranty and it's cheaper than the 200 Alternator. DC Power Inc. takes only new Denso alternators and custom machines new pulleys, front and rear cases to make them fit other applications. For the hundred, no wiring mods are required just a slight bit of grinding on the PS pump bracket. None of the other HO alternator places post idle or hot idle ratings, nor do they load test there alternators, many simply use a smaller pulley and drive the alternator faster to increase the output causing them to fail sooner than OEM.
The pics are not showing in the comparison section of their website but it's worth reading!
https://www.dcpowerinc.com/dc-power-vs-competition