Replacement alternator, Denso or other with lifetime warranty?

[flintknapper]

I think Oreilly is able to say "Denso" because the OEM units they are rebuilding are made by Denso. I don't believe Denso is rebuilding them for Oreilly.
Also, when I was shopping for a reman I checked with Oreilly and they did not have any available at the time. So just because they have it on the website doesn't mean you can actually get one from them.

Agreed, I am certain they are Nippondenso alternators simply 'remanufactured' and NOT done so by 'Denso'.

However the O'Reilly site is very forthcoming with their information and I am satisfied their product will be as good as I can find. The lifetime warranty also seals the deal for me.

From the O/R site:

• UPC: 190037034687
• Remanufactured
• 100 Amp
• Optional
• Remanufactured
• New Or Remanufactured: Remanufactured
• Amperage (A): 100 Amp
• Pulley Belt Type: Serpentine
• Pulley Included: Yes
• Number Of Pulley Grooves: 6
• Voltage Regulator Type: Internal Regulator
• Voltage (V): 12 Volt
• Fan Type: Internal
• Series: Nippondenso

BRAND INFORMATION
Alternators and components are thouroughly inspected and tested to meet or exceed O.E.M. specifications ensuring Quality. Alternator bearings, brushes and brush springs are replaced with New.Rotors are electronically tested for amperage in insulation quality. Rotor slip rings are machined and checked for concentricity or replaced with New. Stators are tested for insulation quality, phase balance and amp output or replaced with New.All units are performance tested to measure output curve, turn on speed and other critical specifications with test reports enclosed with the product.

MANUFACTURER INFORMATION
Ultima premium remanufactured starters and alternators provide superior quality, industry-leading coverage and extreme durability. Remanufactured by ISO/TS 16949 certified factories to meet or exceed OE quality standards, Ultima starters and alternators utilize the newest OE technology improvements to provide unmatched performance. Ultima units are designed to withstand the extreme electrical rigors demanded from today's vehicles. Every unit is 100% performance tested from component through final assembly to ensure dependable service and reliable performance.

• High performance components deliver reliable cranking and charging power
• Assembled with premium bushings, bearings, seals and lubricants
• Every component inspected to strict quality standards
• All sub-assemblies 100% tested
• Remanufactured to meet or exceed OEM specifications
• Every unit is 100% performance tested
• Complete domestic and import coverage
• Industry-leading warranty

 

[Keowee]

My alternator only needed brushes after 180,000 miles. Replaced the brushes and tested at a local shop for twenty bucks.

Could not find a replacement on a weekend anywhere local. O'Reilly said two days to get one from Texas or Florida.

Pretty sure some of the remans are done in Mexico.

 

[flintknapper]

My alternator only needed brushes after 180,000 miles. Replaced the brushes and tested at a local shop for twenty bucks.

Could not find a replacement on a weekend anywhere local. O'Reilly said two days to get one from Texas or Florida.

Pretty sure some of the remans are done in Mexico.

^^^^^^^^ Possibly, who knows.

But I am not concerned in the least WHERE they are done just HOW they are done.

If/When properly inspected (to insure all needed parts are replaced or brought to spec) , the unit should be as reliable as it is possible to make a 'reman'. If all the necessary parts are replaced with good quality components, I don't care the ethnicity of the person doing it or the geographic location.

It stands to reason....you can't offer a lifetime guarantee on parts (for very long) if you have very many units coming back. Our Local O'Reilly has been able to get me parts 'next day' and sometimes the same afternoon and this is in a small college town.

We will see.

 

[Keowee]

^^^^ Not saying they aren't a good product. I would have bought an Ultima if it had been in stock. Reman from Mexico printed on the box. Just means highly skilled cost-effective labor force. Like three bucks an hr and happy for it.

NO BIG DEAL. Quality sucks on most everything these days if you can remember when it really meant something.

I live in a small town too. If they ain't got it in stock, well they ain't got it. The man said two days instead of the usual next day. Land Cruisers are scarce around here.

 

[LEX]

FWIW, stay away from the ones from Advanced Auto. They're all cry babies.

 

[bdynamic]

Agreed, I am certain they are Nippondenso alternators simply 'remanufactured' and NOT done so by 'Denso'.

However the O'Reilly site is very forthcoming with their information and I am satisfied their product will be as good as I can find. The lifetime warranty also seals the deal for me.

From the O/R site:

• UPC: 190037034687
• Remanufactured
• 100 Amp
• Optional
• Remanufactured
• New Or Remanufactured: Remanufactured
• Amperage (A): 100 Amp
• Pulley Belt Type: Serpentine
• Pulley Included: Yes
• Number Of Pulley Grooves: 6
• Voltage Regulator Type: Internal Regulator
• Voltage (V): 12 Volt
• Fan Type: Internal
• Series: Nippondenso

BRAND INFORMATION
Alternators and components are thouroughly inspected and tested to meet or exceed O.E.M. specifications ensuring Quality. Alternator bearings, brushes and brush springs are replaced with New.Rotors are electronically tested for amperage in insulation quality. Rotor slip rings are machined and checked for concentricity or replaced with New. Stators are tested for insulation quality, phase balance and amp output or replaced with New.All units are performance tested to measure output curve, turn on speed and other critical specifications with test reports enclosed with the product.

MANUFACTURER INFORMATION
Ultima premium remanufactured starters and alternators provide superior quality, industry-leading coverage and extreme durability. Remanufactured by ISO/TS 16949 certified factories to meet or exceed OE quality standards, Ultima starters and alternators utilize the newest OE technology improvements to provide unmatched performance. Ultima units are designed to withstand the extreme electrical rigors demanded from today's vehicles. Every unit is 100% performance tested from component through final assembly to ensure dependable service and reliable performance.

• High performance components deliver reliable cranking and charging power
• Assembled with premium bushings, bearings, seals and lubricants
• Every component inspected to strict quality standards
• All sub-assemblies 100% tested
• Remanufactured to meet or exceed OEM specifications
• Every unit is 100% performance tested
• Complete domestic and import coverage
• Industry-leading warranty

What is the part number?

 

[flintknapper]

What is the part number?

O/R part #...............R111106A

 

[wesquire]

Need some help / input here. Replaced my alternator in my '00 TLC a few months ago with a denso reman unit with lifetime warranty. So Friday I leave my office and as I'm coasting up to a stop light all the lights on the dash come on - can't say for sure if power steering was lost - two seconds later they're off and truck is running. I didn't have to restart it and never took it out of gear. Went to my appointment puzzled by what happened and when I got back in the truck an hour or less later the truck won't start - no lights other than door open, no accessories, nothing. Get on the phone with my shop and we're all scratching our heads - wondering if something in the ignition switch. I have a jumper pack with me so I hook it up and truck sluggishly starts - great - but wait. So I'm calling the shop back as I'm sitting in the drive out of the business and a vehicle approaches from the rear so I put my window down to wave them around and as I hit the flashers the truck dies. I'm able to get it started again With the jumper pack so I pull back into a parking spot as I talk with the shop - everyone is thinking alternator at this point. A guy from the shop is swinging by on his way home so I stick tight. Decide to test drive it in the lot and it dies within 100 yards or so so I drift back into a parking spot and wait. He was unable to jump it and couldn't get the battery to charge while attached to his running vehicle for a while.

I took the battery back to Sams since it was only 18 months old - at first they tell me it's good but needs to be recharged. They put it on the charger and call me 45 mintues later to tell me the battery won't hold a charge and there may be a couple of bad cells and to come back and they give me a new one. Walk out with new batter in hand. Call O'Reilly after that about how we need to work the alternator warranty replacement and I decide to go buy the new one and will take the bad one back for full refund per their suggestion. Go install the new battery myself and the truck starts as normal. Leave the alternator there assuming it will be installed.

Just got the call from the shop and they alternator is testing fine. What?!?!? Thought the alternator took over once the truck is started.

Guy at the shop calls a buddy who rebuilds alternators and starters since he's puzzled too. He was told that if a battery is completely toast it could cause the vehicle to die because the alternator is trying its hardest to charge the battery and any additional load by accessories, etc. may be too much.

Any ideas here? Do I trust that a new battery is all that was needed since the alternator apparently tests normal? Can alternators have intermittent issues - such that it tests normal, but may not tomorrow? Is there some other part that could be in play here?

 

[gil12]

I'd drive with new battery, but carry a backup jumper. These vehicles act odd when electrical power is low. Dead cells, I believe, can keep the engine from maintaining sufficient voltage and amps.

 

[wesquire]

I'd drive with new battery, but carry a backup jumper. These vehicles act odd when electrical power is low. Dead cells, I believe, can keep the engine from maintaining sufficient voltage and amps.

Thanks for the input. Charged my jumper pack and keeping my fingers crossed. Looked back in my maintenance file and it was just 7 months ago that I replaced the alternator.

 

[Landpimp]

We put reman densos on both the 2000 and 1999 2-3 years ago, zero issues. Did the same with the starters, both got reman denso, again no issues.

 

[OklahomaOvrland]

Anyone have a source/part numbers on the brush kits or bearings?

 

[abuck99]

Part numbers for the brushes and bearings

 

[OklahomaOvrland]

Part numbers for the brushes and bearings

View attachment 1536186

Thank you!

 

[flintknapper]

Well as I said earlier in this post (from almost 2 years ago), "We will see".


Tonight was the night 'We saw'.


Mrs. Flintknapper calls me right about dark and tells me the Lexus started "sputtering" and lots of dash lights came on. NO problems with it earlier in the day. I make the 20 minute drive to town and find that the battery has 9.6 volts, jump the vehicle and look at the ScanGuage, alternator is putting out 8.6 volts. Battery is 2 months old.

Looks like I am going to get to use that 'Lifetime Warranty' after all...(not that I want to). Not a fun job. $157.00 to have the vehicle towed to my house outside of town. Time for me to get AAA I think. Second time this year I have had to be towed (previous tow ended up being a stuck thermostat).

So..the debate rages. Do you take your chance on a DENSO reman alternator with a 1 year warranty or go back with the best aftermarket reman you can find (longer warranty).

Dang! I was going to get some of my rifles out tomorrow and do a little shooting. I'll be wrenching instead.

 

[94SRUNNER]

My $0.02 almost 2 years later. Since my original post (~Jan. 2017), I went through two AutoZone remaned alternators. I pulled the second remaned unit in July/August of this past summer and swapped in a low mileage OEM alternator with new brushes. I'm not sure why exactly, but the remaned units have a short lifespan.

Good luck @flintknapper

 

[flintknapper]

My $0.02 almost 2 years later. Since my original post (~Jan. 2017), I went through two AutoZone remaned alternators. I pulled the second remaned unit in July/August of this past summer and swapped in a low mileage OEM alternator with new brushes. I'm not sure why exactly, but the remaned units have a short lifespan.

Good luck @flintknapper

Have to decide whether I want to pull it out the bottom again or try going out through the top this time.

 

[94SRUNNER]

It’s a bear either way. Godspeed.

Have to decide whether I want to pull it out the bottom again or try going out through the top this time.

 

[DFXR]

Time for me to get AAA I think. Second time this year I have had to be towed (previous tow ended up being a stuck thermostat).

Allow me to share your pain... I've been hearing the whine for a little while now. Kept putting off swapping the alternator for a quiet weekend, and last night, after a very long workday, had the thing die on me in deep West Oakland. Battery light came on, lights dimmed, got about a mile and then she just died. Hour wait for a tow. No fun seeing these things get hoisted onto a flatbed. Makes you feel a little useless.

Good luck getting it done. By the time I get to mine, I'm hoping you can tell me which way is less miserable - up or down.

 

[abuck99]

I should have checked/replaced my brushes when I had the front end apart for the TB replacement. Im updating my 180k list to include this to-do.