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Along with Tshile's thread about wasting money on oil changes, I discovered something extremely valuable today. My Alternator died. I wasn't upset about changing it, because it only takes 10 minutes, I was upset because they run $150-$200 for most vehicles. I thought I hit the jackpot when I found one online for $125 and I was about to order it. But my brain kept saying think McFly, think.
So out of pure curiosity, I decided to research what it is that causes them to go bad. Apparently just inside, there are two spring loaded pieces of granite that ride along the copper rod inside the alternator. This piece is called an alternator brush set. After removing the alternator, you remove three screws and 4 star screws inside to take it off. It takes all of 5 minutes. That piece is the cause of 99% of alternator failures. The kicker? That piece is easily accessible, auto parts stores carry it in stock, and it's 8.......friggin......dollars.
I went and got one, and surprise, surprise, I saved $117 by replacing that instead of the alternator. And you don't even have to be mechanically inclined to remove an alternator, it takes the removal of 3 bolts and unplugging the 3 cables on it.
So please do yourself a favor and don't ever waste money on an alternator again. And in the 1% of cases that isn't the problem, the problem is the voltage regulator, which attaches to the brush set. That part is $25-$40. If you don't think you can do it, take off your alternator, mail it to me, and I will take it apart, rebuild it for you, and mail it back free of charge.
Just don't waste any more money than you have to. And if any of you actually pay the $300+ garages charge to replace one, please kick yourself in the nuts. You can take 10 minutes out of your day to save a few hundred bucks
So out of pure curiosity, I decided to research what it is that causes them to go bad. Apparently just inside, there are two spring loaded pieces of granite that ride along the copper rod inside the alternator. This piece is called an alternator brush set. After removing the alternator, you remove three screws and 4 star screws inside to take it off. It takes all of 5 minutes. That piece is the cause of 99% of alternator failures. The kicker? That piece is easily accessible, auto parts stores carry it in stock, and it's 8.......friggin......dollars.
I went and got one, and surprise, surprise, I saved $117 by replacing that instead of the alternator. And you don't even have to be mechanically inclined to remove an alternator, it takes the removal of 3 bolts and unplugging the 3 cables on it.
So please do yourself a favor and don't ever waste money on an alternator again. And in the 1% of cases that isn't the problem, the problem is the voltage regulator, which attaches to the brush set. That part is $25-$40. If you don't think you can do it, take off your alternator, mail it to me, and I will take it apart, rebuild it for you, and mail it back free of charge.
Just don't waste any more money than you have to. And if any of you actually pay the $300+ garages charge to replace one, please kick yourself in the nuts. You can take 10 minutes out of your day to save a few hundred bucks