It is not Vatozone around here... It is Dangerzone.
Be afraid, be very afraid.
1
2
-
April 27, 2010 7:59 a.m. John Brown SuperDork
-
April 27, 2010 8:29 a.m. dinger New Reader
Our local O'Reilly parts guys call the cheap reman starters and alternators "Boomerangs". They throw 'em out the door, and they come right back.
-
April 27, 2010 8:52 a.m. thatsnowinnebago Dork
problemaddict wrote:
Does the alternator use an internal or external voltage regulator? If its external, check it and/or replace it. I fried a couple alts due to a bad external regulator...
I think the voltage regulator is part of the alternator but I'm not 100% on that.
-
April 27, 2010 9:04 a.m. iceracer Dork
Most alternator failures are the voltage regulator. Also brushes get worn and lose contact with the rotor contact rings. As someone mentioned, take it to a shop that specializes in alternator repair. I don't know why the re-man failure is so high. Maybe they didn't train the monkeys enough or give them enough bannana's
-
April 27, 2010 9:31 a.m. spitfirebill Dork
My luck with Vatozone has been a little better. The first one went a few years. The current one, replaced under warranty of course, has been in the truck for quite a year years. I wish I had had the original one rebuilt, but it failed on a weekend and it is my work truck.
-
April 27, 2010 9:53 a.m. mith612 New Reader
thatsnowinnebago wrote:
problemaddict wrote:
Does the alternator use an internal or external voltage regulator? If its external, check it and/or replace it. I fried a couple alts due to a bad external regulator...
I think the voltage regulator is part of the alternator but I'm not 100% on that.
For that application, the voltage reg is installed on the back of the alternator, however it is replaceable. About $40 for a new one.
-
April 27, 2010 12:43 p.m. poopshovel SuperDork
I don't know why the re-man failure is so high.
The re-man failure is high because the 4-year-old Chinese girl who built it gets her cardboard box taken away if she doesn't bang out 20 an hour.
-
April 27, 2010 3:00 p.m. Travis_K Dork
I have found the best place to shop for a remanufactured alternator (or starter, etc), is to go to the salvage yard and get a used one. Sure they replace them for free, but still its annoying to never know when they are going to fail.
-
April 27, 2010 4:08 p.m. car39 Reader
Thought we had 3 bad remans on my 97 Navigator. Turned out to be a bad wire at a connector block on the firewall. Fix that sucker, and we had enough juice to run an electric chair
-
April 27, 2010 4:54 p.m. SupraWes Dork
Yup good ole Autozone. I have had them last anywhere from a few days to a few years, good thing the warantee is lifetime. I'm pretty good at changing them out in their parking lot.
-
April 27, 2010 7:44 p.m. warpedredneck New Reader
i went thru 5 delco remans to get one good one, the box was delco reman'd in china, i'm thinking they are just chincy rebuilds
-
April 28, 2010 12:53 a.m. Opus Dork
because you are replacing them with re-manufactured units. Those only fix what is broken and do not test the rest. Had the same problem in my hardbody back in the late 90s using kragen alternators. finaly broke down and bought a rebuilt one and never broke again. Still had it when I sold the car last year.
-
April 28, 2010 12:59 a.m. thatsnowinnebago Dork
I went to the local auto parts store and bought an alternator from them. I trust their stuff more than one of the chain stores so we'll see how long this one lasts.
