How long do starters and alternators last?

Dantilla · 10-05-2011, 06:05 PM

My 2001 Chevy pick-up just turned 200,000 miles yesterday.

Just as at 100,000, it will now get all new belts and hoses. The fuel pump was replaced at 170,000, and its had a new battery and tires.

The starter and alternator are both original, and working fine.

Does the Pelican brain trust think it is a good idea to change them, "just because", or should I wait until they start acting up?

After such long service with the factory originals, I will not get the typical rebuilt units from the local auto parts store. I will get brand-new Delco parts, and hope for another 200,000 miles of service.

gshase · 10-05-2011, 06:13 PM

My 69 bug got her first starter replaced yesterday.

vash · vash's Garage

i would wait.

no sense putting cash into it if it isnt acting up. well done maintaining that thing!! our family yukon is still running well with the same starter and alt since new in 1995. i dont think those two things will ever go.

Normy · 10-05-2011, 06:29 PM

100,000 to 150,000 miles. I replaced the starter and alternator on my Porsche during that period. The car was 21 years old for the starter, and 26 years old for the alternator. I suspect both were original.

N!

RANDY P · RANDY P's Garage

they are both easy to change, just wait.

I'd do the water pump if you want to do something.

My 02 s10 4.3 has eaten a tstat, upper door hinge pin and 2 sets of shocks and tires and MAF sensor- 103k miles.

rjp

RWebb · RWebb's Garage

consider what happens if one breaks in the backwoods booneys vs. cost of repair

I would not replace them - but depending on the answer to the above I might get them rebuilt at an electrical shop.

RANDY P · RANDY P's Garage

PS I've noticed the same thing with GM trucks - if they are maintained with good (factory) parts and on time, they don't break.

I know of more than several trucks from the 90's on up with exactly your story.

Good stuff. J

911pcars · 10-05-2011, 08:26 PM

An option is to have your starter or alternator rebuilt by a local electric shop. They might do a better job than the mass assembly companies, but maybe not. For the cost of a brand new unit, you could purchase a rebuilt and then another for backup and receive some change.

However, if either one decides to expire, how far away is a source for Chevy electrics? Not so far.

masraum · 10-05-2011, 09:04 PM

They can last a very long time. Lots of things will affect longevity. Living in a very hot environment will often reduce the life of electrical components. A stuffed engine bay that allows very little air circulation is going to be rough on everything under the hood. Something with a bunch of room and air under the hood will be better. How the vehicle is driven (hard, easy, etc...)

It seems like these days, many of this kind of part can last a long time. In alternators, it's often one or two small parts that will require replacement, but it's usually more common to just replace the whole thing.

A930Rocket · 10:04 PM

With my 01 F150 at 190k miles, I've replaced the alternator only at 160k. Everything else has been regular maintenance.

WolfeMacleod · 10-05-2011, 09:56 PM

My '02 X5 with under 100k is on it's third alternator now. Just rplaced a couple weeks ago.

RANDY P · RANDY P's Garage

This place does a decent job and check out the prices
Starter / Alternator

sc_rufctr · 10-05-2011, 11:13 PM

My VW Golf has done just over 270,000kms. (167,770.2 miles)

It's on its third starter motor but still has it's original alternator.
It's also on it's third fuel pump and that sucker's not cheap!

Clutch master cylinder needs changing but the slave cylinder seems to be OK.

DanielDudley · 10-06-2011, 01:19 AM

220,000 on the SC, original starter and alternator. 70K on Ford truck, new alternator. 40K on new GMC truck, new starter.

They only need to be replaced when they break. Often they can then get new brushes or bearings, and will be fine again.

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

I prefer reliable older parts to new parts. All the new stuff is made more cheaply, more quickly and is (in my experience) of lesser quality than comparable stuff from a few years ago.

"Newer" isn't necessarily "better".

Stick with what works. Unfortunately this is generally a run-to-fail model, but I can't stomach the thought of swapping out good quality parts that might have some life left on them with made-in-China crap substitutes that will likely fail in half the time of the original stuff.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. If it is broke, try to fix it rather than replace it, because the newer thing you replace it with is virtually guaranteed to be of lesser quality.

asphaltgambler · 10-06-2011, 05:20 AM

This is an interesting question. I remember back in the late 70's early 80's those components failed all the time, so much so a local company (in Northern Va)built a huge business re-maning w/emphisis on quality. Not just re-man but re-engineered. They grew quickly and had a great reputation.

But as engineering/manufacturing technology improved, so did the life span of all the veh parts and accessories. They started to expanding their business into cooling systems and other areas until that market just dried up. Then the Chinese parts started to roll in along w/ warehouse do-it-yo-self parts stores = death. Guess where they are now??

sc_rufctr · 10-06-2011, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

I prefer reliable older parts to new parts. All the new stuff is made more cheaply, more quickly and is (in my experience) of lesser quality than comparable stuff from a few years ago.

"Newer" isn't necessarily "better".

Stick with what works. Unfortunately this is generally a run-to-fail model, but I can't stomach the thought of swapping out good quality parts that might have some life left on them with made-in-China crap substitutes that will likely fail in half the time of the original stuff.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. If it is broke, try to fix it rather than replace it, because the newer thing you replace it with is virtually guaranteed to be of lesser quality.

+1... This is good advice.

kaisen · 10-06-2011, 06:00 AM

I've got a 2001 Saturn SL2 with original starter and alternator (and all other accessories)

It has 316K original one-owner miles (before I acquired it)

Motor and transmission have never been opened

Rufblackbird · 10-07-2011, 10:57 AM

if you don't want to be stranded somewhere in the booneys when a starter or alternator goes kaput, why not get one of them el cheapo ones from the parts store, and have a good electronics shop beef up the internals, then keep them as spares?

911pcars · 10-07-2011, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rufblackbird

if you don't want to be stranded somewhere in the booneys when a starter or alternator goes kaput, why not get one of them el cheapo ones from the parts store, and have a good electronics shop beef up the internals, then keep them as spares?

...and if it's an alternator, you might want to carry an extra battery too. Seriously, this is one of those slippery slope things. If you're that far into the boonies and you become stranded, a few gallons of water, some ramen and a satellite-based cell phone might be better as well as less weighty.

Sherwood