$150 for alternator rebuild - or buy a new one?

SpeedracerIndy · 08:19 AM

I have my alternator at a local auto electric place for a rebuild. I took it out to clean the engine up, and ended up ruining the rear bearing in the process (which I believe was on its way out). They called me and said $150 to rebuild it. This is the model the came before the internal voltage regulator I think. It's an 81, and it's not the Paris-rhone alternator. I am looking for reccomendations on what to do. Should I have it rebuilt at that price, or just buy a new one? What are the benefits/drawbacks of keeping this alternator, versus updating it with the internal regulated type (aside from the ~$350-400 price tag). If I keep it, I'll probably replace the voltage regulator at the same time just to be on the safe side.

Edit: My alternator is the Marchal type if that makes a difference.

Chris Lovell · 06-06-2004, 08:53 AM

There are factory rebuilt alternators available from a number of sources closer to $200. They come with a warantee and a refundable core charge. I'd go with rebuilt from Porsche versus an unproven local shop. And many people like the Bosch replacement. I prefer sourcing from Porsche because the fit into the fan housing is tight and any manufacturing miscue will be a problem. On the flip side, if your local shop has a good track record with VW/Porsche alternators, I'm sure you'll be fine and you do have the advantage of using the same alternator case.

jason2guy · 06-06-2004, 10:01 AM

when i first got my car, 5 yrs ago, i had the same dilema.
just get it rebuilt and put in a new regulator.
ive heard that you DONT want to convert to the internal regulator
model.

jason2guy · 06-06-2004, 10:04 AM

oh and when you get the new regulator, try to get the tall model
versus the short version. i was at ottos in venice and he mentioned
that the tall ones are a higher quality part

SpeedracerIndy · 06-06-2004, 01:28 PM

The shop I took it to is reputable. My dad told me about it because he took all his VW starters and genorators there to be rebuilt with good luck.

Thanks for the advice on the regulator. I have heard that Porsche put some pretty bad alternators in the 80s 911s, and want to make sure I don't have one of them. If the one I have is the bad one, I don't want to spend the money on it and I"ll just buy a new one.

ruf-porsche · ruf-porsche's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Chris Lovell
There are factory rebuilt alternators available from a number of sources closer to $200. They come with a warantee and a refundable core charge. I'd go with rebuilt from Porsche versus an unproven local shop. And many people like the Bosch replacement. I prefer sourcing from Porsche because the fit into the fan housing is tight and any manufacturing miscue will be a problem. On the flip side, if your local shop has a good track record with VW/Porsche alternators, I'm sure you'll be fine and you do have the advantage of using the same alternator case.

I think that this was covered in a previous post. PORSCHE does not rebuild parts for their cars. Porsche does rebuild motors which they use for warranty work on their cars.

If someone is advertising that the part was rebuilt by PORSCHE be like Forrerst Gump and run as fast as you can from that person because a fool and his money is soon departed.

Bosch which supplies parts for PORSCHE may rebuild or have outside source rebuild parts which they resell as remanufactured.

I had my alternator rebuilt last year by a local alternator shop and they even replace the internal voltage with a Paris Rhoe unit.

vash · vash's Garage

my rebuild is kicking A! and when i got it back, i was positive that it would fit. that is a good thing.

jmohn · jmohn's Garage

A properly re-built alternator is equal (IMHO) to new. There's a good local shop, that I've went to for years, they rebuilt the one in my SC two years ago, I would not hesitate to do it again. That being said, $150 seems a bit high for rebuilding an externally regulated alternator (my rebuild 2 years ago was about $70); $150 sounds more like the cost for rebuilding an internally regulated model (IIRC, the internal regulator is about $50, alone).

Jerry M
'78 SC

ChrisBennet · ChrisBennet's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by ruf-porsche
I think that this was covered in a previous post. PORSCHE does not rebuild parts for their cars. Porsche does rebuild motors which they use for warranty work on their cars.

Rebuilt (by Bosch) alternators are available from several sources. I think that is what he meant by "factory". I think that last one I had rebuilt was $75 - a year ago.
-Chris

TerryBPP · 06-07-2004, 06:14 AM

FYI, I went through 3 rebuilt alternators from our host before I got 1 that worked. I should of had mine rebuilt.

Formerly Steve Wilkinson · 06-07-2004, 07:31 AM

Nothing wrong with "a local alternator shop." Alternators aren't rocket science, and they've probably done tens of thousands of them. I had mine rebuilt for $150 and it has worked fine for the last two years, at least. the only real difference between the alternator in a Porsche and the alternator in a Ford pickup is that the one in the Ford is better.

Stephan

Chris Lovell · 06-07-2004, 07:33 AM

CB or Ruf-Porsche,
The alternator I referred to as "factory" has part number 911-603-120-EX. I assumed that it was rebuilt or sub-contracted out of Porsche.

SpeedracerIndy · 06-08-2004, 07:58 AM

FWIW, I just picked up my alternator. I spoke with the guy who rebuilt it, and was impressed with his knowledge. He said he has seen several of these type alternators, and they are a good quality, as opposed to the internally regulated type. After hearing that, I feel better about having it rebuilt now. (He said another guy dropped the same kind of the same day and he ruined it by hammering the main shaft, glad I didn't do that!) $30 of the $150 was to replace the through bolts that I smashed up when taking it out. There's a lesson for me and everyone else. DON'T HAMMER YOUR BOLTS!! He also replaced the front and rear bearing, brushes and diode. I also picked up a new voltage regulator. All in all, I think $150 was worth it to get a good as new alternator that I KNOW will fit and work for at least 100k miles (assuming I don't decide to take it out agian and smash it up!). When he handed it to me I thought it was a new one. Every nut, bolt, and washer was new, and the housing was nice and shiny. Well, just thought I would report back and offer the info incase someone else is going through this procedure.

If in need of a starter/alternator rebuild shop in Indy, I would reccomend Stan's Auto Electric.