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Registered
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Hill Country, TX
Posts: 255
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New or Rebuilt Alternator?
Seems almost all threads refer to rebuilding or purchasing rebuilt alternators. It's not clear to me how long these last.
My wrench cautioned against rebuilts whether he put it in or I did, says he replaces many rebuilts after only a few or several months. I'll R&R the alternator but I'm not up to rebuilding besides it's my driver and I have to do it on a weekend. What kind of life/luck are you guys seeing with rebuilt alternators? If I go with a rebuilt, does anyone know of a place I can exchange mine around Huntington Beach, CA? Thanks, Pat 84 Targa |
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04-02-2005, 05:18 AM
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3.4 Bigger is better
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 1,497
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Mine was rebuilt 10 years ago by a shop in town. I just took the fan/alt out to clean the fan and housing. Went back to the rebuild shop and they checked the brushes and bearing for movement. They said everything looked great. The reputation of this shop is great and have been in business more than 20 years just doing Alt and starter rebuilds. If I have a problem again I will rebuid it again. IMHO it depends on the reputation of the rebuild shop and what attention to detail they use in their work.
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Michael 88 911 Diamond Blue CE Carrera 3.4 HC3.4 member 2020 Honda Passport |
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04-02-2005, 06:34 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Southern California
Posts: 5,067
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I had mine rebuilt by a local rebuilder. $89, and two years later, and it's working perfectly.
What I did was get into my local Yellow Pages and find a rebuilder. If you need it done quickly, you might see if someone has a rebuilt on the shelf. Buy it, then R&R your old one, and then return the old one for the core refund.
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1984 Targa |
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04-02-2005, 06:41 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Hill Country, TX
Posts: 255
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Thanks--looks like a rebuild. Can anyone recommend a rebuild shop that should have one to buy off the shelf?
Pat 84 Targa
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pat 18,000mi a year 84targa |
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04-02-2005, 09:28 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: St Petersburg, FL
Posts: 3,814
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Just drop yours off and pick it up several hours later. All that will be done is some cleaning, inspection, testing, a light machining of the brush contact rings and installation of new bearings, brushes and regulator.
If your car is a creampuff you should be happy knowing that the core components are your originals. It beats getting a rebuilt fashioned out of rejected parts from who knows where. |
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04-02-2005, 09:34 AM
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Make Bruins Great Again
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Its always been my personal experience that its not IF a rebuild but WHO. Some rebuilders are hacks and you will be gambling. If you go to a shop with a solid reputation you should come out fine.
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-------------------------------------- Joe See Porsche run. Run, Porsche, Run: `87 911 Carrera |
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04-02-2005, 09:34 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: St Petersburg, FL
Posts: 3,814
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+1 to the above.
You may want to ask your wrench or other people in the know who the best import auto electric rebuilder in your town is. |
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04-02-2005, 09:40 AM
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: N. Phoenix AZ USA
Posts: 28,943
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Four years and counting on mine. If its rebuilt correctly it will last for around 60-70k miles or this is what the average seems like for my car.
Its not as important to find a good "import" rebuilder as it is important to find a good overhaul shop in your area. My guy had never overhauled a 911 alternator but had done loads of this same alternator as its used in other applications. Cost was under $100 with some repair work... JOeA
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2013 Jag XF, 2002 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins (the workhorse), 1992 Jaguar XJ S-3 V-12 VDP (one of only 100 examples made), 1969 Jaguar XJ (been in the family since new), 1985 911 Targa backdated to 1973 RS specs with a 3.6 shoehorned in the back, 1959 Austin Healey Sprite (former SCCA H-Prod), 1995 BMW R1100RSL, 1971 & '72 BMW R75/5 "Toaster," Ural Tourist w/sidecar, 1949 Aeronca Sedan / QB |
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04-02-2005, 11:57 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Hill Country, TX
Posts: 255
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I'm convinced, I'll have mine rebuilt. Any shop suggestions in SoCal?
Thanks, Pat
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pat 18,000mi a year 84targa |
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04-02-2005, 12:27 PM
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Registered
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Peoples Republic of Long Beach, NY
Posts: 21,140
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Quote:
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Ronin LB '77 911s 2.7 PMO E 8.5 SSI Monty MSD JPI w x6 |
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04-02-2005, 02:22 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Hill Country, TX
Posts: 255
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I'm convinced I don't need a new one. Our host has excellent pricing on new alternators, I looked around.
I like 350HP930's suggestion of having mine rebuilt. My car is a creampuff. Pat 84 Targa
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pat 18,000mi a year 84targa |
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04-02-2005, 02:56 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Southern California
Posts: 5,067
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Pat: I had mine done in Northridge, which is a bit far for you. Get into your yellow pages, or the Yahoo yellow pages. I'm sure there are plenty of rebuilders nearby.
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1984 Targa |
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04-02-2005, 03:28 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: San Carlos, CA US
Posts: 5,523
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I have good luck with rebuilt alternators. The starters, that is another question.
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Porsche 2005 GT3, 2006 997S with bore-scoring Exotic: Ferrari F360F1 TDF, Ferrari 328 GTS Disposable Car: BMW 530xiT, 2008 Mini Cooper S Two-wheel art: Ducati 907IE, Ducati 851 |
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04-02-2005, 03:43 PM
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Max
