@!$#%&%$# rebuilt Alternator
 

I put a rebuilt bought from Checker Auto on the '84 about three weeks ago with no problem and now the charge light came on tonight and it is not charging. Has anyone had one last so little time? Fortunately they gave it a lifetime warranty so I am just out the time to pull it out and put a another in, but what would cause one to fail so fast?

Bummer - the painful part is the short wires to the alternator. Just 6 more inches of wire would make the job so much easier.
My last alternator seized during a cold day and I heard a LOUD squeal - then the belt snapped...

I had about three or four Autozone rebuilt alternators go bad in rapid succession in my old Acura. (Fortunately they had lifetime warranties.) Finally, I got one that was good and it lasted for years and was still going strong when I sold the car.

I have a feeling that mass-produced rebuilt alternators sold at chain auto parts stores aren't the greatest. OTOH, I had the alternator from the P-car rebuilt by a little foreign alternator and starter shop, and it's still going strong several years later.

Luck of the draw, I guess.

I don't buy rebuilt alternators &/or starters from the mass producers. I take mine in & have it rebuilt at a place that specializes in that. Sofar it's worked out pretty well for me. The prices are comparable or maybe slighely less, they know their business & if anything happens, you can take it back to them & they will fix it, although I haven't had to do that yet.

How about 3 failures in 1 week.
 

First my alternator went out and I had it rebuilt at an electric shop. Reinstalled it and it worked fine but the light came on again in a couple days so I pulled it to find one of the brush hold down springs had snapped in two. I got that fixed, reinstalled it only to have the light come on a third time within a few hours. Repulled it again to find the other brush had stuck in its holder. Fixed that and it lasted about 8 years. Obviously no additional charges by the shop and multiple apologies. The good news is I got damn fast at pulling an alternator. The first time was about 4 hours, the last about 40 minutes.

Another problem could be a bad solder joint on one of the diodes. I had this come up on another alternator that was in my SC. I'm on my third alternator now in the 22 years I've had my car.

Agree with Marv and I get mine done at a small "mom and pop" shop when possible. They do it right and for a descent price.

Refuse to support the mass overhaulers if able as their quality is spotty and I got tired of being stranded somewhere.

Re: @!$#%&%$# rebuilt Alternator
 

I believe your answer is in the first part of your post...

Many retailers use local rebuilders. Rebuilt starters and alternators around here is a 75% "good one" game. If you don't have a special shop to use find a marine or truck alt & starter rebuilder imo.

Re: @!$#%&%$# rebuilt Alternator
 

It happens. I had two bad remans

One was from ebay seller "Eagleday" the other was a Bosch reman