Honda Car Forum

I got it changed for $291 US this weekend during a road trip (no time to
compared prices; didn't want the car to break down). Did I get raped or did
I get a fair price? (Austin, TX)

Dpending on the mechanic's rate and the type of replacement part he used, you
probably did on the high side of OK.

The job takes at least an hour, maybe 1.5 by book time standards. A Honda
replacement can cost upwards of $215 (according to SLHONDA.COM), aftermarket
I have found to be about the same or more (at least here in Canada for a
Bosch unit). Bosch offers a 5 year warranty up here, that is probably the
reason for the premium. You probably don't want the cheaper rebuilts, they
only replace what is broke, and not the items that could be worn.

However, you take your life into your hands anytime you pull this kinda thing.
Understandable if you are in the middle of a roadtrip, it had to be done, but
you should avoid this kind of problem like the plague by doing Preventative
Maintenance. Mechanics can smell desparation from miles away.

t

96 wrote:
>I got it changed for $291 US this weekend during a road trip (no time to
>compared prices; didn't want the car to break down). Did I get raped or did
>I get a fair price? (Austin, TX)

--
Message posted via CarKB.com
http://www.carkb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx...-cars/200511/1

I am a big believer in PM - so what kind of PM do you do on an
alternator?

This same thing happened to me years ago - still remember the glint in
the eyes of the AH when I came in the crooks place. He used a BS
rebuilt in mine.

For the archives: Did they install an OEM alternator? Was
this a dealer who did the job?

I think you got a great deal. I paid $332 ($96 for labor +
$236 for the part) for an alternator job in a small city in
the midwest in 1999 at a dealer. With 2% inflation, that
would be about $374 today.

T L's prices are accurate from slhonda.com and Majestic.
Dealers usually mark up prices a lot.

"96" <no@mail.com> wrote in message
news:W0yif.20937$7h7.1070@newssvr21.news.prodigy.c om...
> I got it changed for $291 US this weekend during a road
trip (no time to
> compared prices; didn't want the car to break down). Did I
get raped or did
> I get a fair price? (Austin, TX)

"96" <no@mail.com> wrote in message news:W0yif.20937$7h7.1070@newssvr21.news.prodigy.c om...

> I got it changed for $291 US this weekend during a road trip (no time to
> compared prices; didn't want the car to break down). Did I get aped or did
> I get a fair price? (Austin, TX)

The 91 alternator is mounted high up. You can even
replace the brushes on the side of the road for 5USD.

"butch burton" <spacetrax@wi.rr.com> wrote
> I am a big believer in PM - so what kind of PM do you do
on an
> alternator?

What do you (anyone?) suggest for alternator preventive
maintenance?

Elle wrote:
> "butch burton" <spacetrax@wi.rr.com> wrote
>> I am a big believer in PM - so what kind of PM do you do
> on an
>> alternator?
>
> What do you (anyone?) suggest for alternator preventive
> maintenance?
>
>
i imagine the brushes might be able to be replaced, somehow. maybe the
diodes or rectifier or something? but basically thats just rebuilding it
yourself.

could also take a voltmeter reading before going on a long trip. still,
thats no guarantee, and not really PM, either.

I had an alternator go just after the dealer's mechanic overtightened
the drive belt - still in warranty - replaced at no charge. Killed
another alternator when I drove it with a belt slightly slipping - that
is an absolute no no - burns them up - replace those drive belts. In
terms of doing something to replace brushes - thought alternators had
diodes and not brushes - but what do I know.

Oh and speaking of health of alternators - a couple of winters ago
watched a good samaritan jump start some lady's Taurus - well sparks
and smoke came out of her alternator - told her to go directly to her
garage - do not turn off the engine. Jump starting is a dangerous
thing - I always disconnect my battery if I have to do that.

My sum total knowledge of alternators.

The alternator on my 98 civic went at 190000kms. However, had I been a
little more mindful, I could have reduced the cost of the repair. The
alternator had been making a noise for quite some time already.

The reason I say PM is important is that the bearing on my alternator was
shot (you could hear it on startup, and feel it when the belt was off the
pulley), and the belt was originally overtightened (maybe thats why it was
shot). Because it was shot, my theory is that the alternator shaft was off
center, and the rotor started digging into the stator assembly, making the
original alternator unsalvagable. (The stator is the copper wiring on the
outside of the rotor, and it costs like $100-150 to replace). So had I not
been lazy and done the bearings especially, and the brushes (since I was in
there already), I coulda saved some money.

Brushes are $5 from any auto electric place, and $10 from Honda. And the
bearings can be gotten at any reputable bearing shop, for about a buck or 2 a
piece. Get the good german ones, not the shitty chinese ones. (just an
opinion on the bearings, I have no imperical evidence to show one is better
than the other).

What I ended up doing was going with a used Denso/Mitsubishi (OEM) alternator
from the wrecker for $90. Came with a 30 day warranty, and only had
118000kms on it, so it should be good for a while. Has been for the last
45000kms or so.

t

butch burton wrote:
>I am a big believer in PM - so what kind of PM do you do on an
>alternator?
>
>This same thing happened to me years ago - still remember the glint in
>the eyes of the AH when I came in the crooks place. He used a BS
>rebuilt in mine.

--
Message posted via http://www.carkb.com

"SoCalMike" <Mikein562athotmail@hotmail.com> wrote
> Elle wrote:
> > "butch burton" <spacetrax@wi.rr.com> wrote
> >> I am a big believer in PM - so what kind of PM do you
do
> > on an
> >> alternator?
> >
> > What do you (anyone?) suggest for alternator preventive
> > maintenance?
> >
> >
> i imagine the brushes might be able to be replaced,
somehow.

This sounds like a good "exploration" project for when my
current alternator hits 80k miles or so of usage, like this
summer. I certainly remember seeing a lot of posts at the
two honda newsgroups about DIY-ing the brushes.

> maybe the
> diodes or rectifier or something?

I see from the parts sites and my Chilton's that there will
be both a regulator and a rectifier assembly (I know;
"duh"), each of which is well over $100. Whereas the whole
alternator (rebuilt?) goes for under $200. From other
evidence, I'm betting it's rebuilt, and the only new items
on it are new brushes and bearings.

A quick google search turns up some sites saying regulator
failure is the main reason alternators fail. But many other
sites say the brushes wear down too short, and worn brushes
are the main cause of alternator failure. Some sites and
newsgroup folks mention lives of around 80-100k miles for
brushes. Of course, there must be a guesstimated time limit,
as well.

I see brushes (two) and bearings (front and rear) go for
about $6 and $16, each, respectively, at the usual online
OEM honda parts sites. So I'd like to see if I can locate a
shop, along the lines of what T L says, that sells these.
Again, as an exploration; for fun and learning.

My original alternator died (or parts within it died) at
106k miles and 8 years. I don't know whether they put in a
remanufactured alternator or a whole new alternator, but
I'll ask what my current local dealer does next time I'm
there.

All comments read, Butch Burton, TL and Mike. Thanks for the
input.