SS: Dead Alternator

whitak24 · 05-16-2002, 10:38 AM

my alternator died this morning.....locked up and broke the alternator belt.

i was on the entrance ramp ready to merge onto the highway, and suddenly my car lost power, etc. i managed to get it off to the side of the exit and eventually (after a VERY long wait) got a tow truck to take it into a shop.

the job is going to cost ~$295

before i approved it, i checked the parts prices and i could get the alternator and belt for around $165 at autozone, which is usually the cheapest place in my area to get parts. so i figure i'm not getting screwed too badly....i'm basically paying $130 or so for the install + markup on the parts. and since the only place i have to work on it is my parents, 80 miles away, fixing it myself isn't really an option.

so i'll cough up the money.....and have even more into my beast

~~DoPeY5007~~ · 05-16-2002, 10:43 AM

lucky you, right now my car is dead, it wont shift out of 1st, and that is prolly gonna cost me over 1k to fix

Jihforce · 05-16-2002, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DoPeY5007
lucky you, right now my car is dead, it wont shift out of 1st, and that is prolly gonna cost me over 1k to fix

OOoh damn! that sucks...My last car had a transmission problem too. I was going to cost me around 1.8k or so to fix. So I got rid of it and got another car

05-28-2002, 07:00 AM

Welp, my vehicle gets me around to where I need to go, so far anyway.

whitak24 · 05-28-2002, 07:03 PM

oh, i got it fixed. the same day that it broke.

the money was gone from my pocket before i knew it

oh, and the car has been behaving itself since.

oblongmelon · 05-29-2002, 08:43 PM

ok so if anyone hasn't shown you yet..dropping in an new alternator is easy as doing laundry..just unscrew the bolts that hold it on, take off the old one, (and the belt)get your new belt around the gears where it goes, kinda hold it up (the belt with crow bar)till you get the new alternator in place and tighten the bolts back up..the belt if it fits correctly will have a nice snug fit...EVEN I can do this..and how I learned? I asked the guy at auto zone how the damn thing goes on and he stood by in the parking lot while I put the new one in..hey ya gotta learn right? total cost-90 bucks for the reconditioned alternator(with 3 year guarantee) and 4 bucks for the belt.

Grimm · 05-30-2002, 04:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by oblongmelon
total cost-90 bucks for the reconditioned alternator(with 3 year guarantee) and 4 bucks for the belt.

Nothing wrong with using a refurbished alternator. and they are one of the easiest parts to replace. I did mine, and I don't even know how to change my oil!

eSDee · 06-05-2002, 02:15 PM

Damn I just saw this thread. I agree with Obby and Grimm, an alternator is super easy to replace, even for a non mechanic. I had to replace mine 4 times in my old Mercury Cougar. By the 4th time I was replacing it in about 15 minutes!

Just gotta remember to disconnect the battery first!

Hoser · 06-05-2002, 10:58 PM

I had a 1991 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme with the 3.4L dual overhead cam engine. The alternator is on the bottom of the engine. You have to remove the passenger side wheel, rotor, rubber covering, and finally the drive shaft! It's a bad design, the alternator has a tendancy to overheat. I went through two alternators, only one was under warranty.

Ladogaboy · 06-06-2002, 09:35 AM

Yeah, alternators are easy to replace, depending on the vehicle. What sucks is when your alternator goes out in the middle of nowhere, and you don't have a choice on where you get it.

That's right, Colinga, you can suck my tail-pipe!!!

05-16-2002, 10:38 AM	#1
whitak24 easily amused Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: my office Posts: 9,781	SS: Dead Alternator my alternator died this morning.....locked up and broke the alternator belt. i was on the entrance ramp ready to merge onto the highway, and suddenly my car lost power, etc. i managed to get it off to the side of the exit and eventually (after a VERY long wait) got a tow truck to take it into a shop. the job is going to cost ~$295 before i approved it, i checked the parts prices and i could get the alternator and belt for around $165 at autozone, which is usually the cheapest place in my area to get parts. so i figure i'm not getting screwed too badly....i'm basically paying $130 or so for the install + markup on the parts. and since the only place i have to work on it is my parents, 80 miles away, fixing it myself isn't really an option. so i'll cough up the money.....and have even more into my beast

06-05-2002, 02:15 PM	#8
eSDee Old Skooler Numba 1 Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Diego Posts: 10,063	Damn I just saw this thread. I agree with Obby and Grimm, an alternator is super easy to replace, even for a non mechanic. I had to replace mine 4 times in my old Mercury Cougar. By the 4th time I was replacing it in about 15 minutes! Just gotta remember to disconnect the battery first! __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3 days ~ Willie Nelson 3 days I dread to see arrive 3 days I hate to be alive 3 days filled with tears and sorrow yesterday today and tomorrow

06-06-2002, 09:35 AM	#10
Ladogaboy Admiral Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Hiding amongst the minnows Posts: 6,843	Yeah, alternators are easy to replace, depending on the vehicle. What sucks is when your alternator goes out in the middle of nowhere, and you don't have a choice on where you get it. That's right, Colinga, you can suck my tail-pipe!!! __________________ It is not enough to merely touch the face of god; you also must open your eyes so that you may see your palm.

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05-16-2002, 10:43 AM	#2
~~DoPeY5007~~ court-martialled Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Brig Posts: 0	lucky you, right now my car is dead, it wont shift out of 1st, and that is prolly gonna cost me over 1k to fix

05-28-2002, 07:00 AM	#4
MJordanash Posts: n/a	Welp, my vehicle gets me around to where I need to go, so far anyway.

05-28-2002, 07:03 PM	#5
whitak24 easily amused Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: my office Posts: 9,781	oh, i got it fixed. the same day that it broke. the money was gone from my pocket before i knew it oh, and the car has been behaving itself since.

05-29-2002, 08:43 PM	#6
oblongmelon Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: In a nutshell Posts: 9,678	ok so if anyone hasn't shown you yet..dropping in an new alternator is easy as doing laundry..just unscrew the bolts that hold it on, take off the old one, (and the belt)get your new belt around the gears where it goes, kinda hold it up (the belt with crow bar)till you get the new alternator in place and tighten the bolts back up..the belt if it fits correctly will have a nice snug fit...EVEN I can do this..and how I learned? I asked the guy at auto zone how the damn thing goes on and he stood by in the parking lot while I put the new one in..hey ya gotta learn right? total cost-90 bucks for the reconditioned alternator(with 3 year guarantee) and 4 bucks for the belt.

06-05-2002, 10:58 PM	#9
Hoser Commander Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Omaha, NE, United States Posts: 1,275	I had a 1991 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme with the 3.4L dual overhead cam engine. The alternator is on the bottom of the engine. You have to remove the passenger side wheel, rotor, rubber covering, and finally the drive shaft! It's a bad design, the alternator has a tendancy to overheat. I went through two alternators, only one was under warranty.

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