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Started By
Message
the great part house auto parts makers alternator rip off
Posted on 7/25/18 at 9:05 am
Posted on 7/25/18 at 9:05 am
when your alternator goes out on your car 98% of the time its just the regulator that goes bad, not the actual alternator itself.
the regulator is just a small device added to it, sometimes bolted to the back of the alternator but most often placed inside the alternator housing itself. it is there to allow or stop the flow of power to the battery as needed.
its so infuriating to have to spend $200-$400 to replace the whole alternator when this $12 part is all that is bad on it yet they refuse to make it replaceable with a part you can go buy off the shelf, which is exactly what they do with your core return alternator then resell it for $200-$400 to the next guy after cleaning it up.
we dont get to decide these things but damn life would be easier if they made the regulators as a separate item bolted to the fender rather then inside/on the alternator and no replacement part sold for it.
end of rant
the regulator is just a small device added to it, sometimes bolted to the back of the alternator but most often placed inside the alternator housing itself. it is there to allow or stop the flow of power to the battery as needed.
its so infuriating to have to spend $200-$400 to replace the whole alternator when this $12 part is all that is bad on it yet they refuse to make it replaceable with a part you can go buy off the shelf, which is exactly what they do with your core return alternator then resell it for $200-$400 to the next guy after cleaning it up.
we dont get to decide these things but damn life would be easier if they made the regulators as a separate item bolted to the fender rather then inside/on the alternator and no replacement part sold for it.
end of rant
This post was edited on 7/25/18 at 9:08 am
15
Posted on 7/25/18 at 9:07 am to keakar
same thing for the AC compressor clutch
Posted on 7/25/18 at 9:09 am to keakar
They used to be bolted on outside the alternator, but car manufacturers changed it to be inside the housing so that a $12 part didn’t fix it anymore and causing you to replace the whole alternator.
Posted on 7/25/18 at 9:09 am to keakar
Alternators are not some mythical sealed unit that can't be opened by man. They are rebuildable. You can replace the armature, brushes, and regulator on your kitchen table. Or you can drop it off to one of many alternator repair businesses.
Posted on 7/25/18 at 9:10 am to Tigeralum2008
quote:
same thing for the AC compressor clutch
agreed but in "some" cases its also using the front seal so idiots can get hurt if they just pull it without releasing the freon first so i can "kinda" see some reason for having a warning label or restricting who can buy it to certified mechanics
Posted on 7/25/18 at 9:12 am to keakar
Old days you could rebuild or have a starter or alternator rebuilt by a knowledgeable person. You could save some serious money.
On mowers or UTV’s we repair if it is warranty or esp which is insurance we have to put a new part on. They pay for us to replace parts not fix worn parts.
If it is a customer who brings the item in is non warranty work rebuilding the part at times is
a less expensive option. We quote the cost of rebuilding the part and quote the cost of replacing the part. This gives the customer the choice.
On mowers or UTV’s we repair if it is warranty or esp which is insurance we have to put a new part on. They pay for us to replace parts not fix worn parts.
If it is a customer who brings the item in is non warranty work rebuilding the part at times is
a less expensive option. We quote the cost of rebuilding the part and quote the cost of replacing the part. This gives the customer the choice.
This post was edited on 7/25/18 at 9:15 am
Posted on 7/25/18 at 9:14 am to keakar
err the regulator just holds the voltage at around 14V because the alternator itself spits out higher and higher voltage with higher RPM, based off of Faraday's law the rate of change of flux through an inductor dictates the voltage produced, constant flux with higher rates of change gives higher voltages d(phiB)/dt
This post was edited on 7/25/18 at 9:15 am
Posted on 7/25/18 at 9:17 am to keakar
Yesterday I changed a 75¢ relay on a control board that would have cost me $285 and the customer $350.
Crazy shite.
Crazy shite.
Posted on 7/25/18 at 9:17 am to DVinBR
quote:
err the regulator just holds the voltage at around 14V because the alternator itself spits out higher and higher voltage with higher RPM, based off of Faraday's law the rate of change of flux through an inductor dictates the voltage produced, constant flux with higher rates of change gives higher voltages d(phiB)/dt
Very good.
Now, what happens when the regulator is broken causing the circuit to be perpetually open.
Posted on 7/25/18 at 9:19 am to keakar
Back in the 80's, I had a regulator go out on me during one of the coldest nights of the year leaving me stranded on the side of I-12. It was 28 degrees and the only thing to keep me warm was a thin members only jacket. Good thing a HS friend came along and spotted me walking down the highway and picked me up.
Posted on 7/25/18 at 9:19 am to DVinBR
I have a car with a generator. Those are fun. Looking to buy an alternator made into a generator case to look more authentic
Posted on 7/25/18 at 9:21 am to CptRusty
Open? No power output to battery.
Battery then has to run all electrical until full dishcharge.
Closed? Battery overheats and can pop.
Battery then has to run all electrical until full dishcharge.
Closed? Battery overheats and can pop.
Posted on 7/25/18 at 9:23 am to keakar
You can still change the regulator. My 2002 Silverado still has the factory alternator but I put a new regulator in it.
Posted on 7/25/18 at 9:25 am to Napoleon
quote:
Open? No power output to battery.
Battery then has to run all electrical until full dishcharge.
Closed? Battery overheats and can pop.
Posted on 7/25/18 at 9:25 am to AnorexicGator
quote:
members only jacket.
I’d have left you on the side of the road
Posted on 7/25/18 at 9:30 am to keakar
I recently had an alternator rebuilt because it quit charging. Now, post-rebuild, it spikes to around 16v for about 1/2 second upon acceleration, but then settles to 14v after that. I've tried different regulators, cleaned the split ring, any ideas? Ford G6 with gray/green reg. I tried an all gray reg with same results.
Posted on 7/25/18 at 9:32 am to HotKoolaid
quote:
drop it off to one of many alternator repair businesses.
fewer and fewer of these around but i can say these are well worth the money.
problem is most people aren't prepared to do without their car when it goes out so they pay $$$ to get it 'fixed' right away.
this is a great argument for always have a cheap beater car around in case something goes out on your main car.
Posted on 7/25/18 at 9:35 am to keakar
older guys, has it always been a thing that you gotta replace the battery when the alternator goes out?
Posted on 7/25/18 at 9:37 am to AnorexicGator
quote:
Back in the 80's, I had a regulator go out on me during one of the coldest nights of the year leaving me stranded on the side of I-12. It was 28 degrees and the only thing to keep me warm was a thin members only jacket. Good thing a HS friend came along and spotted me walking down the highway and picked me up.
I saw this movie. It turned in to a porn scene....
Posted on 7/25/18 at 9:37 am to CptRusty
quote:
quote:
err the regulator just holds the voltage at around 14V because the alternator itself spits out higher and higher voltage with higher RPM, based off of Faraday's law the rate of change of flux through an inductor dictates the voltage produced, constant flux with higher rates of change gives higher voltages d(phiB)/dt
Very good.
Now, what happens when the regulator is broken causing the circuit to be perpetually open.
This is when you hope you notice your battery gauge and hopefully realize it's not charging. Then you go straight to the auto store before shutting the vehicle off.
If not, then it sucks to be you next time you try and start your vehicle. Now you have to either be smart enough and have the tools to figure out if it's your battery vs alternator, or you have to jump start only to realize then that it's your alternator.
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