$687 for a Jeep Wrangler battery and rebuilt Alternator.

[thedelihaus]

We can buy one here too- new acid, electrolytes correct- For $20, and $5 off if we bring in a dead one.

Heck, used batteries are $5 at this place- no trade-in credit though- but the thing might only last a month. Once out the door- you own it. No warranty.

I used to do my motorcycle batteries myself- cheaper to buy the acid than to replace the battery- but it's a bit out of the scope of most folk to do that.

 

[thedelihaus]

I gave my reason earlier.

The first OEM lasted ~10 years, subsequent aftermarket remans lasted about a year on average. I got tired of replacing them.

The OEM that is back on there now has been trouble free for just over two years and there is no indication of pending issues.

I have had similar issues with other non-OEM electrical parts. Yeah, the price is cheaper today, but to me it's also about the cost in the long run.

Very good point.

Some rebuilds are of dubious and even laughable quality.

Not all, but I have a hunch it's becoming more junk and less quality rebuilds as time moves forward.

I've had much better luck it seems with rebuilds in most cases.

 

[kx250rider]

I gave my reason earlier.

The first OEM lasted ~10 years, subsequent aftermarket remans lasted about a year on average. I got tired of replacing them.

The OEM that is back on there now has been trouble free for just over two years and there is no indication of pending issues.

I have had similar issues with other non-OEM electrical parts. Yeah, the price is cheaper today, but to me it's also about the cost in the long run.

I see your point, but I wonder if there is a cause for the Jeep to be eating alternators & batteries? What component is failing, I wonder? If it's the diodes, I'd say it's overloaded. If it's the bearings, maybe a misaligned pulley, causing the bearings to run hot and fail? In my own experience, a properly rebuilt unit can be better than a new OEM one.

Charles

 

[Goodwill_HiFi]

If this was a 4.0L it may have the alternator mounted way down low. That's where it was on my 89 Jeep Comanche. My dad changed it, after the truck was bought by my brother. He said it was a real pain.

 

[whoaru99]

I see your point, but I wonder if there is a cause for the Jeep to be eating alternators & batteries? What component is failing, I wonder? If it's the diodes, I'd say it's overloaded. If it's the bearings, maybe a misaligned pulley, causing the bearings to run hot and fail? In my own experience, a properly rebuilt unit can be better than a new OEM one.

Charles

Don't know on the Jeep. But on my Chevy, the OEM just stopped charging. I presume a failure of the regulator circuit.

The aftermarkets failed for a number of different reasons. In one a bearing went out, the other two just stopped charging.

Mine has a serpentine belt with the automatic tensioner. There are no shims or anything to align the alternator so the alignment and tension on mine are what ever the mfg tolerances are/were. I presume the tensioner spring is probably a bit weaker, if anything, than it was 15 years and 205K miles ago.

 

[usedto]

Years ago I did business with two of the largest starter and alternator rebuilders on the west coast, and got the opportunity to take a tour of one of the facilities. If you saw how they operated, you'd know why the failure rate is so high. It was cheaper for them to replace a defective unit than to take the time to do a thorough job.

Nowdays, the majority of the "new" units you buy are made in China. I used to make a killing picking up the Delco 40MT and 50MT truck starters at the government sales and selling them to rebuilders. Now, the Chinese imports are so cheap, there's no market for rebuilds.

And, a "Lifetime Guarantee" on a rebuilt usually means you'll spend a lifetime replacing them.

 

[Goodwill_HiFi]

Years ago I did business with two of the largest starter and alternator rebuilders on the west coast, and got the opportunity to take a tour of one of the facilities. If you saw how they operated, you'd know why the failure rate is so high. It was cheaper for them to replace a defective unit than to take the time to do a thorough job.

I don't get it...... it was cheaper for who? The rebuilder, or the truck owner? It doesn't make sense to me that a rebuilder would replace an alternator..... they're the rebuilder..... or am I mis-understanding what you mean?

 

[jhal]

Labor time

You said it's a '91. Does it have a 4 cylinder or it is a straight 6? Automatic or manual?

Let me know and I will look up the labor time to replace it tomorrow at work. I know the 4.0 straight 6 Cherokees are pretty easy to do.

Sorry it took me a couple of days to get back to ya. Alldata (which is one of the major technical resources that has access to OEM info) states that the labor is:

0.9 hrs to replace the starter.

Price for an OEM new starter is $187.00. Of course, aftermarket is much cheaper, but you get what you pay for.

 

[beemer]

Years ago I did business with two of the largest starter and alternator rebuilders on the west coast, and got the opportunity to take a tour of one of the facilities. If you saw how they operated, you'd know why the failure rate is so high. It was cheaper for them to replace a defective unit than to take the time to do a thorough job.

Nowdays, the majority of the "new" units you buy are made in China. I used to make a killing picking up the Delco 40MT and 50MT truck starters at the government sales and selling them to rebuilders. Now, the Chinese imports are so cheap, there's no market for rebuilds.

And, a "Lifetime Guarantee" on a rebuilt usually means you'll spend a lifetime replacing them.

This has been the norm for quite a while. On the East coast I had friends who worked at the major rebuilder (long since out of business). It was common practice if the starter or alternator did not function after rebuild to just drop it on the floor, pick it up and try it again.....if it worked, off it went to be boxed and sold! :nono:

Best,

Paul

 

[JonL]

Sorry it took me a couple of days to get back to ya. Alldata (which is one of the major technical resources that has access to OEM info) states that the labor is:

0.9 hrs to replace the starter.

Price for an OEM new starter is $187.00. Of course, aftermarket is much cheaper, but you get what you pay for.

Alternator. Not starter.

 

[jhal]

Oops. I will look it up again Monday. Sorry about that.

 

[onedaatmc]

I have a pair of new Mercedes alternators in the warehouse that tip the till at just over $6800 each. Of course, I'd discount them a little.........

your smoking crack ! I can get mercedes alternators all day long for under $300 thats for any benz including a McClaren

 

[kx250rider]

your smoking crack ! I can get mercedes alternators all day long for under $300 thats for any benz including a McClaren

At least anyone who might buy one is....


That's true with most any parts. The fuel injector pump in my '84 Camry is in stock, available at the Toyota warehouse in California, for $7000. However, you can have the pump calibrated and resealed for $350 at any Diesel machine shop. I suppose if in the unlikely event that a zillionaire is driving a Diesel Camry, and has it towed to the dealer in Hollywood with a leaky injector pump, and says "fix it, and bill me", they'll get the $7000 new pump :thmbsp:

Charles

 

[usedto]

your smoking crack ! I can get mercedes alternators all day long for under $300 thats for any benz including a McClaren

I doubt it.

And it's McLaren, not McClaren.

First, I should qualify something - Mercedes doesn't make alternators, nor have they ever. These are either Bosch or Lucas (they're up on the pallet rack and I can't remember), as are almost all alternators that come on Mercedes. But they are used on the Mercedes 6 cyl turbo diesel.

Second, I may have been off a bit on the price. They were $6118.00 in 1997. I'm sure they're closer to $8000.00 now. If you can find one. I happen to have two.

Of course, if you think you can get them "all day long for under $300", I'll keep that in mind when these are gone. That would make a nice profit margin!!

 

[jerrymrc]

I am lucky. For the crap I do not want to do myself I have an independent shop that is two blocks away. They have been in business for 20 years and have a good rep. Lot's of work on deployed solders cars and not one complaint to the post that is 5 blocks away.

I took the wife's Astro van and had a tune up done since I kind of hate working on it. Plugs,wires, cap and rotor for $213 out the door. And since I was the one that replaced them @ 100K I know what a pain it is to do.

 

[onedaatmc]

I doubt it.

And it's McLaren, not McClaren.

First, I should qualify something - Mercedes doesn't make alternators, nor have they ever. These are either Bosch or Lucas (they're up on the pallet rack and I can't remember), as are almost all alternators that come on Mercedes. But they are used on the Mercedes 6 cyl turbo diesel.

Second, I may have been off a bit on the price. They were $6118.00 in 1997. I'm sure they're closer to $8000.00 now. If you can find one. I happen to have two.

Of course, if you think you can get them "all day long for under $300", I'll keep that in mind when these are gone. That would make a nice profit margin!!

Thanks for the spelling lesson ! I bet you've never mispelled a word , ever, huh ?

well go to any model from these guys and their $300 or less

http://www.car-stuff.com/mmparts/mercedes-500sl/alternator.html

or here for the same :

http://www.mbpartswarehouse.com/mercedes_alternator.html

or here :

http://www.adsitco.com/category.asp?CID=556

or here:

http://www.autohausaz.com/mercedes-auto-parts/mercedes-alternator-replacement.html

you can also try ssfautoparts.com , they have fairly high prices , but they too would laugh at you, bentpencilupyouraz !

or one of any thousands of places in the world

anyone who is going to pay $7,000 dollars for a "New" one, is plum crazy. Or hey I have a bridge in brooklyn , I'll sell you for cheap !

Any wonder why your "new" ones have been sitting on your shelf since 97 ? you think your PM is a little too high ?

Whats the name of your business, I'll make sure and tell all my Benz clients about your wonderful prices !

Now make sure you spell check my posting and spank your monkey while your doing it, SSOE !

 

[kretinus]

What year Wrangler was it?

 

[thedelihaus]

I checked year. 1989. Owner plans on getting a new car anytime betwixt now and two years, aiming for this coming winter or summer.

Garage says "yeah, we admit we're not the cheapest".

No kidding. Also not the dealer. And not using factory parts.


Bill's paid. Jeep starts in the morning. Bill paid. Nice profit.