[Vwdiesel] Changing alternator on 03 TDI

[Val Christian]

I replaced my OEM Bosch alternator on my 03 TDI at 45,000 miles.

I used an Autozone sourced "lifetime" warranty alternator,
which subsequently failed, although not as catastrophically
as the OEM one, at 99,000.  

The second Autozone alternator is now in the car with 129,000
miles, and I am expecting that sometime in the next 10 to 20,000
miles I'll be replacing it again.

In my 91 IDI Jetta, I replaced the brushes in the OEM alternator
at 38,000 miles.  Again at 61K and again at 83K, and again at 110K.
At 128K, I replaced the alternator with a Autozone lifetime alternator,
which was subsequently replaced at 152K, 191K, 239K and 288K.  Since
I still own the car, I expect to put another in sometime in the next
30K.

I am sure that there is some difference between the various rebuilds, and
I'm sure that I have had poor rebuilds in various parts I've gotten, but
I have had reasonable luck with Autozone and other lower-end retailers.

I can also tell you that I went through 4 starters for the TDI from 
Advance auto, and recently found out that they were supplying a 1.1 kW
starter, rather than the 2.0 kW starter that application requires.  
Fortunately, the starters were easy to swap out.  A real pain.  Turns
out that Autozone spec'd the correct 2.0 kW starter, but I went to 
Advance because their price was $20 less.  Because they had the wrong 
starter listed...

I'll stop, as this is long, and perhaps it doesn't matter much to most 
people.  They get their parts where they can, and were it works timing 
wise.  I get from my local Autozone and Advanced, and they all know me
by first and last name, and my cell phone number.  I also order from 
several mail-order places specializing in VWs and similar parts.  In 
general, I'm very happy with my suppliers.  Then again, I could be
unusual.





> 
> I have a place several miles from me that rewinds our "small" 100 hp 
> electric motors, I haven't taken anything to them myself but I think 
> they do automotive alternators as well, might be worth a shot the next 
> time my $200 vw alternator craps out.
> On Nov 15, 2009, at 12:39 AM, William J Toensing wrote:
> 
> > Loren's point is well taken. The one point I wanted to make was if you 
> > have a GOOD auto electric repair shop that does their own repair & 
> > does not farm their work out, you are probably better off having them 
> > overhaul your alternator, starter, etc., rather than buying a 
> > "rebuilt" unit.
> > Bill Toensing, Nevada City, CA
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> > Vwdiesel at vwfans.com
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> >
> >
> 
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