[Vwdiesel] Changing alternator on 03 TDI
Val Christian
val at mongo.mongobird.com
Mon Nov 16 10:32:21 PST 2009
Probably...I run lights, AC blower full, and various electronics.
That's as best as I can figure.
> Val - rebuild quality aside, you seem to have terrible longevity from your
> alternators. Is there something about your environment or usage that taxes
> them excessively?
>
> On Sun, Nov 15, 2009 at 5:02 PM, Val Christian <val at mongo.mongobird.com>wrote:
>
> > 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
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > Vwdiesel mailing list
> > > > Vwdiesel at vwfans.com
> > > > http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/vwdiesel
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Vwdiesel mailing list
> > > Vwdiesel at vwfans.com
> > > http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/vwdiesel
> > >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Vwdiesel mailing list
> > Vwdiesel at vwfans.com
> > http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/vwdiesel
> >
>
> --000e0cd10628d31f5c04788103cb
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>
> Val - rebuild quality aside, you seem to have terrible longevity from your =
> alternators. =A0Is there something about your environment or usage that tax=
> es them excessively?<br><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Sun, Nov 15, 2009=
> at 5:02 PM, Val Christian <span dir=3D"ltr"><<a href=3D"mailto:val at mong=
> o.mongobird.com">val at mongo.mongobird.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
> <blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1p=
> x #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;">I replaced my OEM Bosch alternator on my 03=
> TDI at 45,000 miles.<br>
> <br>
> I used an Autozone sourced "lifetime" warranty alternator,<br>
> which subsequently failed, although not as catastrophically<br>
> as the OEM one, at 99,000.<br>
> <br>
> The second Autozone alternator is now in the car with 129,000<br>
> miles, and I am expecting that sometime in the next 10 to 20,000<br>
> miles I'll be replacing it again.<br>
> <br>
> In my 91 IDI Jetta, I replaced the brushes in the OEM alternator<br>
> at 38,000 miles. =A0Again at 61K and again at 83K, and again at 110K.<br>
> At 128K, I replaced the alternator with a Autozone lifetime alternator,<br>
> which was subsequently replaced at 152K, 191K, 239K and 288K. =A0Since<br>
> I still own the car, I expect to put another in sometime in the next<br>
> 30K.<br>
> <br>
> I am sure that there is some difference between the various rebuilds, and<b=
> r>
> I'm sure that I have had poor rebuilds in various parts I've gotten=
> , but<br>
> I have had reasonable luck with Autozone and other lower-end retailers.<br>
> <br>
> I can also tell you that I went through 4 starters for the TDI from<br>
> Advance auto, and recently found out that they were supplying a 1.1 kW<br>
> starter, rather than the 2.0 kW starter that application requires.<br>
> Fortunately, the starters were easy to swap out. =A0A real pain. =A0Turns<b=
> r>
> out that Autozone spec'd the correct 2.0 kW starter, but I went to<br>
> Advance because their price was $20 less. =A0Because they had the wrong<br>
> starter listed...<br>
> <br>
> I'll stop, as this is long, and perhaps it doesn't matter much to m=
> ost<br>
> people. =A0They get their parts where they can, and were it works timing<br=
> >
> wise. =A0I get from my local Autozone and Advanced, and they all know me<br=
> >
> by first and last name, and my cell phone number. =A0I also order from<br>
> several mail-order places specializing in VWs and similar parts. =A0In<br>
> general, I'm very happy with my suppliers. =A0Then again, I could be<br=
> >
> unusual.<br>
> <div><div></div><div class=3D"h5"><br>
> <br>
> <br>
> <br>
> <br>
> ><br>
> > I have a place several miles from me that rewinds our "small"=
> ; 100 hp<br>
> > electric motors, I haven't taken anything to them myself but I thi=
> nk<br>
> > they do automotive alternators as well, might be worth a shot the next=
> <br>
> > time my $200 vw alternator craps out.<br>
> > On Nov 15, 2009, at 12:39 AM, William J Toensing wrote:<br>
> ><br>
> > > Loren's point is well taken. The one point I wanted to make w=
> as if you<br>
> > > have a GOOD auto electric repair shop that does their own repair =
> &<br>
> > > does not farm their work out, you are probably better off having =
> them<br>
> > > overhaul your alternator, starter, etc., rather than buying a<br>
> > > "rebuilt" unit.<br>
> > > Bill Toensing, Nevada City, CA<br>
> > > _______________________________________________<br>
> > > Vwdiesel mailing list<br>
> > > <a href=3D"mailto:Vwdiesel at vwfans.com">Vwdiesel at vwfans.com</a><br=
> >
> > > <a href=3D"http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/vwdiesel" tar=
> get=3D"_blank">http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/vwdiesel</a><br>
> > ><br>
> > ><br>
> ><br>
> > _______________________________________________<br>
> > Vwdiesel mailing list<br>
> > <a href=3D"mailto:Vwdiesel at vwfans.com">Vwdiesel at vwfans.com</a><br>
> > <a href=3D"http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/vwdiesel" target=
> =3D"_blank">http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/vwdiesel</a><br>
> ><br>
> <br>
> _______________________________________________<br>
> Vwdiesel mailing list<br>
> <a href=3D"mailto:Vwdiesel at vwfans.com">Vwdiesel at vwfans.com</a><br>
> <a href=3D"http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/vwdiesel" target=3D"_bl=
> ank">http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/vwdiesel</a><br>
> </div></div></blockquote></div><br>
>
> --000e0cd10628d31f5c04788103cb--
>
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