vs
Alternator OEM Audi or Duralast
Replaced the 2017 ACDelco alt with a Duralast Gold 160 Amp. Life time warranty. For 200 bucks at Auto zone. Hope this is the last one I buy.
Pros: lifetime warranty
I agree, alternator from autozone is not bad. I replaced mine with a Duralast and never had a problem so far.
Pros: no problem so far
I had the alternator changed in one of my Phaetons. The overhead light was fluctuating when the engine was running. The problem was fixed when the tech replaced the alternator under warranty.
Pros: problem was fixed
Cons: overhead light fluctuating
Vehicle:
Volkswagen Phaeton
Right on schedule, about 7 months later, that reman also went out and I decided to pay more to get the Duralast Gold which is all new. That one lasted about a year and a half but then the bearings went out on it, but I don't think that issue was the alternator's fault because after I replaced it, I found out the Harmonic Balancer had lost its integrity and was wobbling a little. Again, not sure what caused what (did the bearings put extra pressure on the aging balancer or did the balancer go out and damage the alternator?), but all I can say is that since replacing the harmonic balancer and using the Duralast Gold alternator, I have not had any issues for over 2 years now.
Pros: lasted a year and a half
Cons: bearings went out
Vehicle:
Toyota
Got another Duralast/Autozone alternator in and this one seems to be working for now.
Pros: seems to be working
Vehicle:
Honda S2000
It was in fact a Duralast dud! One more example of a “new” alternator being broken out of the box.
Cons: dud, broken out of box
Vehicle:
Hyundai Elantra
I had a new remanufactured duralast alternator as well that I thought was defective but I kept following the power cable off the alternator and found the fusible link.
Cons: defective
When I lived in walking distance of a 24-hour AutoZone, there seemed to be more people waiting in line to get their lifetime-warranted DuraLast alternators replaced than for battery replacements.
And while I dont recall Hyundai being one of them, there are certain make/models that need an OEM alternator or they just wont work right (i.e Duralast Alternator in a BMW X5=bad idea)
Cons: bad idea
Vehicle:
BMW X5
2 weeks ago, my 120amp Bosch crapped out on my '95 GLX. Decided the Duralast route wasn't a bad direction, being it's actually an OEM Bosch alternator, that Duralast performs the remanufacture on, with their own regulator, brushes, and bearings. It was also stated that they had numerous testing fazes performed after the rebuild. I had a 25% off coupon, and $40 in Autozone credit points. Walked out with the alternator for around $90, being the 120amp alternators are more expensive. Took care of the install, started it, power held, and she ran beautiful. Then a few minutes later, I started to hear a bearing scream. Was worried it was the alternator, as that was the only factor that changed, aside from disengaging the tensionar pulley and removing the serpentine belt during the alternator installation. 2 days later, cars sitting there warming up, hear the RPM's start to change, the gauge cluster display starts to dim, the door chime weakens out, and the car dies. Wouldn't you know, that Duralast alternator **** the bed with less than 10 miles on the rebuild.
Pros: OEM Bosch alternator
Cons: died within 10 miles
Mileage: 16 km
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