vs
Alternator OEM Mazda or Duralast
Got some faulty alternators from autozone that were overcharging or undercharging. I just bought an oem reman from mazdaswag, (or any mazda dealership store online). Works fine now.
Pros: Works fine now
Cons: faulty alternators
Been running a duralast in mine for about a year no problems.
Pros: no problems
Been running a duralast in mine for about a year no problems.
Pros: no problems
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
I bought a Duralast for my ‘99 E55 a few years ago. It didn’t work so I pulled the rectifier off of it, put it on the original one, which put out at 14.2 v back in the car. I returned the Duralast one after I made the old rectifier look like new. The shaft rotation on the Duralast felt gritty, too.
Cons: didn’t work, shaft rotation gritty
HAVE a 2022 CX30 @ 79,000 miles. Alternator went out today
Cons: alternator went out
Vehicle:
Mazda
Mileage: 127139 km
Duralast = Duramightlast. They're just overpriced cheap rebuilt cores.
Cons: overpriced, cheap rebuilt cores
All I could recommend is stop buying the autozone/duralast alternators. Buy a good brand, ie Denso, Delco, Motorcraft, etc. and return the duralast one outright for cash in hand.
Pros: return for cash
Cons: prone to premature failure
Duralast..... if you want to get really good at changing them.
Cons: changing them
I went through 5 of those Durlast gold alternators (supposedly the best version of autozone's stuff) in 2 years before I had enough and bought a the Denso.
Pros: unlimited warranty
Cons: frequent replacements needed
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