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Alternator OEM Volkswagen or Duralast
Reviews
From personal experience, I'd recommend the duralast gold alternator from autozone. I originally got the duralast regular alternator but I had to change it out it least 2 more times under warranty. The last time I just decided to upgrade to the gold version since I was sick of replacing the alternator, and it's been great for over 2 years now. Remanufactured ones are usually junk, get a new one like the duralast gold one. FYI what usually gives out first is the built in voltage regulator, that's what went wrong every time with the cheaper remanufactured alternator. There might be other good ones out there but that's my experience
Pros: great for over 2 years
Cons: remanufactured ones are junk
The alternator was dead (as expected), and was replaced with a used one that I sourced locally from junkyard.
Pros: cheap replacement
Cons: used part
Vehicle:
Volkswagen Golf
We just replaced the wife's X three weeks ago. Had the same problem you had with a battery light and brake light. Ended going to AutoZone when we were in vacation and got a Duralast Gold and had a local mechanic do the install.
Vehicle:
Nissan
If you go to autozones website and plug your car info in, what price does it give you for the duralast gold alternator?
I’ve never had an issue with a Duralast starter or alternator. However, honestly, I probably wouldn’t put one on my Lexus. I’ve generally shoved them into cheaper and simpler cars.
Pros: no issues with Duralast
Cons: wouldn't put on Lexus
Vehicle:
Lexus IS
Autozone will give lifetime warranty on certain (duralast gold maybe?) alternators. I got the replacement very wet (dumb), and it died while I was driving.
Pros: lifetime warranty
Cons: died while driving
I have experience with both shitty Autozone Duralast alternators and I would not purchase them.
I have shadow codes for my water pump because of it, and my voltage is not high enough at idle, and never surpasses 13.5ish volts. It whines loudly, and it doesn't make the same power as my last alternator contrary to the ratings.
Cons: whines loudly, low voltage
I just put a new alternator and the batty is dead again but when I jump it the car run fine until the next .morning I am going Crazy trying to figure this.
Pros: car runs fine when jumped
Cons: battery dead again
I owned one for about a year. Loved the car, wish I could have kept it. That being said, it was only in drivable condition for about half the time I owned it. I replaced the alternator, fixed the air suspension, redid some vacuum lines, tried to repair the front diff, and that's where I gave up.
Pros: loved the car
Cons: difficult to work on, parts unavailable
Vehicle:
Volkswagen Touareg
The refurbished Duralast alternator has worked fine for a few months but the last month I started to hear belt noise and assumed it was related to the alternator. The last couple of weeks I would smell a new unknown burnt smell that smoked like either rubber or electronics which has led me to wonder if the battery/alternator fuses have gone out.
Pros: worked fine for months
Cons: belt noise, burnt smell
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