The alternator itself can get bad only if the bearings are shot. If you don't have play on the shaft, and it spins freely then the alternating part of the alternator is fine. What can get pretty bad are the diode rectifier bridge.
If you have the V6 4.3 it's one of the more dependable motors GM ever made. The factory alt is rated at 105 amps. Should be enough for your needs.
A brand new Valeo (439317) alternator is $209 on Rockauto and they can be swapped in an hour or two.
I then ordered a Valeo from Bimmerworld which arrived seized. Finally ordered the same Valeo from RockAuto (for less money, too) which has been working great so far.
I thought Valeo was OEM? Cost me like $250 and was a perfect match.
I replaced my alternator with a Valeo unit. They manufacture the OEM part. Think it was 300$ or so, while OEM was almost double. Just a heads up, there’s almost zero clearance to remove the alternator. Really tight fit.
Hi all, after a long time, the problem solved by instaling a non refurbished Valeo alternator. Same one as the refurbished was.
mine is a Valeo alternator and though you are probably correct, this is the original alternator (22 years old) and it will probably get me through another few years at least.
Oh yeah and it went through 2 maybe 3 alternators in the 13 years we had it lol.
My mk3 golf is at the shop right now because I installed a replacement valeo alternator and it didnt seem like a perfect fit and shredded up the serpentine belt. I think the shop I got the replacement from gave me a bad fit.
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