Time for a new alternator

"Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car" (pilot-and-car-guy) 08/05/2015 at 11:57 • Filed to: None

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Whoever said my car was cursed, they were right. My alternator died on me.

I have 3 choices:

Duralast at $124 + $60 core + 8% tax - autozone

Pure Energy at $100 (includes shipping, no core) - rock auto

Ultima at $135 + $60 core + 8% tax - o’reillys

Duralast and Ultima have $60 core charges, what does that mean?

Which should I go for?

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car 08/05/2015 at 12:00

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core charge is what you pay extra when they want you “broken” part back. when u bring in the old alternator they give you the 65$. they send it out to be rebuilt usually.

also i think im the one who said it was cursed... sorry about that

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car 08/05/2015 at 12:00

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Are you driving a Toyota?

LongbowMkII > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car 08/05/2015 at 12:00

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core means that you get $60 back when you bring the old broken one. they ship it back to be remanufactured/recycled.

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. 08/05/2015 at 12:02

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My stupid sentra

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > LongbowMkII 08/05/2015 at 12:02

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So I’d pay $124+tax, right?

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time 08/05/2015 at 12:04

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It’s had issues from day 1.

SO FAR, I’ve done:

Water pump

Thermostat housing

Thermostat

Thermostat inlet

Power steering leak

Oil Leak

Valve cover gasket

Coolant hoses

Clutch Cable

And other little things.

I’ve spent more on maintenance in the first 6 months than the car cost.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car 08/05/2015 at 12:07

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holy crap. es no bueno.

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time 08/05/2015 at 12:08

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Seriously.

I’m getting really tired of this.

I’m HOPING that this will be the end of it for a while.

Agrajag > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car 08/05/2015 at 12:08

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After you bring back the the old one.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car 08/05/2015 at 12:09

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well it should you have replaced most common wear items

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time 08/05/2015 at 12:09

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Yeah. Also, I’m taking (virtual, no money :) ) bets on what will break next. :P

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car 08/05/2015 at 12:16

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Wow, that’s pretty ridiculous. You should never spend more on a car than you spent buying the car unless you know it’s a project going in or if it’s for sentimental reasons. My race car cost several times what I paid for it, but that’s fine. If I bought something to daily and started having that many problems, I’d probably just call it a day on that one and start looking for a better car.

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car 08/05/2015 at 12:18

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How badly do you need the car back on the road? Seems like a no brainer to go rockauto. Also, don’t forget the 5% discount you can find online.

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 08/05/2015 at 12:19

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Being 15 and only working 16 hours/week, and being a pilot.

I don’t have the money anymore to get something else. I’m stuck with this for at least a year. And when it runs, it’s actually a pretty fun car.

2300 lbs, 1.6L i-4, 5 m/t, 0-60 in 8.5 sec.

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! 08/05/2015 at 12:19

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Need it back soon ish. I have about a month to get it to the point of a DD.

What 5% discount?

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car 08/05/2015 at 12:20

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Good luck! Have you thought about something stupid cheap as a backup? Old Saturns can usually be had on CL for $500 running.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car 08/05/2015 at 12:21

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Hmmmm.You could take your chances at pick-a-part. Probably under $50.

LongbowMkII > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car 08/05/2015 at 12:22

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I think you pay full sales tax and are refunded part of the tax when you return it. It’s been a while so I could easily be mistaken.

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 08/05/2015 at 12:22

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I bought this for $500. I was thinking it’s be reliable as it had been for the PO. Got it at 225k, now at 226,500.

I’m at the point of fix the alternator, test it, call it good. DD it for a year or 2 and then get a ~$3k car, RWD, manual. Tired of working on transverse engines and a manual is a requirement for me.

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. 08/05/2015 at 12:24

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It is, but it’s a lot of work for a potentially bad alternator.

Not sure if it’s worth it.

Alternator is $30 + tax locally at the junkyard.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car 08/05/2015 at 12:30

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I take it that the part is buried in the engine rather than being in a sensible place.

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. 08/05/2015 at 12:32

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Always. Alternator is the shiny thing under the radiator hose.

You need to pull the heat shield, rad fan, coolant hose, and the usual mounting bracket and belt.

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car 08/05/2015 at 12:34

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Current code for 5% off is 3284668230014646

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! 08/05/2015 at 12:35

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Rock auto it is.

Where do you get these codes?

jmalek > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car 08/05/2015 at 12:45

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Have you taken it off the car? Does it spin freely? If so, you most likely can rebuild it for a lot less than a new one. Try searching for “(part number on alternator) Rebuild Kit”

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car 08/05/2015 at 12:50

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Last time i had to do that was on my old Celica. with the 22 r engine (Not my engine pictured). On this pic, the alt is in the lower right hand side on the front of the engine. It had 3 bolts holding it in place. Such a wonderful design...

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. 08/05/2015 at 12:54

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Almost the same placement. But transverse.

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > jmalek 08/05/2015 at 12:54

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I haven’t. When the engine is above idle, the alternator stops charging the battery. But it still spins freely with my hand in the car.

Meatcoma > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car 08/05/2015 at 14:38

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Usually they have a short warranty on items from a pickapart which only cost you time/labor.

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > Meatcoma 08/05/2015 at 14:43

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The local places don’t, unfortunately. I got one on rock auto today for $95. It’ll be here next week.

Meatcoma > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car 08/05/2015 at 14:50

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Don’t feel bad, I put one in my F250 two weeks ago, $193 after my $20 off coupon.

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/carquest-or-…

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > Meatcoma 08/05/2015 at 15:05

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It’s cheap for what it is. I'm just really tired of putting money in this car.