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Alternator brushes that last 5k- WTF??? Posted by Saana88 [Email]  (#207)  [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Saana88) on Thu, 10 May 2007 19:20:27
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Even though I know better, I was in a tough spot back in September '05 when the alternator died on my '02 S convertible. I took it to (some complete idiots, as it turned out) a garage because I had to have it fixed quickly and had no vacation time since I'd started my job two weeks earlier. The (SFBs at the garage) "mechanic" put in a severely overpriced non-Bosch alternator from the local parts supplier. I won't even mention here the evidence they left behind showing that they didn't have a clue how to change the thing. Anyway, that was at around 123k. Today (127k, car's been napping for a long time) the alternator light came on on my way home. It would get dimmer gradually as the engine speed approached around three grand. With a big, nasty line of thunderstorms off in the distance, I disconnected the battery (both connections) and got the voltage regulator out of there.
The brushes were down *way* below 5 mm. HUH? After 5K?!? What the heck's going on here?
Did my crappy-rebuild seriously overpriced replacement alternator come with little stubby brushes in it?
They wore out evenly; both brushes were worn down with an even wear pattern, so they were seated right.
Luckily for me, I'd ordered a spare Bosch regulator when the alternator was dying (before I found out it was the windings and diodes that had opened up in the previous one) so I had a spare on hand. As the line goes, "I took it home, washed it off, and put it back on." Actually, I just installed it in the alternator, reconnected the battery, put a new terminal on the oil pressure warning light wire connector because that had to break off, and fired her back up. No more light. Test drive (top down, daring it to rain) and the car's fine.
The obvious question: is it standard practice to screw your customers out of even more money by putting a remanned part with stubby little brushes on the regulator at major auto parts stores and their distribution arms?
The not so obvious question: since the warning light was on for under two miles, should I even bother to recharge my battery for the heck of it?
Sorry for flaming whoever the imbeciles are that rebuilt and supplied this alternator to the morons at the "shoulda brought us a Mustang" shop, but I really expect at least 150k out of my brush sets. Stubby brushes to start with, or is something else going on?
Thaaanks!
, Thu, 10 May 2007 19:20:27 <-- Viewing This Message
, Fri, 11 May 2007 05:52:28, Sat, 12 May 2007 06:12:19, Mon, 14 May 2007 09:45:49, Thu, 10 May 2007 19:20:58, Sun, 13 May 2007 09:31:50
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