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[wedge]

Just looking for advice

My alternator has gone, it was a 2nd hand replacement that was put in 8 months ago, what is the general opinion, to buy 2nd hand again, look for a refurber (?), pay the big new one price, or any other ideas?

I'm in the middle of moving, I need the car, but my heads too battered at the min to make a wise decision - any suggestions welcome

[Marks DTM Calib]

How handy are you with the spanners, repair is not to bad to do yourself.

[Andy H]

Mark knows because he has written a guide Repairing the Alternator

First you have to get it out of the car - there is a guide for that too V6 Alternator Replacement

The alternator on your 2.6 is a later design with a different regulator which is even easier to work on (I know because I have done both but I didn't bother fitting new bearings or taking any photos)

[wedge]

Unfortunately I'm in a wheelchair, So I can't even see it, never mind actually work on it :-)

The problem would be that I would have to pay someone to get it out, work on it and then pay to get it put back in

Does anybody know of anyone that sells refurbished ones?

[dbug]

Unfortunately I'm in a wheelchair, So I can't even see it, never mind actually work on it :-)

The problem would be that I would have to pay someone to get it out, work on it and then pay to get it put back in

Does anybody know of anyone that sells refurbished ones?

Vauxhall do - around £100, p/ex old one.  Had to put one on our 2.6.

[wedge]

Nice one dbug, I suppose that saves £50, can you just ask at any dealers, or is there a head parts place to get in touch with?

I may still ask my local garage (who is an auto elec, that doesn't refurb anymore, coz he reckons it's more hassle than it's worth), how much to take it out if I'm to work on it, then him put it back - at very least he'll know if I've done it right or not.

[wedge]

Thanks to everyone for reading, I've just ordered a refurb from Autovaux for£81 including vat with 12 months warranty, so when the old one is out I'll have a go at it myself so that I have a spare - I just wish I'd done this when the other one went 8 months ago :-)

[dbug]

Nice one dbug, I suppose that saves £50, can you just ask at any dealers, or is there a head parts place to get in touch with?

I may still ask my local garage (who is an auto elec, that doesn't refurb anymore, coz he reckons it's more hassle than it's worth), how much to take it out if I'm to work on it, then him put it back - at very least he'll know if I've done it right or not.

Just phoned my local stealers, and they ordered one for next day - gave me discounted price (TC card) and didn't charge me any deposit for p/ex one (which I did drop back to them)

[Marks DTM Calib]

Refurb is easy enough to do, bearings require a puller if your going that far (costs about a tenner for the bearings).

Reg change is easy (surprised dbug found it easier on the new compared to the old as I find the older one dead simple for reg replacement plus the odler one is much cheaper for bits).

New reg is about 30 notes on the later unit.

So 40 notes gets you to what is effectively a brand new unit.

[dbug]

Refurb is easy enough to do, bearings require a puller if your going that far (costs about a tenner for the bearings).

Reg change is easy (surprised dbug found it easier on the new compared to the old as I find the older one dead simple for reg replacement plus the odler one is much cheaper for bits).

New reg is about 30 notes on the later unit.

So 40 notes gets you to what is effectively a brand new unit.

Not me Mark - Andy H

[Kevin Wood]

The "tide me over" 2nd hand alternator that I put in mine when the reg. packed up barely lasted long enough for me to refurb the previous one before it also went belly up. It seems that the 3.2/2.6 alternators are all starting to drop now.

Keep meaning to add the bearing details for the later alternator as they are different.

[tunnie]

The "tide me over" 2nd hand alternator that I put in mine when the reg. packed up barely lasted long enough for me to refurb the previous one before it also went belly up. It seems that the 3.2/2.6 alternators are all starting to drop now.

Keep meaning to add the bearing details for the later alternator as they are different.

 

Boooo!

[Andy H]

Refurb is easy enough to do, bearings require a puller if your going that far (costs about a tenner for the bearings).

Reg change is easy (surprised dbug found it easier on the new compared to the old as I find the older one dead simple for reg replacement plus the odler one is much cheaper for bits).

New reg is about 30 notes on the later unit.

So 40 notes gets you to what is effectively a brand new unit.

Not me Mark - Andy H

Not difficult, but you do need to be prepared to use emery cloth to remove corrosion from the spring contact. The later alternators are just a 'nut and bolt' job.

[Mr.OmegaMan]

Can't remember exactly how much i paid to get the 3.2 alternator refurbished locally around £65 I think  .. It's been fine ever since (touch wood) .. Funnily enough 2 other alternators have failed on my other 2 none VX vehicles, Must be something in the air 

IMO you'd be better of refurbishing or buying new than a used one which could only last a few days or weeks or might be fine for years who knows :-/

[Marks DTM Calib]

The trouble is the phrase 'refurb' is badly used, most alternator places simply clean them and fix the faults, many don't replace the bearings (hence how they can do them for 50-60 notes).

The Vx ones are re-manufactured so new reg, rec and bearings plus a full clean rebuild and test.

Similarly, a hone repair can be pretty close if not better than this for less than a questionable refurb price.

Plus you can use decent bearings and not the elcheapo skate board ones some of the shops use